Presents the calculated moisture conditions of a wall exposed to a climate equivalent to that in northern Sweden. A north-facing timber wall with a brick facade and cellulose loose-fill thermal insulation is studied both with and without a vapour retarder and air leakage. If the vapour retarder is eliminated from the construction, the moisture levels will increase to unacceptably high values. The construction becomes sensitive to the choice of facing materials and the indoor moisture supply. Air leakage carrying moist air into the construction leads to unacceptably high values even for moderate indoor moisture supplies.

KEYWORDS: year 1995, moisture, cavity walls, walls, thermal insulation, cavity wall insulation, cellulose, loose fill insulants, calculating, walls, bricks, facades, timber framed construction, vapour barriers, air infiltration, leaking, Sweden, computer programs, relative humidity, air tightness, water permeability.