Estimation of building componentsʹ exposure to moisture in Greece based on wind, rainfall and other climatic data

An estimation of moisture loading severity for building components in Greece was attempted. Annual driving rain indices were calculated for 31 stations spread all over the country, based on the average annual rainfall and wind speed values derived from data, published by Hellenic National Meteorological Service. The analysis revealed that the majority of the locations are sheltered from driving rain. A driving rain map for Greece was produced. A second set of annual driving rain indices were calculated for these sites, based on average monthly data. The relationship between these two sets of indices for the 31 locations was best approximated by a hyperbolic function. Thessaloniki, a city in northern Greece, was further studied using average annual and daily data provided by the Institute of Meteorology and Climatology, A.U.Th. For Thessaloniki, the exposure estimated from daily data was bigger than the one resulting from annual data. Finally, a moisture index for the comparison of building componentsʹ exposure to moisture, with the drying potential also being considered, was calculated for the 31 sites studied and a ranking of these sitesʹ climates in terms of moisture loading on buildings was obtained. The drying potentialʹs contribution to this ranking is very important.