THE IMPORTANCE OF VAPOR MANAGEMENT IN TILED STEAM ROOM INSTALLATIONS. Bastian Lohmann, wedi Corporation

Transcription

1 THE IMPORTANCE OF VAPOR MANAGEMENT IN TILED STEAM ROOM INSTALLATIONS Bastian Lohmann, wedi Corporation

2 Credit(s) earned on completion of this course (1 LU) will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-aia members are available upon request. This course is registered with AIA CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.

3 SESSION DESCRIPTION Steam room applications are a niche that is growing and the physics and mechanics required when designing and building these applications safely cannot go overlooked. This session will address the different environments, usage levels and technical equipment a contractor needs to consider before installation of a tiled steam room begins. Other areas to be discussed include stone and tile selection, command safe installation techniques, and proper products employed in the process.

4 Learning Objectives The tiled Steam Room as a wellness application Structural design of the tiled steam room Functional design of the tiled steam room Protecting the installation : safe water and water vapor management Surface finish design of the tiled steam room Maintenance: Preventive and corrective

5 Steam Rooms & Steam Showers : Well-Being Movement Sat. humidity * F Produced by steam generator Addition of Shower, Chroma or Music therapy/ functions Tile & Stone as a traditional finish: well being for the eyes

6 Structural design of the tiled steam room- General Loadbearing structure(s) Water & vapor tight envelope Ceiling sloped at 2 /ft. min. Benches sloped at 1% min. Floor sloped ¼ /ft. / Drainage Insulation in wall/ceiling No obstacles in path ways Sealed door opens to outside; no lock All moisture,temperature and substance exposed construction materials properly fitted Area in front of steam room is a wet area and must be protected Consider Local, State and National Building codes

7 Structural design of the tiled steam room Commercial / Residential environments possible substrates: Framework wood/metal

8 Structural design of the steam room Commercial / Residential environments possible substrates: Masonry, concrete, solid walls

9 Structural design of the steam room Commercial / Residential environments- possible substrates: Self supporting walls made of foam based building panels

10 Structural design of the steam room Commercial / Residential environments - possible substrates: Wood floors

11 Structural design of the steam room Commercial / Residential environments- possible substrates: Concrete Floors

12 Structural design of the steam room Special applications- special challenges added

13 Structural design of the steam room Seating areas are a must but may present challenges

14 Structural design of the steam room No matter the substrates: The key to success is to place working products in working combination and at their right place using the right workmanship

15 Interior & functional design of the steam room Design that: Provides relaxation Speaks to your senses Allows steam to open skin pores and cleanse Allows steam to help respiratory system And optionally adds color or aroma therapy

16 Interior & functional design of the steam room The Steam Generator Creates water vapor/ saturation of 98% RH Heats the room to *F Water vapor shall be visible regulate temperature!

17 Interior & functional design of the steam room The Steam Generator Position generator within 25 ft Use only brass/ copper piping Piping with 212*F rated insulation Install generator on even, protected surface Run pipes straight with ¼ /ft. pitch Must have control unit inside the room, temperature regulated Position steam inlet 1 ft. above floor Position steam inlet away from user Equip steam inlet with shield Inlet must be water/vapor proofed Generator must be decalcified Generator may need higher power connections

18 Interior & functional design of the steam room Lighting/ Chroma Therapy Available as LED, regular lighting, fiber optics Safe illumination of room must be installed Only low voltage units should be considered with rating for underwater / heavy water and vapor exposure areas Installation must be vapor tight

19 Interior & functional design of the steam room Aroma Therapy ( optional) Aromas mixed into steam flow Keep unit cable away from (hot) steam generator parts Certain substances may be aggressive towards tile/ stone / glass

20 Interior & functional design of the steam room Plumbing and shower technology More elaborate in residential steam showers Should include handheld shower to clean Material must be safe in vapor environment Fixtures must be safely sealed in / vapor tight

21 Protecting the installation : safe water and water vapor management Hot Air, High Humidity Cool Air, Low Humidity

22 Safe water and water vapor management Goal: Protect substrate(s) and assembly against corrosion and decay thus allowing the entire installation to function and survive Strategy: Water and Water Vapor sealing and protection of the entire envelope, doors and all installation fixtures Tools & Applications: a. Waterproofing installation b. Water &vapor proofing/retarding as needed and correctly placed

