For me, the humidity issues at the University are due to building code issues. Florida building code (revised 18 months ago) now requires: 1. Positive building pressure. This means the HVAC system sources a great deal of outside air to "pressurize" the building to ensure that contaminants are ejected. The pressure must overcome doors opening, bathroom fans, and any other venting to the outside. This causes the humidity in the building to quickly assume whatever humidity is outside. 2. Summer cooling humidity level between 50% and 60% RH - the folks at energy management won't allow lower humidity than that, due to equipment and cost issues. 3. There is no specification for minimum humidity levels, therefore, our brand new music building has no humidifier in the system. As a result, here is what I'm experiencing: The RH in the music building was between 50% and 60% till November. In December we had two periods, several days long where the outside temperature dropped to around 30 F. and the building RH was 15% or lower. (all the pianos were out of tune). When the outside temps warm to 70, as they did this past Monday, the RH was back at 50%. In the past week, I've measured RH from 16% to 53%. The new, super duper, computer controlled HVAC system can not keep the RH consistant, because a humidifier is not in the system. A humidifier is not in the system because the building codes don't require it. Prior to the change in building codes, 18 months ago, I had buildings with closed HVAC systems. Very little outside air was injected. The RH stayed in the 40% to 50% range year round, excepting a cold spell, where the RH went as low as mid 30's. The pianos stayed within 5 cents either way of A=440, and I was a happy camper. Now, I'm not so happy. What I've done: I. I prepared a report that went to the Music Chair and key teachers relating what I've just said above. 2. I recommended Dampp-Chasers and room humidifiers 3. I told them the likely damage that would occur if large humidity swings were to continue 4. I told them that without humidity control, the pianos will not stay in tune in the winter months. 5. I've started a spreadsheet to track outside temp, outside humidity, and inside humidity. Each time I'm in the building I'm taking measurements. 6. I've been tracking humidity on a card inside the piano for 18 months now, since the instability with the code change was very apparent to me. 7. I sent an Email to the State of Florida Department that writes building codes, explaining the issue and asking them to include humidifiers in their building codes. It will cost at least $50,000 to install a building humidifier, and that's really what we need, however, the folks at Energy Management are not backing that, due to increased energy costs. Once the A/C is running an the afternoon rains start, the humidity is always low 50% range, so I'm able to stabilize the instruments for the summer. It's just the winter that is an issue for me. Bob Maret University of Central Florida -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/caut.php/attachments/20110107/3f7f9b3c/attachment-0001.htm>
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