November 2026 ASHRAE ATLANTA CHAPTER MEETING

Tuesday, November 10th, 6:00 - 8:30 PM

Maggiano's Little Italy, Cumberland Mall (1601 Cumberland Mall, Suite 200)

Please note this is a dinner meeting.

Note: Register by Friday 11/6 for discounted Chapter and Society Member Rates

Technical Program Description

Indoor Humidity: Its Impact on Buildings and Their Occupants

Maintaining safe, healthy, and compliant buildings depends on controlling indoor humidity levels that prevent moisture condensation, microbial growth, material degradation, and other humidity-driven failures. Understanding the fundamental mechanisms that cause moisture problems—and how to mitigate them—allows HVACD professionals to stay ahead of issues that affect buildings in all climates, regardless of ASHRAE climatic zone.

This presentation explores the psychrometrics behind high-humidity conditions and examines how excess moisture affects building components, system performance, occupant health, and overall environmental quality. Key concepts from ASHRAE’s Damp Buildings, Human Health, and HVAC Design will be reviewed, highlighting building dampness risk factors and practical strategies for prevention.

Attendees will gain an understanding of:

A. ASHRAE-recommended indoor humidity limits for effective moisture control.

B. Fundamental psychrometric principles—relative humidity, dew-point temperature, how they differ, and how they interact to shape indoor environmental quality.

C. Moisture behavior on building surfaces, including condensation on non-porous materials and adsorption/absorption in porous materials, and how these processes impact building integrity, hygiene, and indoor conditions.

D. Moisture migration and diffusion within building assemblies and how it can complicate the assessment of humidity-related risks.

E. Key opportunities for HVACD engineers to influence compliant, durable, and productive indoor environments through proper humidity control strategies.

After attending this session, participants will be better equipped to diagnose humidity-related issues and design systems that deliver superior indoor environmental quality, improved reliability, and enhanced overall building performance.

Speaker

David N. Schurk

David N. Schurk serves as Technical Solution-Sales Leader for Hoffman & Hoffman, Inc., and is an ASHRAE Life Member and Distinguished Lecturer. He is also a course developer and instructor for multiple ASHRAE Learning Institute (ALI) professional development programs. With over 40 years of HVACD experience, David has led system design, application engineering, and field implementation efforts across healthcare, aerospace, industrial, and mission-critical environments. He is widely recognized for his expertise in psychrometrics, dehumidification system design, component selection, and building integration. David is a frequent contributor to ASHRAE Journal, an international speaker, and an industry advocate for advancing humidity control best practices.

**REFUNDS WILL NOT BE ISSUED FOR CANCELLATIONS WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THE EVENT**