Condensation Resistance Evaluation of a Double-Sliding Window System in Accordance with the Korean Design Standard for Preventing Condensation in Apartment Buildings
In a cold climate@ the condensation risk for window systems during winter is high@ and such condensation can lead to mold or mildew problems@ thereby causing discomfort for building occupants. To eliminate condensation risks and secure the well-being of the occupants@ the Korean Design Standard for Preventing Condensation in Apartment Buildings was announced in 2014. However@ the current window systems on the market cannot fulfill the strengthened design standards. Therefore@ a high-performance window system that satisfies the new enhanced standard is necessary. The most commonly used double-sliding window system with double glazing on a four-track PVC frame was examined as a reference model to evaluate the condensation resistance for apartment buildings. Several different window system models have been proposed as alternatives. The condensation resistance of the reference model was compared to that of the alternatives using three-dimensional steady-state heat transfer simulations. The Temperature Difference Ratio (TDR) was calculated for each case using the lowest inside surface temperature determined by the simulation results@ and these TDRs were then compared to suggest the most improved alternative.