Samuel V. Glass

Wood structures can endure for centuries if they remain sufficiently dry. As the construction industry evolves, research is needed to protect wood buildings from the potential effects of moisture. Proper design, operation, and maintenance of wood buildings are critical to prevent moisture-induced damage, such as mold growth, wood decay, and corrosion of metal fasteners.

Dr. Glass conducts research within the Building and Fire Sciences Research Work Unit at the Forest Products Laboratory. His research focuses on the building envelope, the collective elements that separate the interior and exterior environments, including the foundation, exterior walls, and roof. Dr. Glass investigates the relationships between moisture, energy efficiency, and durability in residential and non-residential wood buildings. Primary research objectives include

• Advancing the fundamental understanding of wood–moisture interactions;
• Quantifying moisture transfer in the building envelope;
• Developing tools for predicting moisture-induced damage in buildings; and
• Developing moisture control strategies for cross-laminated timber, a relatively new engineered wood product with vast potential for use in mid-rise and high-rise buildings.

Dr. Glass conducted his doctoral research in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He investigated how surfactant films at the gas-liquid interface control gas uptake and evaporation of water. These studies contributed to understanding chemical reactions that occur in sulfuric acid droplets in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere, which affect ozone levels.

• Wood−moisture interactions
• Water vapor sorption in wood
• Moisture-related properties of wood and wood products
• Cross-laminated timber (CLT)
• Moisture control in buildings
• Heat, air, and moisture transfer in the building envelope
• Interior and exterior moisture loads on the building envelope
• Tools for predicting mold growth, wood decay, and corrosion of metal fasteners
• Hygrothermal modeling
• Instrumentation for monitoring moisture levels in building assemblies

Moisture control in wood buildings is important for human health, building sustainability, and conservation of the forest resource. Excessive moisture levels in buildings can lead to mold growth and respiratory health problems for occupants. Preventing moisture problems contributes to building sustainability by extending the service life. The sustainability and health of America's forests depend on sound conservation practices, including utilization. Efficient wood utilization reduces the risk and impacts of wildfire, provides incentives for private landowners to maintain forest land, and provides a critical source of jobs in rural America. Use of wood as a green building material is important for climate change mitigation because wood products store carbon for as long as the building exists. Wood products require less energy to process than other building materials such as steel or concrete, and use of wood produces less air pollution, solid wastes, and greenhouse gases. These benefits hinge on efficient and proper use of wood in construction.