Results on Indoor Wood Usage Rates
Positive Effects on the Residential Environment
The Korea Wood Culture Promotion Association (Chairman Lee Nam-ho) and the National Institute of Forest Science (Director Park Hyun) have conducted a study monitoring temperature and humidity according to the proportion of wood used in building interiors, and announced its interim results.
This study examined how actual temperature and humidity change when wood is used at rates of 0%, 45%, and 90%, respectively, in the interiors of three residential buildings of identical floor area and structure. Temperature and humidity sensors were attached to each building to measure changes at four-hour intervals. Beginning in June 2021, the monitoring is planned to continue for at least three years, and these interim results reflect indoor temperature and humidity changes during last summer (August 2021) and winter (January 2022).
The study found that, compared with a building that used no wood, the building with 90% indoor wood composition had a monthly average humidity that was 6.1% lower during the humid summer (August) (77.3%→72.1%) and 42.9% higher during the dry winter (January) (25.4%→36.3%). This means that, without any separate humidity control device, wood contributes to maintaining conditions close to the 40–60% humidity range known to be most suitable for human living.
These research findings were presented at the Spring Conference of the Korean Society of Wood Science and Technology (April 21–22, EXCO, Daegu), where a range of views were gathered from experts.
Dr. Eom Chang-deuk of the National Institute of Forest Science, who served as presenter, said, “Many researchers have presented studies on the various benefits of using wood in the construction field, but this study is highly significant in that it is not laboratory-level research; rather, it consists of actual measured data monitoring the interiors of residential buildings of identical specifications that real people use, according to changes in the amount of wood used.” He added, “Through this study, we expect to make a major contribution to scientifically demonstrating the relationship between the human living environment and wood.”
Meanwhile, beyond this study, the Korea Wood Culture Promotion Association is continuously pursuing medical and scientific research together with related universities to prove the positive emotional and physical effects of wood use on humans, and plans to announce the final results at the end of this year.
▲ Interior compositions according to the amount of wood used (from left: 0%, 45%, and 90% wood usage)