Damp Proof Testing
80% of damp courses tested are done so inaccurately.
A quick free quotation is the most expensive type of survey you can possibly get.
Most damp proof course companies need the work generated by their free surveys to keep going.
Testing a property using just a surface Protimeter damp meter alone is not an accurate test, although it does give you an indication where to dig a bit deeper.
That’s why we say a free survey is the most expensive survey you can get.
Ethical damp proof course test methods.
There are many different ways of testing for dampness. All have their positive and negative points.
However the best bit of equipment you can use to assess the condition of any property is the surveyor. Common sense, inquisitive and logical thinking and a willingness to treat people and buildings with respect is the best tool you can have.
However to help us get to the correct conclusion here is some information on testing equipment we have at our disposal.
Protimeter MMS
The Protimeter moisture measurement system (MMS) is a complete moisture measurement device.
It combines pin and non-invasive modes of measurement together with a thermo-hygrometer in one state of the art instrument.
Key features
Search mode
By selecting search it can obtain a qualitative indication of the moisture level beneath the surface of wall plaster or under a floor covering.
Measure mode
We can obtain, respectively, the actual moisture content or the material’s wood moisture equivalent (WME) value. Additionally by utilising deep wall probes, further information can be gathered about moisture levels deep within a wall cavity or structure.
Humidity Mode
The Protimeter MMS can be used as a hygrometer to measure the relative humidity, dew point, mixing ratio
(grains per pound/parts per million by weight) and ambient temperature are shown at the touch of a button.
The Hygrostick sensor can also be embedded in solid floors and walls to obtain a material’s equilibrium
relative humidity (ERH) value.
When surface temperature measurements are required, the Protimeter MMS can fitted with the surface
temperature sensor making this instrument especially suitable for condensation risk assessment and diagnosis.
Protimeter Salt Analysis
The Protimeter Salt Analysis kit allows for the determination of the presence of electrically conducting salts contamination on site.
The Protimeter Salt Analysis kit enables a surveyor to analyses samples of wallpaper and plaster for the presence of soil salts. It consists of two chemicals packed in sachets of the correct amount for each test, a bottle of distilled water, and two measuring beakers.
The test is very simple and takes just a few minutes. A colour change will indicate whether or not certain nitrates and chlorides are present.
This test is the only way you can be sure to know if you need to remove the plaster or not.
Calcium Carbide Test (speedy Meter)
The calcium carbide test is a trusted test to find the actual moisture content of the brickwork being tested for rising damp.
A measured sample of brick dust and a measure of calcium carbide are placed in a special pressure cylinder. Any dampness in the test sample reacts with the calcium carbide to form acetylene gas. This gas creates a pressure, which registers percentage moisture content on an appropriately calibrated pressure gauge. The carbide meter reading is not affected by salts and moisture content readings from within the thickness of the wall and can be obtained in approximately five minutes. Actual moisture content is determined rather than the Wood Moisture Equivalent (WME) readings displayed on a moisture meter.
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