Climate Variations and Wood Flooring

​Climate can make a big difference in your wood floors! So let's talk about what affects it. You can't change the climate, but you can be realistic about what it means.

A general understanding of the exterior climate zone where your floor is being installed can help you understand the facility’s interior requirements. A brief discussion about the exterior and interior requirements can help people understand the importance of the environment as it allows itself to perform as intended, and ultimately ensure a successful installation.

The facility must align with the flooring requirements.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service suggests the following moisture content (MC) average and ranges for interior wood products:

• United States have an average of 8 percent MC, ranging from 6 to 10 percent MC
• Dry southwestern regions have an average of 6 percent MC, ranging from 4 to 9 percent MC
• Damp, warm coastal areas have an average of 11 percent MC, ranging from 8 to 13 percent MC

N.B. Actual moisture content conditions in any location may differ significantly from these numbers.

Climate Zones are geographic regions based on climate designations as defined by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and as specified by the International Residential Code (IRC), and as used by the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The climate zone map was developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory with input from Building America team members Joseph Lstiburek of Building Science Corporation.

The U.S. Department of Energy divided the United States into eight temperature-oriented climate zones. These zones are further divided into three moisture regions designated A, B, and C. Thus, the IECC map allows for up to 24 potential climate designations.

​

It is critical to properly identify what region you are in so be sure to refer to the climate zone listings of most major counties and cities throughout the world.