Indoor Pool Rooms: Vapor Barriers Are Critical For Installation
Humidity and moisture from an indoor pool can damage not only internal building materials, but also permeate the interior cavity of pool structure (between inner wall and outer wall of the pool room). Without the proper vapor retarder, moisture from the pool can migrate into these areas as air passes from the interior warm side of the pool room to the colder outdoor air side. Mold, rot, mildew, internal premature structural failure, decay, and deterioration of insulation are some of the problems when vapor retarders are not installed, or penetrated after installation.
Building Materials and Construction play an integral role in controlling humidity and moisture migration
Vapor Barriers are often overlooked in the design stages, forgotten, not installed, or installed improperly. Green Board, Dryvit, various other “boards”, foil faced insulation and other types of sprayed-in-place urethane foam insulation are not considered vapor barriers, nor are generally recommended. There are very few acoustical ceiling tiles that are made to withstand the stratification of humidity in an indoor pool. Drop ceilings are discouraged as they become moisture traps in swimming environments. Many of these types of materials have been used in the past with extremely negative results; they are not bullet proof when it comes to moisture damage. Therefore, with an effective vapor retarder, good insulation, negative pressure and a properly designed pool room dehumidification system; moisture damage can be prevented in the design/construction stages.
What Materials Constitute a Vapor Barrier?
Generally, Vapor Barriers for an indoor pool are materials that do …
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