AN ISO/IEC - 17025 STANDARD - NABL ACCREDITATION LABORATORY / TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION - MECH - CIVIL - ELECTRICAL & IT COURSES / A to Z LABORATORY TESTING SERVICES / INSPECTION SERVICES / ALL ENGINEERING CONTRACTORS / MORE THAN 1500 SERVICES ...

Water leakage/seepage Investigation - Building
 
 
 
1. What are the common causes of water leakage?
 
Common causes of water leakage :
 
  • * Leakage in the drainage pipes of the upper, adjacent or your own flat.
  • * Leakage in the water supply pipes of the upper, adjacent or your own flat.
  • * Deteriorated waterproofing of floor slabs or bath-tub seals.
  • * Seepage of waste water or rain water through roof / external wall.
  •  
    water seepage Testing methods
     
  • 1. Dye Tracer Test
  • 2. Electrical capacitance Investigation
  • 3. Electrical Resistance Investigation
  • 4. Microwave Leakage Testing
  • 5. Infrared Thermography Testing
  • 6. Pressure Test
  • 7. Humidity Sensors Test
  • 8. Electrical Earth Leakage Test
  • 9. Flood Testing
  • 10. Water Spray Test
  • 11. Acoustic Leak Testing
  •  
    WATER LEAKAGE ACCURACY OF INVESTIGATION
     
  • 1. Two common sources of water seepage in buildings are from the external, e.g. rainfall, and from above or the alleged source sites, e.g. domestic use of water.
  • 2. The former is obvious and can readily be identified with certainty. The main difficulty is to identify the source/cause of water seepage coming from above (e.g. from the bathroom immediate above an alleged water seepage site).
  • 3. If the parties are cooperative, there is a good chance that the problem of water seepage can be alleviated by investigating/identifying the sources and carrying out proper repair. In majority of the cases, repeated repair will have to be carried out
  •  
    WATER LEAKAGE COMMON METHODS OF INVESTIGATION
     
  • Methodology 1: The alleged source site is first subjected to dyed water to simulate the water source(s). Afterwards, measurement of moisture is carried out in the alleged water seepage site. Typical examples include flooding test, water spray test and dye test. It is generally considered as the most direct means to identify/differentiate different water source(s). However, it is not applicable in majority of the cases due to non-corporation of owners/occupiers of the alleged source site thereby disallowing any flooding test, water spray test or dye test to be carried out from the alleged water seepage site.
  •  
  • Methodology 2: Without simulating the water source(s), measurement of moisture is carried out in the alleged water seepage site. Source(s) and cause(s) of water seepage are interpreted from the measurement and this requires high level of professional knowledge and expertise.
  •  
  • The commonly used techniques for investigating the causes and/or sources of water seepage.
  •  
    Common methods of investigating water seepage
     
  • 1. Dye test - Through thickness penetration
  • 2. Protimeter measurement - Limit to surface
  • 3. Infrared thermography - From surface to nominal depth
  • 4. Microwave moisture meter - Up to 110 mm or more
  •  
    1. Dye Test
     
  • Dye test is the most commonly used technique, inexpensive and requiring minimal technical skills. It is used by the Joint Office as the routine method for systematic investigation and is recommended as a DIY investigation tool (FEHD and BD). Dye test is carried out by ponding the alleged source site (e.g. flooding the bathroom) with dyed water (“the ponding area”). The result is positive if dye is visible from below. Recently, fluorescent dyes are used thereby signs of water seepage are observed from below by an ultraviolet light in dark condition. Quite often dye is not detected from below in the damp area (“negative results”) even though water originates from the ponding area.
  •  
    2. Protimeter Measurement
     
  • Protimeter is a device commonly used to assess the surface moisture content of a material. Surface moisture content is measured through pushing two needles/electrodes into the material. It enables rapid assessment of surface moisture content. Due to the heterogeneous properties of concrete and unknown properties of finishes on the surface of concrete, readings obtained from a protimeter cannot be taken directly as surface moisture content, unless the readings reflect very high moisture content. As precalibration of surface moisture content of concrete is virtually not possible, readings are taken from both affected areas and non-affected areas (or control points) and the values are compared to estimate the surface moisture content of affected areas
  •  
    3. Infrared thermography
     
