Nalliah Thayabharan's (expertinspector) Blog

Winter moisture condensation is probably the most common moisture-related problem that affects houses. In its mildest form, it appears only as harmless surface condensation on windows. In severe cases it causes decay that might affect the structure itself. In between these extremes, it can manife...

Sound waves are small rapid fluctuations in pressure that propagate in air as well as in solids and liquids. A distinction is made between airborne sound and structure-borne sound depending on the medium in which the sound waves are travelling. In buildings, sound waves may originate as airborne ...

The designer can help to assure that the modern building is safe from the sight-obscuring effects of smoke from fires by knowing the amount of smoke that can be generated and by knowing how to provide for efficient exit signage. Smoke causes more loss of life in building fires than any other elem...

Adequate ventilation is essential in all houses to ensure acceptable indoor air quality, control condensation, and in some cases ensure an adequate supply of combustion air for fuel-fired heating appliances. In the past most houses were ventilated by air leakage through cracks and openings in the...

Characteristics of ShrinkageWood shrinks when it dries and swells when it becomes wet. These dimensional changes vary with the species and the orientation of the wood fibres. When wood dries from its green condition, little or no shrinkage occurs until the moisture content falls below the fibre s...

Corktown, one of Toronto's most historic areas is poised for massive redevelopment.  Corktown is a historic Old Town neighbourhood in downtown Toronto is located just south of Regent Park and north of the Gardiner Expressway, between Berkeley Street to the west and the Don River to the east. The ...

NY Thermal Inc. recalls to repair Gas Fired Hot Water Boilers due to Carbon Monoxide Hazard.Product: NTI Trinity Gas Fired Hot Water Boilers model numbers:Ti1oo, Ti150, Ti200, and Ti400.Manufactured between Nov28, 2005 and January 8, 2007All are wall mounted units with the exception of the Ti400 ...

The following are general recommendations that should be followed in the design of passive solar heated buildings.Passive solar heating will tend to work best, and be most economical, in climates with clear skies during the winter heating season and where alternative heating sources are relativel...

Stack effect is the movement of air into and out of buildings, chimneys, flue gas stacks, or other containers, and is driven by buoyancy. Buoyancy occurs due to a difference in indoor-to-outdoor air density resulting from temperature and moisture differences. The result is either a positive or ne...

Bernoulli's Principle states that in an ideal fluid (low speed air is a good approximation), with no work being performed on the fluid, an increase in velocity occurs simultaneously with decrease in pressure or a change in the fluid's gravitational potential energy.This principle is a simplificat...