ConstructionInsitituteIntegrityTesting

7/28/2019 ConstructionInsitituteIntegrityTesting

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Construction Institute

Integrity Testing of RoofingIntegrity Testing of Roofingand Waterproofing Membraneand Waterproofing Membranes

How to find the leaks you know about as well as those you donHow to find the leaks you know about as well as those you dontt


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Remo R. Capolino, P.E., RRCRemo R. Capolino, P.E., RRC

Wiss, J anney, Elstner AssociatesWiss, J anney, Elstner AssociatesShelton, CtShelton, Ct


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Methods of Integrity TestingMethods of Integrity Testing

z

Spray Test (Commonly called Water Test)z Flood Test

z Capacitance or Impedance

zNuclear Meter

z Infrared

z High Voltage

z Low Voltage


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Which Method Is Right?Which Method Is Right?

z

Depends upon many factors: Building structure

Roof Configuration

Roof Materials

z BE CAREFUL!!!


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How To Solve The Puzzle?How To Solve The Puzzle?z Understand each test.

z Know the conditions.

z Match the test to the conditions.

Nuclear

Low V

High V

Cap.

I Red

FloodWater


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Spray TestSpray Test

z

The most basic.z Results are Interpretive

z Least technical.

z Equipment is garden variety water hose.

z Training is minimal.


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Candidate for a Water Test?Candidate for a Water Test?


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Spray Test In Progress


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Flood TestFlood Test

z

Low tech.z Results are Interpretive

z Few pieces of equipment required.

z Be patient.


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Electrical CapacitanceElectrical Capacitance

z

Used to monitor moisture in the paper andlumber industries.

z Capacitance meter measures the ability of

a material to maintain a charge separation.z Air has a dielectric constant = 1.

z

Roof materials range between 4 and 6.z Water has a dielectric constant = 60+/-.

z Results are Interpretive.


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z

Very sensitive to water.z Roof surface must be dry.

z The meter is more sensitive to moisture

near the roof surface and less sensitive tomoisture at the deeper roof levels.

z

Gravel thickness can affect the readings.z Continuous readings.

z Conducted during the daylight.


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NuclearNuclearzNuclear meters emit a stream of high

velocity neutrons that are about the samemass as a hydrogen atom.

z

When a neutron strikes a hydrogen atom, itgives up some energy and rebounds atslower speed.

z

The nuclear meter is sensitive to theseslower neutrons and records the slowerneutrons.


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NuclearNuclear

zNeutrons rebound off hydrogen atoms inwater and asphalts (hydrocarbons).

zNuclear meter does not know which

slowed neutrons rebounded off of water orasphalts. All it does is count the slowedneutrons and provide a digital reading.

z Core samples are required to establish abaseline.


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NuclearNuclear

z Before nuclear readings are taken, a grid ismarked on the roof surface. Usually, it is a

10 by 10 grid that is parallel to at leastone roof edge and each grid point ismarked by a dot of spray paint.

z Readings are taken and marked on the roofand the roof plan.

z Many times a pattern evolves and lendsitself to marking areas on the roof surface.


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NuclearNuclearz Results are Interpretive

z Conducted during the daylight.

z Digital readout for analysis.

z Grid points can be used help layout areasof wet roofing.

z Requires a licensed operator.


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InfraredInfraredz Infrared Thermography is a continuous

process that senses the energy emittedfrom roof top surfaces.

z Infrared scanners (cameras) have opticalscanning devices that show infrared energyin real time on a screen.


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InfraredInfraredz Wet insulation loses much of its insulating value.

z In the winter time, more heat will pass throughwet insulation than dry insulation.

z

In the summer time, after sunset, the wetinsulation will hold heat longer and appear as ahot spot.

z

The different thermal images show as differentcolors on the screen.

z Results are Interpretive.


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InfraredInfraredz Since the scan is continuous, outlines of

suspected wet areas can be marked with ahigh degree of accuracy.

z Core tests should be done to verifysuspected wet areas.

z Infrared is usually done in the evening orduring the night.


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High VoltageHigh VoltagezNew to the United States.

z Several years in the United Kingdom.

z Relatively high voltage (and low amps).

z Uses the moisture that has passed throughthe membrane breach to complete the

circuit.z Results are Definitive - Breach in

membrane can be pinpointed.


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membranemembrane

groundground

groundground

High voltage testingHigh voltage testing

Electricity at sufficiently high voltage will arc acrossElectricity at sufficiently high voltage will arc across

holes in the membrane,holes in the membrane,provided thatprovided that ground is close

to the underside of membrane


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High VoltageHigh Voltagez The deck must be electrically conductive:

Either metal deck or concrete deck.

z The membrane must be an electrical

insulator:TPO, PVC, NBP, EIP.

z To detect a membrane breach, there mustbe a moisture path from the membranesurface to the deck.


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membranemembrane

High voltage testingHigh voltage testing

Electricity at sufficiently high voltage will arc acrossElectricity at sufficiently high voltage will arc across

holes in the membrane,holes in the membrane,provided thatprovided that ground is close

to the underside of membrane


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High VoltageHigh Voltagez Only tests on exposed membranes.

zNo water source required.

z Immediate pinpoint results available.

z Repair breach and retest.


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Low VoltageLow VoltagezNew to the United States.

z Several years in the United Kingdom/Europe.

z Low voltage and low amperes.

z Wet Membrane Surface.z Smooth Membrane Surface.

z Results are Definitive - Breach in membranecan be pinpointed.

z Repair breach and retest.


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++

looploop

x


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deckingdecking

vaporvapor retarderretarder

insulationinsulation

membranemembrane

currentcurrent flowflow

looploop looploop


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Membrane Integrity TestingMembrane Integrity Testingz There are a number of systems to select.

z Match the system to the conditions andyour needs.

z

Eliminate as many variables as possible.z Choose between the interpretive tests:

water, flood, nuclear and infrared or the

direct, pinpoint tests: low or high voltage.z Give yourself the opportunity to make a

sound decision.


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Thank You For AttendingThank You For Attending

Remo R. Capolino, P.E., RRCRemo R. Capolino, P.E., RRCWiss, J anney, Elstner AssociatesWiss, J anney, Elstner Associates

2 Trap Falls Rd2 Trap Falls RdShelton, CTShelton, CT

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ConstructionInsitituteIntegrityTesting