HVAC
Solenco
As buildings become more airtight and energy efficient, moisture management is emerging as a critical design issue, particularly in humid coastal areas.
Modern buildings are becoming more energy efficient and increasingly airtight. While this reduces energy loss and improves climate control, it also removes one of the oldest forms of moisture management in buildings: natural airflow. In doing so, it creates a less visible but increasingly important risk that many developments are not yet designed to manage.
Green building standards are pushing for tighter envelopes and improved insulation, while coastal regions such as Cape Town and KwaZulu-Natal continue to experience high humidity in all sealed off spaces. This also affects legacy building stock, where they are being retrofitted to improve energy performance. Often, little attention is paid to address how moisture will behave in newly sealed environments.
The result is a growing mismatch between temperature control and moisture control. Buildings may feel cool, but still retain elevated humidity levels that affect materials, finishes, and equipment over time. Persistent moisture can lead to corrosion, surface degradation, and increased maintenance cycles, particularly where humidity remains high for extended periods.
102 winter 2026 | www. tobuild. co. za