CONDENSATION RESEARCH
1	 PREFACE
In this article, Stantec will share our inves-
tigation into a building that was designed 
to modern codes, yet still experienced 
condensation over Vancouver’s winter. 
We’ll also leverage 3D Finite Element 
Analysis to explore the relationship 
between envelope detailing and  
condensation management. 
2	 SITE INVESTIGATION
In February 2025, a building facility 
manager asked Stantec to investigate 
why one of their units was experiencing 
excess moisture. This Vancouver building 
completed construction in summer 2024 
that they wipe its floors most mornings, 
only for moisture to resurface (see Figure 
1’s stained baseboards). I experienced 
this firsthand – my socks dampened as I 
approached the bedroom corner.
Other observations include:
1)	 The wall corner’s flooring surface 
temperature was 14-15°C – the coldest 
point in the room (Figure 3);
2)	 Outdoor temperature was ~10°C;
3)	 The bedroom’s indoor temperature 
and relative humidity were ~23°C / 56 
per cent RH, corresponding to a dew 
point temperature of ~13.7°C; and
and is composed of five-storeys of wood-
frame residential units bearing onto one-
storey of concrete/steel-stud retail.
Stantec visited the subject unit on an 
overcast March morning. This corner unit 
is located on level two and contains three 
bedrooms + living/dining. Two bedrooms 
face north and adjoin concrete balconies 
projecting from the level two floor slab 
(Figure 2).
The tenant noted that they’ve been 
combating flooring moisture in the 
north bedrooms since last November. 
The northeast (NE) bedroom is the 
worst offender, with the tenant citing 
FIGURE 1: EXCESS MOISTURE SEEN ON UNIT'S 
INTERIOR FINISHES.
FIGURE 2: LEVEL TWO CORNER UNIT, NORTH 
ELEVATION; BEDROOM WINDOWS/CONCRETE 
BALCONIES VISIBLE.
FIGURE 3: SURFACE TEMPERATURE OF NE 
BEDROOM CORNER.
CONDENSATION 
IN MODERN 
ENVELOPES 
Rethinking humidity and 
thermal bridging  
in B.C.’s coastal climate
By Jason Z. Wen, P.Eng., and Julien Schwartz, M.Eng., Stantec
SPRING/SUMMER 2026 13

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