Managing Moisture Risk in Cold-Climate Roof Assemblies Using WUFI Hygrothermal Analysis

This course examines how modern building codes and airtight construction practices are increasing the importance of moisture-aware roof design in cold-climate environments. Participants will explore building code requirements and the growing risk of moisture entrapment in roofing assemblies. The course introduces hygrothermal modeling as a predictive tool, using WUFI to analyze roof assemblies' long-term performance. Through comparative analysis using real-world case studies, attendees will gain a clear understanding of how vapor-permeable underlayments enhance drying potential and provide greater moisture management compared to vapor-impermeable membranes, supporting more durable and resilient roof system design decisions.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the relationship between current building codes and the increased risk of moisture entrapment in airtight building envelopes.
• Understand the role of hygrothermal analysis (WUFI) in predicting the long-term performance of roof assemblies in cold climates.
• Analyze the difference between vapor-permeable and vapor-impermeable membranes regarding drying capacity and "moisture safety margins."
• Assess WUFI case studies to understand how vapor-permeable underlayments improve moisture performance compared to vapor-impermeable underlayments.

Presenter: Scott Wood, Senior Building Scientist, VaproShield

Register for the webinar.