Cathedral Ceilings: A Test Building Evaluation in a Cool, Humid Climate PDF

This paper describes a series of field tests on four types of cathedral ceilings with six different designs. During the two years of testing, airtightness, wind washing, thermal performance, and moisture were monitored. The outside environment at the test site was representative of a cool, humid climate. Indoors, a normally heated, moderately humid environment was maintained. The test results show that airtightness and wind washing are the main elements fixing hygrothermal response. The tests nevertheless confirm that a compact cathedral ceiling, with a windtight but vapor permeable underlay, no airspace above the thermal insulation and an effective airflow retarder below, is the best choice in a cool, humid climate.