Air/Vapor Treatment at Junctions
Air and vapor leakage at wall/roof junctions is perhaps the predominant
construction problem in cold storage facilities.
When a cold room of interior/exterior design is
lowered to operating temperature, the structural elements contract and can pull the roof away from the wall.
Negative pressure in the space of the wall/roof junction can cause
warm, moist air to leak into the room and form frost and ice. Therefore,
proper design and construction of the air/vapor seal is critical.
An air/vapor flashing sheet system (a transition from the roof
vapor retarder to the exterior wall vapor retarder) is best for preventing
leakage. A good corner flashing sheet must be flexible, tough,
airtight, and vaportight. Proper use of flexible insulation at overlaps,
mastic adhesive, and a good mastic sealer ensure leak-free performance.
To remain airtight and vaportight during the life of the facility,
a properly constructed vapor retarder should
1.Be flexible enough to withstand building movements that may
occur at operating temperatures
2.Allow for thermal contraction of the insulation as the room is
pulled down to operating temperature
3.Be constructed with a minimum of penetrations that might cause
leaks (wall ties and structural steel that extend through the corner
flashing sheet may eventually leak no matter how well sealed during
construction; minimize these, and make them accessible for
maintenance)
4.Have corner flashing sheet properly lapped and sealed with adhesive
and mechanically fastened to the wall vapor retarder
5.Have corner flashing sealed to roof without openings
6.Have floor to exterior vapor retarders that are totally sealed
The interior/exterior design is likely to be unsuccessful
at the wall/roof junction because of extreme difficulty in
maintaining an airtight or vaportight environment.
The practices outlined for the wall/roof junction apply for other
insulation junctions. The insulation manufacturer and designer must
coordinate details of the corner flashing design.
Poor design and shoddy installation cause moist air leakage into
the facility, resulting in frost and ice formation, energy loss, poor
appearance, loss of useful storage space, and, eventually, expensive
repairs.
Floor Construction
Refrigerated facilities held above freezing need no special
underfloor treatment. A below-the-floor vapor retarder is needed
in facilities held below freezing, however. Without underfloor
heating, the subsoil eventually freezes; any moisture in this soil
also freezes and causes floor frost heaving. In warmer climates,
underfloor tubes vented to ambient air may be sufficient to prevent
heaving.