Study on the performance and application of interior moisture buffering materials for the typical housing in Taiwan

The humidity issue is one of the essential factors regarding the indoor environment quality. Researchers attempt to control the moisture in different methods, and the quantity of the researches keeps rising, which indicates the importance of the moisture buffering effect. The moisture buffering effect is a kind of passive design method, which is considered as more sustainable, compared to mechanical and chemical solutions. Taiwan locates in subtropics. However, the local researches concerning the moisture buffering effect in Taiwan are relatively fewer than those countries, which have lower temperature and humidity climate conditions than Taiwan. In addition, the general dehumidifying methods used in Taiwan are more concentrated in mechanical or chemical dehumidifying solutions. Moreover, typical town house in Taiwan usually represents as a north-south or east-west long axis living system without opening at the opposite axis, which leads the closed spaces with less openings for ventilations in the typical Taiwan town house, and those closed spaces are the main areas where the moisture accumulates. Therefore, this study follows the JIS A1470-1:2008 standard testing the MBV(Moisture Buffering Value) of 4 plate building and interior materials (Paulownia wood, Plywood, Pinewood, and Moisture Buffering Tile) and 3 Granular building and interior materials (Bamboo Charcoal, Activated Charcoal, and Silica Gel), and proposed design strategies along with moisture buffering materials (Double Wall System and Raised Floor System for existing building, and Counter-Beam System and Vertical Ventilation Duct for new construction) to provide local examples or references to Architects and interior designers in Taiwan.