Understanding Dampness and Condensation

Understanding Dampness and
Condensation
Stephen Hodgson Property Care Association
Dampness in Buildings
Roof leaks
Plumbing leaks
Condensation
High ground
Rainwater penetration
Defective rainwater goods
Flooding
Rising damp
Lateral penetration
ALL THESE SOURCES OF WATER ARE UNWANTED!!

2
www.property-care.org
Visual Evidence of Dampness

Mould growth
Deterioration of finishes, blowing/disintegrating plasterwork
Liquid water on surfaces
Mould Growth
Staining of finishes
Efflorescent salts on surfaces
Timber decay
Distorted timbers
Dampness to finishes
Fungal Decay
3
The most common cause of damp

in domestic properties remains
CONDENSATION!
Smelly
Wet
Destroys possessions
Looks awful
Health fears!
4
PART 1
Damp from outside!
Common Faults
Ground Water
Other Defects
Rainwater goods
Rising Damp
Blocked Gullies
Rising Damp
How are problems damp diagnosed?
1. Visual appraisal
2. Instrument readings
3. Laboratory analysis
Correct diagnosis is vital!
Rising Damp
Visual appraisal
Some obvious - some less so
Reproduced from BRE Digest 245 (2007) Rising Damp in Walls: Diagnosis and Treatment
We could define rising damp as:

The vertical movement of water up through masonry,
the water originating from ground water. The water
rises through a series of interconnecting pores by a
process called capillarity broadly, porous masonry
acts like a wick.
Note: Capillarity in building materials has nothing to do with or related to water
rising in plants/trees.
The rise of liquids from roots to leaves in plants is a process known as
cohesion, not capillarity, and involves hydrogen bonding of water.
RISING DAMP
If the suction of the wall is

greater than the suction of the
ground then water will rise if
not water will not rise
Salt concentration at top

of rise
Salt band
- most of the salts are
hygroscopic
No significant/low salt levels at base!
Soluble chlorides, nitrates, sulphates and

other mineral salts/soluble materials
Rainwater in the soil is the most prevalent source of water at the base of
a wall not water table
How do we treat Rising Damp?
Physical DPC insertion
Chemical injected DPC

12

Physical Barriers
Barriers to damp can take a

number of forms. They all work
using barriers to protect the internal
finishes from water entering the
building.
Injection Mortar
Electro Osmosis
EO Systems.
Why Re-Plaster?
To remove hygroscopic material

To provide a dry wall surface
Prevent future deterioration
It forms part of System
15
Leaks & Flooding
16
Damp Penetration
17
Damp Penetration
18
Measuring Dampness in Buildings

Instrument readings
Electric moisture meter
Advantages:
Non destructive quick to use
Easy to create moisture profiles
Small and portable
Valuable aid in the right hands
Disadvantages:
Calibrated for use on wood - not
masonry
Can give misleading readings (e.g.
contaminant salts, foil-backed paper,
high carbon substrate)
Often misused in the wrong hands
Radio Frequency Meter
RESISTANCE (CONDUCTANCE)
METER
Calcium carbide meter (Speedy)
22
Oven Dry Method (BRE Digest 245)
PART 2
Damp Created Inside-
CONDENSATION
25
Condensation
We will look at:

What is condensation
How and why is does it form in
buildings?
Types of condensation
How we identify a condensation
problem
How condensation affects occupation
Remedies
26
Condensation
The most common
form of dampness
in residential
properties in the
UK
Misdiagnosis &
misunderstanding of
condensation is
common
Condensation
It is widely accepted that we in the UK have a

condensation season.
This is usually between October and April but
is dependant on the outside temperature.
If there are significant dampness problems

outside through the summer months, it is
probably not condensation.
28
Condensation
Condensation occurs when water changes from its
gaseous state to its liquid state.
This only happens when the air reaches a relative humidity of 100%
The point at which the water changes state as

saturation occurs is known as the Dew Point
29
Condensation
All air contains some water vapour.
The amount of water that can be held in the air is dependant

on the temperature.
The higher the temperature, the more water can be held in

the air.
Surfaces are usually cooler that the air that surrounds them.
If these surfaces are cooler than the dew point, then water will
condense out of the air
30
Surface Condensation
Condensation
Condensation is deposited on any surface that is below the
Dew Point.
32
Condensation can be deposited

at the surface and is known as
surface condensation
Or within a structure where it is

called interstitial condensation
33
Effects of cooling air on

Relative Humidity (RH)
20 C
15 C
12 C
60% RH
34
83%RH
100%RH
Where is the water from?
Atmospheric water coming out of its gaseous state
Water is released into the air from a number of sources associated

with normal life and occupation.
35

Water from rising or penetrating damp is very
unlikely to contribute significantly to a condensation
problem.
If condensation is occurring the walls will be relatively cold.

