Evaluation of Crawlspace Retrofits in Multifamily Buildings

In 2011 and early 2012, Building Science Corporation (BSC) collaborated with Innova Services Corporation on a multifamily community un-vented crawlspace retrofit project at Oakwood Gardens in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. BSC provided design consulting services and pre- and post-retrofit evaluation, testing, and data monitoring.The existing condition was a vented crawlspace with an un-insulated floor between the crawlspace and the dwelling units above. The crawlspace was therefore a critically weak link in the building enclosure and was ripe for improvement. Saving energy was the primary interest and goal, but the greatest challenge in this un-vented crawlspace retrofit project was working through a crawlspace bulk water intrusion problem caused by inadequate site drainage, window well drainage, foundation wall drainage, and a rising water table during rainy periods.While the un-vented crawlspace retrofit was effective in reducing heat loss, and the majority of the bulk water drainage problems had been resolved, the important finding was that some of the wood joists embedded in masonry pockets behind the brick veneer were showing signs of moisture damage.

Data and Resources

Field Value
DOI 10.25984/2204225
accessLevel public
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issued 2016-04-27T06:00:00Z
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Groups
  • AmeriGEOSS
  • National Provider
  • North America
Tags
  • AmeriGEO
  • AmeriGEOSS
  • CKAN
  • GEO
  • GEOSS
  • National
  • North America
  • United States
  • affordable-housing
  • boiler
  • building-america
  • buildingamerica
  • bulk-water
  • embedded-wood-joists
  • existing-home
  • life-cycle-cost
  • mixed-humid
  • moisture-risk
  • multifamily
  • relative-humidity
  • residential
  • temperature
  • unvented-crawlspace
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maintainer Armin Rudd
maintainer_email arudd@abtsystems.us
metadata_created 2025-09-24T20:16:00.245546
metadata_modified 2025-09-24T20:16:00.245558
notes In 2011 and early 2012, Building Science Corporation (BSC) collaborated with Innova Services Corporation on a multifamily community un-vented crawlspace retrofit project at Oakwood Gardens in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. BSC provided design consulting services and pre- and post-retrofit evaluation, testing, and data monitoring.The existing condition was a vented crawlspace with an un-insulated floor between the crawlspace and the dwelling units above. The crawlspace was therefore a critically weak link in the building enclosure and was ripe for improvement. Saving energy was the primary interest and goal, but the greatest challenge in this un-vented crawlspace retrofit project was working through a crawlspace bulk water intrusion problem caused by inadequate site drainage, window well drainage, foundation wall drainage, and a rising water table during rainy periods.While the un-vented crawlspace retrofit was effective in reducing heat loss, and the majority of the bulk water drainage problems had been resolved, the important finding was that some of the wood joists embedded in masonry pockets behind the brick veneer were showing signs of moisture damage.
num_resources 41
num_tags 23
title Evaluation of Crawlspace Retrofits in Multifamily Buildings