  • Infrared thermography is based on the principle that wet and dry building components have different rates of heat gain and retention. This technique is normally applied using a hand-held infrared camera with recording device . Wet zone is identified based on physical characteristics of wet material with slower heat gain and heat loss. It may be able to display water paths, hidden water pipes, etc. that are close to the surface. As temperature differential can be very small (between 0.1C to 0.5C) for identifying a wet area, an uneven surface, e.g. spalling/delamination of finishes, may distort the temperature gradient making the thermographic images unreliable. this is usually the case in an affected area
  •  
    4. Microwave moisture meter
     
  • Microwave moisture meter has gained popularity in measuring the moisture content of a material. It is based on the propagation of electromagnetic waves in the material. Moisture content is estimated from the energy loss due to absorption of water. The device includes a generator and a receiver . It has the disadvantage of requiring a good contact surface for both generator and receiver which may not be possible to achieve in majority of the cases. It is also sensitive to heterogeneous nature of concrete that may cause error in the readings obtained from the measurement. As each measurement is presented as averaged moisture up to a certain depth, accuracy is also adversely affected by the presence of cavities, pipes or reinforcement embedded inside concrete.
  •  
  • Apart from dye test with the advantage of identifying water path(s) or source(s) of water seepage directly, the above are all interpretive testing methods. In some cases, microwave moisture measurement may also provide good indication of the water path(s) or source(s) of water seepage but this largely depends on the quality of the test data
  •  
  • Protimeter and infrared thermography can only identify the presence of moisture near the surface. As moisture measurements are indirectly assessed via electrical resistance and heat, respectively, foreign materials inside concrete may cause similar changes on the measurement to that of water. For instance, presence of salt may affect the reading and thus the accuracy of the measurement. Therefore, the data is used to compare the moisture condition between two different areas of the same material, namely control points not affected by water seepage and the affected areas.
  •  
  • Data obtained from the field works has suggested that there exists no universal method that can provide reliable results to identify the cause(s) of water seepage. Method of investigation has to be determined case by case based on the condition of concrete at the surface and in the interior
  •  
  • As indicated in the above, accuracy depends on the condition of the affected areas and how the tests are performed. Correct interpretation of the test results further relies on an understanding of the underlining principle; limitations; and the pros and cons of applying different methods of investigations. We are of the view that there is in lack of an expertise or a unify approach to select the proper tests; to perform the tests and/or to interpret the results. Obviously, it is very difficult if not impossible task for the parties, who are laymen to the tests, to select the tests; to perform the tests and/or to interpret the results, save and except dye test. A performance-based approach is proposed to handle water seepage in buildings.
  •  
    CONCLUSIONS
     
  • Pursuant to reported cases and relevant provisions in the ordinances, the standard of investigation is to be one with high degree of certainty and the investigation so conducted is able to distinguish all possible causes of water seepage. Common difficulties in resolving water seepage disputes are due to (a) inability to identify the source(s)/cause(s) of water seepage and (b) non-corporation of owners/occupiers of premises alleged of causing water seepage. In respect of (a), it depends on the condition of the affected areas; how the tests are performed; and correct interpretation of the test results. It is necessary to improve and/or develop methods of investigating water seepage. As an alternative approach, it is suggested to identify the source(s) of water seepage from moisture readings obtained from alleged water seepage sites and vibration readings obtained from exposed waste pipes without entering the alleged source sites. Further, it is desirable to shift the method of investigation from an informative approach to a consultative approach with interaction by the party/parties. We need to dedicate tools to match the accuracy/reliability of methods of investigation with the goals of the parties and the goals of the investigation and to provide the parties with opportunities to decide how they would like to proceed. By following a performance-based approach, it is possible to reduce the overall cost and time by not carrying out unnecessary and/or unreliable tests. This may ultimately assist the public to resolve the problem of water seepage in buildings.
  •  
    Water Seepage Investigation List
     