If the walls are cold then significant evaporation is unlikely.
36
Vapour Pressure
Pascal (Pa) of kilo Pascal (kPa) is
the standard unit for measuring
pressure.
1 hectopascal (hPa) = 100 Pa 1 mbar.
1 kilopascal (kPa) = 1000 Pa 10 hPa
10 mbar.
37
Low Vapour Pressure
Kitchen
High Vapour
Pressure
Also note that wind direction will influence the

movement of water vapour in the property
Diagnosis and Investigation
Obvious evidence of condensation problems:
Mould Growth on walls ceilings

Musty Smell
Fungal Growth
Water droplets on impervious surfaces
Steamed up windows
Decay to internal sections of timber window frames
39

Water will not condense out of the air unless
temperatures are at, or below, dew point.
Mould growth can occur if high humidity levels are

maintained for long periods.
40
Diagnosing Condensation
To determine if condensation is happening at the time of your
investigation:
Air Temperature
Humidity
Dew Point
Surface Temperatures
= Thermometer
= Hygrometer
= Calculation
= Surface Thermometer
A MMS meter can do all these things in real time
41
Data Logging stations
42
43
Thermal Imaging
Good for locating cold
areas
Reliance on temperature
differential
44
45
Other things to look for
46
Construction types
Placing of Insulation
Vapour proof materials within construction
Ventilation Systems - condition & serviceability
Evidence of the causes of atmospheric water
Interstitial Condensation
Wall
temperature
gradient
Dew point
temperature
gradient
Inside
Outside
Interstitial
condensation
The significance of mould & health

Is mould associated with condensation a health hazard?
48
The role of the building
Typical Bungalow
System built flats

49
The role of the building
High Rise flats
Steel clad house

50
Heating
51
Combating Condensation
Improve ventilation sweeps out moisture laden air

and replaces with drier air from outside
Improve heating make it constant, not intermittent
Reduce sources of moisture clothes drying/cooking/bathing
Improve thermal properties of walls keep dry (silicone?)
Dehumidifiers
Improve surface temperatures - insulate

52
With common sense
Remove water vapour at

source
Reduce vapour pressure and

dilute damp air.
53
With ventilation
Positive pressure
ventilation
Passive stack
ventilation
54
Dehumidifier
Thermal lining
55
Other Remedies
Mould removers and anti

mould chemicals
Anti mould Paints
56
Modern can be effective

against mould growth
Don't Guess!
Get Expert Advice!
57

Understanding Dampness and Condensation

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Understanding Dampness and

ALL THESE SOURCES OF WATER ARE UNWANTED!!

Visual Evidence of Dampness

The most common cause of damp

Correct diagnosis is vital!

We could define rising damp as:

If the suction of the wall is

Salt concentration at top

No significant/low salt levels at base!

Soluble chlorides, nitrates, sulphates and

How do we treat Rising Damp?

Physical DPC insertion

Chemical injected DPC

How do we treat Rising Damp?

Barriers to damp can take a

How do we treat Rising Damp?

To remove hygroscopic material

Leaks & Flooding

Measuring Dampness in Buildings

Radio Frequency Meter

Calcium carbide meter (Speedy)

Oven Dry Method (BRE Digest 245)

We will look at:

It is widely accepted that we in the UK have a

If there are significant dampness problems

The point at which the water changes state as

All air contains some water vapour.

The amount of water that can be held in the air is dependant

The higher the temperature, the more water can be held in

Condensation can be deposited

Or within a structure where it is

Effects of cooling air on

Where is the water from?

Atmospheric water coming out of its gaseous state

Water is released into the air from a number of sources associated

Where is the water from?

If condensation is occurring the walls will be relatively cold.

Where is the water from?

Low Vapour Pressure

Also note that wind direction will influence the

Diagnosis and Investigation

Obvious evidence of condensation problems:

Mould Growth on walls ceilings

Diagnosis and Investigation

Mould growth can occur if high humidity levels are

A MMS meter can do all these things in real time

Diagnosis and Investigation

Diagnosis and Investigation

Diagnosis and Investigation

Other things to look for

The significance of mould & health

The role of the building

System built flats

The role of the building

High Rise flats

Steel clad house

Improve ventilation sweeps out moisture laden air

Improve heating make it constant, not intermittent

Reduce sources of moisture clothes drying/cooking/bathing

Improve thermal properties of walls keep dry (silicone?)

Improve surface temperatures - insulate

Remove water vapour at

Reduce vapour pressure and

Mould removers and anti