Building Durability in Extreme Cold Climates

Building construction practices in the Arctic have largely been inadequate for energy efficiency and durability. Extreme cold temperatures and intense weather create challenging conditions for buildings. In addition, rapidly changing weather patterns in the Arctic are bringing warmer and wetter conditions to the area. Current modeling practices for building moisture and durability rely on typical 30-year data that is no longer representative of current conditions. Several hygrothermal models were developed for existing and energy retrofitted Arctic construction to evaluate the durability of buildings in an extreme and changing climate. Weather data from the most recent 10 years of observed weather in Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska was used to develop new average and extreme weather scenarios. The results show that existing construction is moisture durable but energy inefficient and that energy retrofits will be hygrothermally complex and will require careful design to ensure moisture durability. This research highlights the data gaps in modelling efforts in extreme cold and changing climates.