Evolution of sub-floor moisture management requirements in UK, USA and New Zealand 1600s to 1969 Nigel Isaacs School of Architecture, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the historic development of the requirements for sub-floor (also known as “basementless space” or “crawl space”) moisture management in the USA, UK and New Zealand (NZ) from 1600s to 1969. Design/methodology/approach – The review of 171 documents, including legislation, research papers, books and magazines, identified three time periods where the focus differed: 1849, removal of impure air; 1850–1929, the use of ground cover and thorough ventilation; and 1930–1969, the development of standards. Findings – Published moisture management guidance has been found from 1683, but until the 1920s, it was based on the provision of “adequate” ventilation and, in the UK, the use of impermeable ground cover. Specific ventilation area calculations have been available from 1898 in the UK, 1922 in the USA and 1924 in NZ. These are based on the area of ventilation per unit floor area, area of ventilation per unit length of perimeter wall, or a combination of both. However, it was not until 1937 in the USA, 1944 in NZ and after the period covered by this paper in the UK, that numerical values were enforced in codes. Vents requirements started at 1 in. of vent per square foot of floor area (0.7 per cent but first published in the USA with a misplaced decimal point as 7 per cent). The average vent area was 0.69 per cent in USA for 19 cases, 0.54 per cent in NZ for 7 cases and 0.13 per cent in UK for 3 cases. The lower UK vent area requirements were probably due to the use of ground covers such as asphalt or concrete in 1854, compared with in 1908 in NZ and in 1947 in USA. The use of roll ground cover (e.g. plastic film) was first promoted in 1949 in USA and 1960 in NZ. Practical implications – Common themes found in the evolution of sub-floor moisture management include a lack of documented research until the 1940s, a lack of climate or site-based requirements and different paths to code requirements in the three countries. Unlike many building code requirements, a lack of sub-floor moisture management seldom leads to catastrophic failure and consequent political pressure for immediate change. From the first published use of performance-based “adequate” ventilation to the first numerical or “deemed to satisfy” solutions, it took 240 years. The lessons from this process may provide guidance on improving modern building codes. Originality/value – This is the first time such an evaluation has been undertaken for the three countries. Keywords Ventilation, Moisture, Building code, Crawl space Paper type Literature review Introduction The 2000s have seen research into sub-floor moisture issues (Advanced Energy, 2005; McNeil et al., 2016), with the result that science-based, improved moisture management guidance is becoming available. It is an appropriate time to review the evolution of historic sub-floor moisture management requirements and ensure that the lessons from the past can be used for the future. Suspended ground floors have many advantages compared with traditional rammed earth, materials (e.g. flagstones or ceramic tiles) laid directly on the ground, or the concrete floors (Douglas, 1997a, p. 152). Yet the creation of the suspended timber floor has not always been easy. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation Vol. 37 No. 4, 2019 pp. 366-394 © Emerald Publishing Limited 2398-4708 DOI 10.1108/IJBPA-06-2018-0052 Received 27 June 2018 Revised 26 February 2019 Accepted 16 April 2019 The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at: www.emeraldinsight.com/2398-4708.htm The work of Bill Rose on the development of US requirements is gratefully acknowledged. This paper could not have been written without the support of Fulbright NZ Scholarship October 2016 to February 2017, and that of Victoria University of Wellington and the Bartlett, University College London for Research and Study leave in 2015. 366 IJBPA 37,4