Building science is the study of how buildings respond to outside weather and internal conditions. Architects use building science to design buildings. It also informs how builders construct buildings and how owners and occupants use them.
Before World War II (1939-1945), most buildings were drafty because air leaked through gaps in the walls. Modern construction methods, on the other hand, tightly seal buildings against air leakage. Modern buildings also use much insulation, which slows down the movement of heat through the walls. Insulation helps save on energy costs in heating and air conditioning.
On the other hand, modern building construction has introduced new challenges and hazards. For example, furnaces and ovens inside buildings produce such deadly gases as carbon monoxide. In older, drafty buildings, such byproducts escape through the leaky walls. The air inside the buildings is quickly replaced by fresh air from outside. With tightly sealed buildings, however, poisonous gases can build up inside. Indoor air quality can also be reduced by glues, solvents, and other materials used to make furniture, carpets, and walls. Such materials give off fumes that, if left to build up, can cause a set of health problems known as sick building syndrome. In addition, mold growth is a major health problem in tightly sealed and insulated buildings. Such household activities as cooking and showering release heat and moisture into the air. The buildup of heat and moisture provide ideal conditions for mold growth.
A major focus of building science involves ensuring that fresh air is constantly brought into buildings. Running exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens can help reduce humidity and help prevent mold growth.
See also Carpentry .
