Field measurements of hygrothermal performance of attics in extreme cold climates

This paper presents a field study of the hygrothermal performance of three attic venting systems. Three houses with different attic designs built in Canadian North were monitored: two with a ventilated attic but different strategies controlling snow entry and one with an un-ventilated attic. Measurements show that the ventilated attics had acceptable conditions. The moisture content of wood structure at most monitored locations in the un-ventilated attic remained above 20% through the summer, which indicates that without ventilation the construction moisture and moisture accumulated through winter cannot be effectively removed.