Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hartwig M Künzel

Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics

Wood preservation through constructional measures instead of chemistry
This keynote address will be delivered virtually.

Moisture-sensitive materials such as timber can be deteriorated by excessive moisture in the structure due to poor building techniques and limited understanding of hygrothermal design. Germany has developed standards, design technology and material configurations that allow the design of timber structures that will permit the timber to remain dry. When materials remain dry, chemical-based treatments are not required to protect them from moisture damage and insect attack. Methods of construction, weather resistive barriers (WRBs), and insulation selection play an important role in the longevity of the structure.

This presentation will outline the rationale and the specifics of untreated timber constructions to a non-German-speaking community.

About Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hartwig M. Künzel

Since 1994, Prof. Hartwig Künzel has been head of department at the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics in Germany. He is an expert in building physics, specialising in heat and moisture transfer in building materials, envelope assemblies and whole buildings.

During his PhD work, Hartwig developed the hygrothermal model WUFI, an internationally recognised and widely applied simulation model for moisture control in buildings. He is a member of ASHRAE, and has been principal reviser of Chapter 25 of the internationally renowned ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals. He has also been awarded international honorary membership of SHASEJ, the Japanese Society of Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Sanitary Engineers.

Hartwig is now teaching “climate adapted design” and “indoor climate” as honorary professor at the University of Stuttgart. He holds several patents and has published more than 450 scientific articles in international trade journals, conference proceedings and textbooks.