    Water Seepage Problem investigation , Leak & Water Seepage testing in iraq , Dampness, Seepage and Water Leakage Inspection in iraq , Dampness, Seepage and Water Leakage detection in iraq , Detecting Leakage , water leakage testing in iraq , Seepage testing Source in iraq , Residential Building seepage tesing in iraq , Seepage testing using Fluoride , Seepage on Walls testing in iraq , Dampness on Walls tesing in iraq , Preventing Dampness in iraq , Preventing Dampness Types of Waterproofing Material , Effects of Dampness detection in iraq , Causes of Dampness detection in iraq , Seepage or Dampness on Walls , Seepage Inspections , Leak detection and location in iraq , Leak detection testing in iraq , Leak detection in iraq , Leak detection problem inspection , Water Testing and Leakage inspection , Dampness, Seepage and Water Leakage Inspection In iraq , dampness testing in iraq , seepage testing in iraq , water leakage testing in iraq , leak testing in iraq , Hydrostatic & Diagnostic Pressure Testing and Pipe Leak , Basements Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , Escalators Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , Electrical rooms Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , Electrical Transformers Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , DG sets Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , Water treatment plant Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , Sewage treatment plant Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , Sumps & Pumping plant Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , Rain water harvesting system Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , Firefighting systems Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , Lobbies Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , Water treatment plant Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , Sewage treatment plant Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , Sumps & Pumping plant Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , Rain water harvesting system Plant Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , Corridors Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , Parking Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , Podium Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , Overhead water tanks Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , Helipad Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , Roads and pathways Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , Staircases Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , Basement ventilation and exhaust systems Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , Dampness & damages in all common areas Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , Painting work Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq , Shafts and ducts which are open for inspection Dampness Seepage and Water Leakage testing in iraq ...
     
