info on exterior insulation/filling material, etc.-1999

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Report A3132.1 Page 8 Part 2 — Experimental Data The experimental data set contains a number of time-series records, including indoor and outdoor air temperatures • indoor and outdoor RH • soil temperatures • soil moisture content • the temperatures at each material interface in the test wall, at four levels from 50 mm above the slab to 270 mm below grade (see Figure Al in Appendix A) • the temperature differences in the reference insulation at three levels measured by lab-assembled heat flux transducers (Figure A2 in Appendix A) Indoor & Outdoor Air Temperature Profiles The indoor and outdoor air temperature profiles over the two heating seasons are shown in Figure 5. Data was recorded every half hour. Plotted is every 8"' reading, i.e., every 4 hours. The indoor basement air temperature was held relatively steady at 23°C, with some loss of control experienced in the shoulder seasons. The switch from heating to air-conditioning on the heat pump was manual, resulting in slight overheating of the basement on warm days in spring and fall when the heat pump was set to heating. The outdoor temperatures show both the diumal variations and seasonal trends following a rough sine wave. The winter of 1997 featured one very cold night only, with temperatures dipping to about -30°C. Neither winters showed a sustained cold snap—each very cold evening was often followed by a thaw (temperatures climbing above 0°C). This unexpected weather pattern may have resulted in low frost penetration, as documented further in the report. Indoor RH The outdoor RH was also monitored. The outdoor RH varies from dry conditions (e.g. 40%) to wet (e.g. near 100%) on a regular basis, with no significant change" from season to season (plot not shown). The indoor RH profile is shown in Figure 6 for the monitored period. The basement air was significantly dryer during the second summer than during the first. Soil Temperatures d Soil temperatures were measured at a distance of 2 m. from the wall. The results for the instrument set nearest specimen W6 are shown for three depths in Figure 7. These were measured at 150 mm, 740 mm and 1840 mm below grade, over two year period. The sensors nearer the soil surface shows the greatest variation from summer to winter, and diumal effects can be observed.