Low slope or flat roofs are commonly used on office, retail,
manufacturing and warehouse buildings. Thermography has the ability to locate leaks
and trapped moisture in most types of flat roofs. These types of roofing assemblies
usually consist of a sandwiching of the following components:
- Roofing membrane (single or multiple plies)
- Insulation (rigid or semi-rigid panels)
- Structural deck (wood, metal or concrete)
When leaks occur, the moisture finds its way under the top membrane
layer and gets trapped in the insulation space between the membrane and the deck,
sometimes entering the interior of the building far away from the leak site.
Thermography can detect this trapped moisture by measuring the solar loading on the
roof. This is due to the fact that during the daytime hours, the sun heats the roof
assembly. After sunset, the dry insulation will cool off quickly while the wet
insulation will retain its heat for a greater period of time. This allows the wet
areas to be mapped out on the surface of the roof to identify the problem areas.
- Daytime visual inspection and measuring of the roof conditions.
- Core sample of roofing assembly is taken to identify the
components. Then the area is repaired to meet industry standards.
- Nighttime thermographic inspection of the roof conditions.
- Verification of wet areas detected using minimally invasive
means (pronged moisture meter) and areas repaired to meet industry standards.
- Mapping out of the wet areas and locating the thermograms on
the roof surface using brightly colored paint.
- Measuring and documenting wet areas and thermogram locations
for follow up report.
- Follow up report documentation including visible light images,
thermograms, description of conditions found and a drawing indicating the roof
perimeter, outline and size of wet areas detected, location and direction of
thermograms taken, and recommendations based on conditions found.
- Repairs can be to be made to problem areas instead of replacing the
entire roof.
- Knowledge that your existing roof areas are dry prior to installing
a new membrane or coating over the existing one. This is a common procedure in
the flat roof industry.
- Quality Assurance purposes after a new roof has been installed. To
verify that no water was trapped under or between layers during construction.
This is good to do before the warranty expires. This is a useful tool for
Architects, in fact many will require inspection to be made prior to releasing
the final payment to the roofing contractor. This provides peace of mind for
themselves and more importantly, their clients.
Wet insulation literally leaks heat out of the building costing
occupants more money by increased utility charges and comfort issues with
increased cycling the the heating and cooling systems, which add strain and
reduces lifespan of the mechanical systems.
Wet insulation can also lead to the formation of mold and mildew which
can adversely affect the interior environment and inhabitants of the building
and can compromise the buildings structural systems.
In short, infrared roof inspections can be an effective tool for
architects, building owners, facilities engineers, and propery managers in
gaining the maximum lifespan out of their roof systems and in protecting the
building occupants, contents and construction from adverse conditions.
Please contact us with your building or facilities information so we
may work up a proposal for infrared roof inspections.
