About Moisture Detection; Moisture Detection (1): Low-Slope Commercial Roofs; General Information - FLIR i5 User Manual

16 – Introduction to building thermography
A difference in temperature between the inside and the outside of 10–15°C (18–27°F)
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is recommended. Inspections can be carried out at a lower temperature difference,
but will make the analysis of the infrared images somewhat more difficult.
Avoid direct sunlight on a part of a building structure—e.g. a façade—that is to be
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inspected from the inside. The sunlight will heat the façade which will equalize the
temperature differences on the inside and mask deficiencies in the building structure.
Spring seasons with low nighttime temperatures (±0°C (+32°F)) and high daytime
temperatures (+14°C (+57°F)) are especially risky.
16.2.2

About moisture detection

Moisture in a building structure can originate from several different sources, e.g.:
External leaks, such as floods, leaking fire hydrants etc.
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Internal leaks, such as freshwater piping, waste water piping etc.
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Condensation, which is humidity in the air falling out as liquid water due to conden-
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sation on cold surfaces.
Building moisture, which is any moisture in the building material prior to erecting
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the building structure.
Water remaining from firefighting.
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As a non-destructive detection method, using an infrared camera has a number of
advantages over other methods, and a few disadvantages:
Advantage
The method is quick.
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The method is a non-intrusive means of investi-
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gation.
The method does not require relocation of the
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occupants.
The method features an illustrative visual pre-
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sentation of findings.
The method confirms failure points and mois-
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ture migration paths.
16.2.3

Moisture detection (1): Low-slope commercial roofs

16.2.3.1

General information

Low-slope commercial roofing is one of the most common roof types for industrial
building, such as warehouses, industrial plants, machinery shops etc. Its major ad-
vantages over a pitched roof is the lower cost in material and building. However, due
to its design where snow and ice will not fall off by itself—as is the case for the major-
ity of pitched roofs—it must be strongly built to support the accumulated weight of
both roof structure and any snow, ice and rain.
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Disadvantage
The method only detects surface temperature
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differentials and can not see through walls.
The method can not detect subsurface damage,
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i.e. mold or structural damage.
Publ. No. T559382 Rev. a358 – ENGLISH (EN) – June 23, 2009