Influence of the convective surface transfer coefficients on the Heat, Air, and Moisture (HAM) building performance

Current models to predict heat, air and moisture (HAM) conditions in buildings assume constant boundary conditions for the temperature and relative humidity of the neighbouring air and for the surface heat and moisture transfer coefficients. These assumptions may introduce errors in the predicted HAM conditions. The paper focuses on the influence of the interior surface heat and moisture transfer coefficients, and investigates its effect on the hygrothermal performance. The parameter study showed that the magnitude of the convective surface transfer coefficients have a relatively large influence on the predicted hygrothermal conditions at the surface of a building component and on the heat and vapour exchange with the indoor environment.