Moisture problems in buildings in hot humid climates

For this paper's purposes the definitions of hot and humid are, by ASHRAE, one percent standard design criteria with hot humid defined as over 90°F Dry Bulb with coincident 76°F or higher Wet Bulb temperature. In the USA this includes the Gulf Coast, Florida, coastal Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The basics of building moisture control, regardless of the climate are the same: control (reduce) indoor relative humidity; insulate to control surfaces above the dew point; vapor retarders to control vapor and air flow between indoors and outdoors; control of external water penetration into the building including rain and ground water. The article discusses these points in relation to the geographic area in question.