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Swedish energy-crisis house (1975–1990)

SBN 75/80 house built after the oil crisis: 145 mm timber frame plus horizontal outer studs, PE foil and wind barrier board.

Sweden

7 layers · 262 mm

Climate

Indoor temperature 20.0 °C

10 °C 28 °C

Indoor humidity 38 %

20 % 95 %

Set automatically from outdoor climate

Humidity class (EN ISO 13788)

Outdoor temperature -5.0 °C

-30 °C 40 °C

Outdoor humidity 80 %

30 % 100 %

Build-up

Layers from inside to outside

Inside (warm) 7 layers · 262 mm

1 Gypsum plasterboard

Thickness
mm
2 PE vapour barrier (sd 100 m)

Thickness
mm
3 Mineral wool 035

Thickness
mm
4 Horizontal studs with mineral wool

Thickness
mm
5 Gypsum wind barrier board

Thickness
mm
6 Ventilation gap ventilated

Thickness
mm
7 Wood panel (träpanel) not effective

Thickness
mm

Outside (cold)

Result

No condensation

The indoor dew point (5.3 °C) is reached in layer 3 “Mineral wool 035” – but so little vapour gets there that the vapour pressure stays below saturation.

U-value

0.18 W/m²K

per EN ISO 6946

Indoor dew point

5.3 °C

20.0 °C · 38 % RH

Inner surface

18.9 °C

41 % RH at the inner surface

sd value

100 m

effective layers

Interstitial condensation

at 38 % indoors: outdoor temperature not down to −30 °C

at -5.0 °C outdoors: indoor humidity above 92 %

Surface mould risk

at 38 % indoors: outdoor temperature not down to −30 °C

at -5.0 °C outdoors: indoor humidity above 75 %

Cross-section

Temperature and dew point across the build-up – hover for details

Temperature Dew point (linear vapour pressure) Dew point above temperature Condensation (Glaser) Indoor air dew point

Values at layer boundaries

Boundary	x [mm]	sd [m]	θ [°C]	θ_dew [°C]	p_s [Pa]	p [Pa]	RH [%]
Inner surface	0.0	0.00	18.9	5.3	2,179	892	41
1 \| 2	13.0	0.10	18.6	5.3	2,147	891	42
2 \| 3	13.2	100	18.6	-7.5	2,147	322	15
3 \| 4	158.2	100	1.0	-7.6	656	322	49
4 \| 5	203.2	100	-4.5	-7.6	419	321	77
Outer side	212.2	100	-4.6	-7.6	414	321	78

Critical conditions

At which outdoor temperature and indoor humidity does it get critical?

safe Mould risk (surface > 80 %) Interstitial condensation current conditions

Glaser diagram

Vapour pressure must not touch the saturation pressure

Saturation pressure Vapour pressure (Glaser)

How it works

Temperature profile

The temperature drops across each layer in proportion to its thermal resistance R = d/λ. Surface resistances are R_si = 0.25 and R_se = 0.04 m²K/W (0.08 behind a ventilation gap). Layers outside a ventilated air gap are ignored.

Dew point & condensation

The indoor air has a dew point (e.g. 9.3 °C at 20 °C / 50 %). Reaching it inside the build-up alone is not a problem – what matters is how much vapour gets there. The Glaser method compares the vapour pressure with the saturation pressure; where they meet, condensation forms.

Limitations

A steady-state estimate (EN ISO 13788) without capillary transport, moisture storage or thermal bridges. Capillary-active internal insulation is rated conservatively. For a detailed assessment use a hygrothermal simulation (e.g. WUFI).