THE IMPORTANCE OF VAPOR MANAGEMENT IN TILED STEAM ROOM INSTALLATIONS - Bastian Lohmann, wedi Corporation
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
THE IMPORTANCE OF VAPOR MANAGEMENT IN
TILED STEAM ROOM INSTALLATIONS
Bastian Lohmann, wedi Corporation
Credit(s) earned on completion of This course is registered with AIA
this course (1 LU) will be reported to CES for continuing professional
AIA CES for AIA members. education. As such, it does not
Certificates of Completion for both include content that may be deemed
AIA members and non-AIA members or construed to be an approval or
are available upon request. 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.
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.
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
Steam Rooms & Steam Showers : Well-Being Movement
• Sat. humidity
• 100-120* F
• Produced by
steam generator
• Addition of
Shower, Chroma
or Music therapy/
functions
• Tile & Stone as a
traditional finish:
well being for the
eyes
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
Structural design of the tiled steam room Commercial / Residential environments –possible substrates: • Framework wood/metal
Structural design of the steam room Commercial / Residential environments –possible substrates: • Masonry, concrete, solid walls
Structural design of the steam room Commercial / Residential environments- possible substrates: • Self supporting walls made of foam based building panels
Structural design of the steam room Commercial / Residential environments - possible substrates: • Wood floors
Structural design of the steam room Commercial / Residential environments- possible substrates: • Concrete Floors
Structural design of the steam room • Special applications- special challenges added
Structural design of the steam room • Seating areas are a must but may present challenges
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
workmanshipInterior & 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 therapyInterior & functional design of the steam room
• The Steam Generator
• Creates water
vapor/ saturation of
98% RH
• Heats the room to
100-120*F
• Water vapor shall
be visible –
regulate
temperature !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
connectionsInterior & 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 tightInterior & 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 /
glassInterior & 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 tightProtecting the installation :
safe water and water vapor management
Hot Air, High
Humidity
Cool Air,
Low
HumiditySafe 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
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 118.10
• Waterproofing applied within floors should meet ANSI 118.10/ 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.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?
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 methodsb. 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?
b. Vapor proofing installation-
Additional helpful design components
• Insulation Strength/ R-Value:
Lower Vapor
Lower Pressure
High R Value Temperature
Differential ( + added
efficiency)
• Setting Materials/ added vapor resistance :
Solid Epoxy thinset/grout combination ( 100% coverage)
Impervious tileSurface finish design of the steam room
• Ceramics, Glass, Stone
! Considerations:
Porcelain/ Suitable
with varying
• Slip resistance on floors
• Potential for color
Ceramic degrees changes/ physical
reactions?
Partially suitable, • Oily surface possible?
Glass except translucent • Porosity supporting
tile efflorescence?
• Expansion/contraction
Natural Partially suitable, except
Stone moisture sensitive stoneSurface finish design of the steam room
• Appropriate Setting/ Grout materials
Epoxy based Suitable and
ANSI 118.3 perfect choice
Fortified
Mortars/Grout Suitable with
ANSI 118.4; 118.7 limitations
Unfortified Suitable except
Portland Cement with most
mortars/Grout steam room
ANSI 118.1 ; 118.6 appropriate tileSurface finish design of the steam room
• Protecting the tile work
Proper material, where planes
Expansion& change, every 8-12 ft
Slip Joints See TCNA Detail EJ 171
Tile & Stone With caution
where
Sealers applicableYOUR PARTNER IN STEAM ROOM PROJECTS:
www.wedicorp.com
info@wedicorp.com
Tel. 877.933.WEDI
WE LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR SUPPORT :THANK YOU
Any Questions?
Bastian Lohmann; wedi Corporation
Tel. 877-933-WEDI; info@wedicorp.comYou can also read
