Water entry function of a hardboard siding-clad wood stud wall

This paper presents derivation of a water entry function of a hardboard siding-clad wood stud wall assembly. Water entry function provides input data to heat, air and moisture simulation models to facilitate the prediction of the long-term water entry performance of the specific assembly. Initially, an experimental work was conducted in which the hardboard siding-clad wood stud wall specimen was subjected to simulated driving rain loads, i.e. spray rates and static pressure differential. The specimen included a drainage cavity and specific deficiencies such as a missing length of sealant at the interface between the cladding and penetrating components, i.e. window, ventilation duct and electrical outlet. Water entering the deficiencies was collected at the drainage and stud cavities just below the penetrating components. Water entry results provided information on water entry rates as functions of simulated driving rain loads, which in turn permitted the development of a water entry function of the assembly. Entry function is a basic relationship that relates the quantity of water entry in a certain location within the assembly to the simulated driving rain loads. Measured climatic data of a specific climate, i.e. rainfall intensity and wind speed, was related to the simulated driving rain loads, and the entry function provided a means of estimating the water entry loads of the hardboard siding-clad wood stud wall assembly located in the specific climate. Crown