The Research Roadmap is divided into two phases: the first part concentrates on compiling a "wish list" of information and usable tools needed by members in each stakeholder group to increase moisture safety in buildings. The wish list will be used to form the basis for guiding international research to 2030 to make buildings moisture safe. The members of the Research Roadmap Task Force will align their research plans to 2030 to provide answers and tools meeting the needs of each stakeholder group. The second phase focuses on how the Task Force will best communicate the desired information, and teach how the developed tools can be swiftly used by each stakeholder group. 


Phase 1: Needs Analyses

It is important that all stakeholder groups are able to access relevant information and tools when and how they are needed. A master questionnaire is being developed to determine the needs of each stakeholder group. The questionnaires are being translated to the native language of each participating country. Surveys are conducted online. 

The outcomes from the questionnaires will be posted on this website, and compiled into the Research Roadmap Phase 1 Report.


Phase 2: Workshops, New Research, and Demonstration Projects

The results from Phase 1 will be used as the basis for new local and international research projects in moisture safety. The research results and developed tools within CIB W040 will be shared with the stakeholder groups to be used in practice. The new knowledge will build upon existing best practices to expand the general body of knowledge. It is important that each stakeholder is able to access and use the tools and information in their projects. Workshops and training programs will be developed to fill the gaps in knowledge within each field. Existing tools will be adapted according to the results of the needs analyses and new tools will be developed when existing tools do not exist. Demonstration projects following the principles and guidelines established during the Roadmap will apply and share the gained knowledge in a practical application. The demonstration projects themselves will also become a means to share the newly-gained knowledge.

The research roadmap will develop building guidelines for avoiding moisture damage. Simple communication tools can illustrate solutions to conditions affecting health, safety, and energy performance either on a building level, or room-by-room basis.

 


Demonstration Buildings

Newly built and retrofitted demonstration buildings are a tangible means to teach and touch best practice. Demonstration buildings are to be built and monitored within the framework of the resulting research projects to locally show the effects of the recommended measures.

Monitoring results in the demonstration buildings verify the effectiveness of the recommended measures. The results show the indoor environmental quality, level of moisture in the building envelope and building services, as well as the amount of consumed energy. The outcomes are easily comparable to buildings without moisture-safety measures. 

The demonstration buildings can be a means to illustrate the effectiveness of different proposed solutions.