Characterization of humidity in private housing in the urban expansion zone in the city of Puyo

Abstract

The climate of Puyo is one of the major problems affecting the city's construction typology. Although regulations now stipulate that houses must have pitched roofs, until a few years ago, houses with terraces topped with concrete slabs were common. This situation has changed due to the city's climate and because it is one of the areas with the highest rainfall in the country. Standardized construction methods had been promoted without regard for the city's specific climatic characteristics. One of the most implemented solutions to address the inherent humidity problems has been the construction of pitched metal roofs to protect the structures. This article focuses on analyzing humidity in houses VI, VI2, and VC (a prototype of a private house built in urban expansion zone 1) to characterize the humidity in this area of ​​the Amazon region. To achieve this objective, an experimental analysis of the interior temperature and relative humidity of these houses was conducted. According to the results, none of the analyzed houses reached an optimal humidity range, even under the best conditions. Furthermore, independently implemented strategies such as ventilation have minimal impact and can even be counterproductive due to the high temperatures. Additionally, while natural ventilation does improve humidity levels, it still fails to achieve the recommended humidity levels. Finally, this article argues that homes in the city of Puyo should conduct their own comprehensive analysis to manage the humidity conditions.