23 a. Waterproofing installation Over all inside surfaces wall, ceiling, benches, objects tiled Over or within shower floor ( bonding flange or liner method) All fixtures and installations must be waterproofed Waterproofing is needed due to use of unit as shower or in order to manage condensation and aggressive cleaning Waterproofing is needed in all residential and commercial steam room applications. Topically applied waterproofing membranes are available in liquid, sheet or backer board form. All products should meet ANSI Waterproofing applied within floors should meet ANSI / ASTM D4068 or ASTM D4551 The safest methods describe a water out approach and locate the waterproofing layer directly beneath the surface finish installation thus avoiding water migration into structures which may form possible petri dishes for mold & mildew. Ideally, in a steam room a waterproofing will function as a sufficient vapor retarding membrane all in one.

24 b. Vapor proofing installation Over all inside surfaces wall, ceiling, benches, objects tiled All fixtures and installations must be vapor proof and proofed Vapor proofing/retarding must be correctly placed to manage migration of vapor and condensation If topical waterproofing membrane is not capable of retarding vapor, an additional vapor retarder must be installed behind the tile backing surface and overlap into the floor waterproofing membrane ( i.e. polyethylene sheeting with permeability rating of 0.1 or less as per TCNA Handbook) The Tile Council of North America also recommends that topical waterproofing membranes (sheet/liquid/backer board based) in continuous use steam rooms must have a permeability rating of 0.5 when measured using ASTM E96 Method E ( saturated humidity/100*f, desiccant or water method). The Tile Council does not differentiate between residential and commercial use in its details. The rating is not based on testing but on cautionary industry consensus. Will it be enough?

25 b. Water & Vapor proofing installation- Practical issues and questions to ask How strong will a vapor retarding membrane have to be in non- continuous (residential or commercial) applications? What to do in commercial steam rooms where an additional vapor retarder is needed but cannot overlap into a floor liner? Is it safe to use additional vapor retarders that are stapled or anchored to framework or solid substrates? Safe behind benches/multiple sheets? If a sheet, liquid or backer board applied membrane is used for waterproofing and it can provide a sufficient vapor retarding as well: Is the installation technique safe ( i.e. overlapping thinset bonded sheet membranes ) Please ensure proper thickness of liquid membrane installations: A permeability rating is the arithmetic result of a materials permeance and thickness. Please ask the manufacturer for the needed application thickness, number of coating applications needed Please make sure the product was tested under ASTME96 Method E ( 90% RH) -There are five methods

26 b. Water & Vapor proofing installation- Need for new and clear definitions: Waterproof Membrane: Permeability rating possibly high Vapor Retarder: Traditionally 1 going against zero Vapor Barrier : zero to acceptable low permeability fitting a certain steam room environment/design ( size/usage) Three categories but two actively refer to vapor protection. Is it not time to uncouple the waterproofing membrane term from this application and stop possible confusion?

27 b. Vapor proofing installation- Additional helpful design components Insulation Strength/ R-Value: High R Value Lower Temperature Differential Lower Vapor Pressure ( + added efficiency) Setting Materials/ added vapor resistance : Solid Epoxy thinset/grout combination ( 100% coverage) Impervious tile

28 Surface finish design of the steam room Ceramics, Glass, Stone Porcelain/ Ceramic Glass Natural Stone Suitable with varying degrees Partially suitable, except translucent tile Partially suitable, except moisture sensitive stone! Considerations: Slip resistance on floors Potential for color changes/ physical reactions? Oily surface possible? Porosity supporting efflorescence? Expansion/contraction

29 Surface finish design of the steam room Appropriate Setting/ Grout materials Epoxy based ANSI Suitable and perfect choice Fortified Mortars/Grout ANSI 118.4; Suitable with limitations Unfortified Portland Cement mortars/grout ANSI ; Suitable except with most steam room appropriate tile

30 Surface finish design of the steam room Protecting the tile work Expansion& Slip Joints Tile & Stone Sealers Proper material, where planes change, every 8-12 ft See TCNA Detail EJ 171 With caution where applicable

31 YOUR PARTNER IN STEAM ROOM PROJECTS: Tel WEDI WE LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR SUPPORT :

32 THANK YOU Any Questions? Bastian Lohmann; wedi Corporation Tel WEDI;