COMMERCIAL CASE STUDY
Commercial Office Dehumidification Case Study - Pensacola Florida
Independent Dehumidification Stabilized Humidity Levels and Reduced Electricity Costs in a Large Commercial Office Buildng.
Humidity Challenges in the Office Complex
A large commercial office complex in Pensacola, Florida experienced persistent humidity problems despite a functioning HVAC system.
Southern Climate Solutions was engaged to evaluate the building and develop a comprehensive moisture control strategy.
Measured Performance Results
Office Humidity Reduction
Indoor humidty dropped from 85% to 50% within days of installation and remained stable throughout the monitoring period.
Office Temperature Change
A cold environment was transformed into a comfortable space as average temperature went from 65ºF to 71ºF with the introduction of dry air.
Electricity Savings
Electricity costs decreased significantly after installation dropping 18% during the period monitored.
Building Evaluation
The office complex experienced ongoing humidity issues throughout the space. Employees frequently reported an unusally cold and damp work environment, leading to performance issues and the feeling of an unhealthy space.
High humidity inside commercial building can lead to:
- condensation on surfaces
- dripping vents
- musty odars
- microbial growth
- poor indoor air quality
- occupant illness or discomfort
- increased energy consumption
During the evaluation, Southern Climate Solutions determined that moisture was entering the off-grade building from the structural area beneath the building, allowing ground vapor and outdoor moist air to migrate into the structure through the floor boards and contribute to elevated indoor humidity levels.
Humidity Control with Commercial Dehumidification and Encapsulation
To control both indoor humidity and crawl space humidity, the off-grade structure was fully encapsulated.
Encapsulation protects the structure from ground vapor and outdoor humid air seeping into the area through foundation vents. Without addressing the source of the moisture, humidity inside the building would have remained elevated regardless of HVAC performance.
Once the crawl space was properly sealed, commercial dehumidifiers were installed inside the crawl. These independent dehumidifiers control both crawl space conditions as well as interior building humidity.
Independent dehumidification systems operate separately from the HVAC equipment, allowing humidity to be controlled without relying on temperature-driven cooling cycles.
This approach stabilizes indoor humidity and crawl space humidity between 40%-50%, the ideal range for comfort and mold prevention.
This method is essential in off-grade structures and not only controls indoor humidity, but crawl space humidity. This application creates a controlled environment in the crawl space, protecting the structure from moisture damaged wood, pests, and microbial growth while creating a healthy, safe, and comfortable indoor environment.
Measured Results After Installation
Indoor humidity and temperature were monitored before and after installation to evaluate the performance of the system.
The results demonstrated:
- rapid humidity reduction
- improved comfort throughout the office complex
- significant reduction in electricity consumption
- reduced strain on building’s HVAC
By stabilizing humidity independently of the HVAC system, the building achieved improved comfort, energy efficiency and improved indoor air quality. In addition, the crawl space structure was made safe from the hazards of water damage due to high humidity and shallow water tables.
This project demoonstrates how addressing crawl space moisture issues in off-grade structures can significantly improve indoor humidity and building performance.
Data Collection Chart Results
Need Humidity Control for Your Building?
Southern Climate Solutions provides independent commercial dehumidification solutions for office buildings, condominiums, hotels, and municipal facilities throughout the Southeastern United States.