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Evaluation of Crawlspace Retrofits in Multifamily Buildings

Published by Advanced Building Systems | Department of Energy | Metadata Last Checked: January 27, 2026 | Last Modified: 2023-11-01T16:40:12Z
In 2011 and early 2012, Building Science Corporation (BSC) collaborated with Innova Services Corporation on a multifamily community un-vented crawlspace retrofit project at Oakwood Gardens in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. BSC provided design consulting services and pre- and post-retrofit evaluation, testing, and data monitoring.The existing condition was a vented crawlspace with an un-insulated floor between the crawlspace and the dwelling units above. The crawlspace was therefore a critically weak link in the building enclosure and was ripe for improvement. Saving energy was the primary interest and goal, but the greatest challenge in this un-vented crawlspace retrofit project was working through a crawlspace bulk water intrusion problem caused by inadequate site drainage, window well drainage, foundation wall drainage, and a rising water table during rainy periods.While the un-vented crawlspace retrofit was effective in reducing heat loss, and the majority of the bulk water drainage problems had been resolved, the important finding was that some of the wood joists embedded in masonry pockets behind the brick veneer were showing signs of moisture damage.

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Complete Metadata
@type dcat:Dataset
accessLevel public
bureauCode 
                                            [
  "019:20"
]
contactPoint 
                                            {
  "fn": "Armin Rudd",
  "@type": "vcard:Contact",
  "hasEmail": "mailto:arudd@abtsystems.us"
}
dataQuality 
                                            true
description In 2011 and early 2012, Building Science Corporation (BSC) collaborated with Innova Services Corporation on a multifamily community un-vented crawlspace retrofit project at Oakwood Gardens in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. BSC provided design consulting services and pre- and post-retrofit evaluation, testing, and data monitoring.The existing condition was a vented crawlspace with an un-insulated floor between the crawlspace and the dwelling units above. The crawlspace was therefore a critically weak link in the building enclosure and was ripe for improvement. Saving energy was the primary interest and goal, but the greatest challenge in this un-vented crawlspace retrofit project was working through a crawlspace bulk water intrusion problem caused by inadequate site drainage, window well drainage, foundation wall drainage, and a rising water table during rainy periods.While the un-vented crawlspace retrofit was effective in reducing heat loss, and the majority of the bulk water drainage problems had been resolved, the important finding was that some of the wood joists embedded in masonry pockets behind the brick veneer were showing signs of moisture damage.
distribution 
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]
DOI 10.25984/2204225
identifier https://data.openei.org/submissions/5498
issued 2016-04-27T06:00:00Z
keyword 
                                            [
  "BuildingAmerica",
  "Multifamily",
  "affordable housing",
  "boiler",
  "building america",
  "bulk water",
  "embedded wood joists",
  "existing home",
  "life cycle cost",
  "mixed humid",
  "moisture risk",
  "relative humidity",
  "residential",
  "temperature",
  "unvented crawlspace"
]
landingPage https://data.openei.org/submissions/5498
license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
modified 2023-11-01T16:40:12Z
programCode 
                                            [
  "019:002"
]
projectNumber FY14 AOP 1.9.1.19
projectTitle Building America
publisher 
                                            {
  "name": "Advanced Building Systems",
  "@type": "org:Organization"
}
spatial 
                                            "{"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[-75.2838,40.2415],[-75.2838,40.2415],[-75.2838,40.2415],[-75.2838,40.2415],[-75.2838,40.2415]]]}"
title Evaluation of Crawlspace Retrofits in Multifamily Buildings

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