Designs That Work

Cold Climate

Introduction - Building for a Cold Climate

A Cold climate is defined as a region with approximately 5,400 heating degree days or more, but fewer than 9,000 heating degree days. In North America, most cold climates vary in annual precipitation from less than 20 in. to more than 60 in. Condensation of warm interior air on cold surfaces within the building assembly is a concern in design and construction. In addition, in many areas ground water presents a concern because most houses are built with basements or crawl spaces. Rain, snow, and ice damming represent threats to the integrity of the building envelope.

Until recently, the focus in terms of moisture control in cold climates was moisture drive from the interior during the heating season. The widespread introduction of centralized cooling in cold climates, however, can produce cold interior surfaces on which warm moist air infiltrating from the exterior can condense during the summer. If interior vapor barriers are installed in conjunction with air conditioning, serious moisture problems can occur. Interior vapor barriers should be avoided in this climate region. Controlling moisture and air flow in the building envelope in this climate is critical to designing and building a durable, comfortable home.

Note: Don't forget that it is always the conditions that you actually experience in your area that determine the appropriate building design and construction details. The Building America Climate Zones provide simplified groupings of geographic locations that may actually vary greatly in terms of weather, and therefore should be viewed as guidelines.

Map 1: Annual Precipitation - North America

Map 2: The Building America Hygro-Thermal Regions