Moisture entrapment in buildings with EIFS and stucco facades in the State of Florida

摘要

In the state of Florida, explosive population increases have promoted monumental efforts by the building industry to keep up with the demand for public facilities such as schools, hospitals and multiple story housing (condominiums). The onslaught has brought with it various industry-related problems, one of which is interior building permeation more commonly known as moisture intrusion. External Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) and stucco veneer buildings are cost efficient and follow the guidelines for ever shortening construction timeframes; which is part of the reason for failures found through thermographic analysis. This combined with the underlying structural building components and their differential thermal expansion known as the Coefficient of Expansion loan themselves to the problematic conditions observed in numerous projects throughout the southeast. Hurricanes, severe thunderstorms, heavy humidity and other forms of atmospheric conditions found in the southeast (and more so in Florida), accelerate the aging process of the two aforementioned systems. These, combined with the factors described above have brought the investigation of the two systems to the forefront of countless building owners. This paper presents thermographic examples of case studies performed within the state of Florida and is presented raise concerned awareness over the extent of damage that can occur when EIFS and stucco systems fail.