{"id":28133,"date":"2020-10-30T17:24:55","date_gmt":"2020-10-30T17:24:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsblogsnew.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=28133"},"modified":"2020-10-30T17:24:55","modified_gmt":"2020-10-30T17:24:55","slug":"ihbcs-out-of-context-cpd-boost-checking-on-moisture-in-porous-building-materials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=28133","title":{"rendered":"IHBC\u2019s \u2018Out of Context\u2019 CPD boost:\u00a0 Checking on moisture in porous building materials"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Technical conservation issues are the subject of Issue 164<\/a> of Context<\/em><\/a>, more specifically damp, with Soki Rhee-Duverne<\/a> explaining that, despite the plethora of techniques for assessing moisture in traditional porous building materials, none is completely effective, offering a rare opportunity to address practitioners\u2019 base-line CPD needs in this critical and fast changing area.<\/h3>\n
image: Context 164 p12 – Soki Rhee-Duverne<\/em><\/h6>\n

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Soki Rhee-Duverne writes:<\/p>\n

\u2026 There are many ways to measure moisture, some destructive and others not. Moisture content can be measured either directly or indirectly, based on a variety of physical phenomena. Some are quantitative, measuring absolute moisture content. The majority are semi-quantitative, meaning that they can relate readings to the relative moisture content of materials. If calibration of these techniques is possible, readings can represent actual moisture content. Both semi-quantitative and qualitative methods are reliable only when used comparatively. Differing strategies are available, depending on what is required. Despite the plethora of techniques available, none is completely effective, and all have their limitations\u2026<\/p>\n

…evaluating their accuracy [conversion tables or specific calibration values for generic materials] is difficult…<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n

\u2026 Overall, the results from the research suggests that most of the techniques tested in the<\/p>\n

laboratory can give good, semi-quantitative estimates of moisture levels. However, some devices perform better than others. Of all the capacitance and resistivity meters tested, the CEM capacitance and the Resipod resistance devices gave the best estimates of moisture content over a wide range of moisture conditions, from near-dry to near-saturated.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Despite the plethora of techniques available, none is completely effective…<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n

Other proprietary conductivity and capacitance meters gave a variable performance\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2026 Manufacturers sometimes provide conversion tables or specific calibration values for generic materials, but evaluating their accuracy is difficult because of the nonhomogeneity of historic materials, ageing, salts and weathering. Most historic buildings are composite structures, which adds another level of complexity.<\/p>\n

Read the full article and find out more\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

See Context 164<\/a><\/p>\n

See IHBC NewsBlogs on damp\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Reading Context<\/em><\/a> helps IHBC members develop their skills across all of the IHBC\u2019s Areas of Competence, and so is a critical baseline in addressing priorities in Continuing Professional Development<\/a> (CPD)<\/p>\n

To access Context<\/em><\/a>:<\/p>\n