    civil ndt and mechanical ndt - non destructive testing in iraq list
     
    civil ndt testing - non-destructive testing in iraq , concrete for bridges testing in iraq , dams civil testing in iraq ,, building civil ndt in iraq , subway civil testing in iraq , tunnel civil ndt in iraq , ultrasonic pulse velocity testing in iraq , rebound hammer testing in iraq , rebar locator in iraq , depth of concrete in iraq , half cell potential testing in iraq , carbonation testing in iraq , pile integrity testing in iraq , visual inspection and field in iraq , civil ndt - concrete testing in iraq , ultrasonic pulse velocity testing in iraq , rebound hammer testing in iraq , rebar locator in iraq , depth of concrete in iraq , half cell potential testing in iraq , carbonation testing in iraq , pile integrity testing in iraq , visual inspection and field in iraq , in-situ compressive strength testing in iraq , civil design strength in iraq , civil existing structures in iraq , construction materials testing in iraq , pile testing systems in iraq , structural monitoring systems in iraq , asphalt testing systems in iraq , pavement testing in iraq , rock and soil laboratory test systems in iraq , non-destructive tests for concrete in iraq , geotechnical & vibration monitoring systems in iraq , pavement condition monitoring in iraq , concrete and cement lab systems in iraq , civil lab testing concrete and concreting material analysis , civil laboratory testing in iraq , construction material testing in iraq , cement testing in iraq , aggregate testing in iraq , bricks testing in iraq , blocks testing in iraq , tension test on rebars testing in iraq , chemical test on rebars testing in iraq , water analysis in iraq , cube test in iraq , accelerated cube test (act) in iraq , rapid chloride test (rcpt) in iraq , concrete mix design in iraq , fly ash in iraq , slag and silica fume in iraq , self compacting concrete in iraq , temperature controlled concrete in iraq , civil ndt and concrete testing in iraq , civil ndt investigation in iraq , concrete investigation in iraq , coating thickness measurement on concrete structures in iraq , compressive strength testing in iraq , concrete mix design in iraq , bitumen mix design in iraq , core extraction testing in iraq , core sampling testing in iraq , concrete core testing in iraq , concrete cube testing in iraq , chemical analysis in iraq , electrical resistivity testing in iraq , ground penetrating radar survey in iraq , sieve analysis in iraq , ultrasonic low frequency testing in iraq , upv testing in iraq , vibration analysis of building in iraq , leak testing in iraq , ct scan on conctete in iraq , element analysis on concrete in iraq , impact echo testing in iraq , linear polarization testing in iraq , load testing in iraq , permeability testing in iraq , petrography of concrete in iraq , pullout testing in iraq , cut and pullout testing (cpo test) in iraq , impulse response test in iraq , impact echo test in iraq , ground penetrating radar (gpr) in iraq , crack depth measurement in iraq , reinforcement location and corrosion assessments in iraq , reinforcement location by ground penetrating radar (gpr) in iraq , cover assessment in iraq , half cell potential tests in iraq , resistivity tests in iraq , corrosion rate assessment in iraq , carbonation test in iraq , repair quality assessment in iraq , bond test in iraq , anchor rebar pull out strength in iraq , chemical testing in iraq , ultrasonic testing in iraq , radiographic testing in iraq , magnetic particle testing in iraq , penetrant testing in iraq , eddy current testing in iraq , visual testing in iraq , ultrasonic thickness measurement testing in iraq , vibration analysis in iraq , time of flight diffraction (tofd) in iraq , phased array ultrasonic testing (paut) in iraq , ndt testing in iraq , non destructive testing in iraq , ndt in iraq , ultrasonic testing in iraq , magnetic particle testing in iraq , dye penetrant testing in iraq , radiographic testing in iraq , eddy current testing in iraq , vibration analysis in iraq , paut – toft in iraq , ultrasonic thickness gauging testing in iraq , helium leak detection in iraq , rfet / nfet / pect testing in iraq , internal rotary inspection system (iris) in iraq , acoustic pulse reflectometry (apr) in iraq , positive material identification testing in iraq , magnetic flux leakage (mfl) testing in iraq , acoustic emission testing in iraq , flouresent leak detection in iraq , long range ultrasonic testing - lrut in iraq , thermography inspection in iraq , leak testing in iraq , tky joints ultrasonic testing in iraq , aws d1.1 structural steel ultrasonic testing in iraq , ndt capabilities for mechanical and civil in iraq , ultrasonic inspection in iraq , time of flight diffraction (tofd) and phased array ut in iraq , magnetic particle testing in iraq , dye penetrant testing in iraq , radiographic testing in iraq , eddy current testing in iraq , weld ability study in iraq , visual inspection and field in iraq ...
     
    list of our services following cities
     
    Afghanistan | Africa | Albania | Algeria | Americas | Andorra | Angola | Anguilla | Antigua and Barbuda | Argentina | Armenia | Aruba | Asia | Australia | Australia and New Zealand | Austria | Azerbaijan | Bahamas | Bahrain | Bangladesh | Barbados | Belarus | Belgium | Belize | Benin | Bermuda | Bhutan | Bolivia (Plurinational State of) | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Botswana | Brazil | British Virgin Islands | Brunei Darussalam | Bulgaria | Burkina Faso | Burundi | Cabo Verde | Cambodia | Cameroon | Canada | Caribbean | Cayman Islands | Central African Republic | Central America | Central Asia | Chad | Chile | China, Hong Kong SAR | China, Macao Special Administrative Region | China, People's Republic of | Colombia | Comoros | Congo | Cook Islands | Costa Rica | Côte d'Ivoire | Croatia | Cuba | Curaçao | Cyprus | Czechia | Democratic People's Republic of Korea | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Denmark | Djibouti | Dominica | Dominican Republic | Eastern Africa | Eastern Asia | Eastern Europe | Ecuador | Egypt | El Salvador | Equatorial Guinea | Eritrea | Estonia | Ethiopia | Europe | Fiji | Finland | Former Czechoslovakia | Former Ethiopia | Former Netherlands Antilles | Former Sudan | Former USSR | Former Yugoslavia | France | French Polynesia | Gabon | Gambia | Georgia | Germany | Ghana | Greece | Greenland | Grenada | Guatemala | Guinea | Guinea-Bissau | Guyana | Haiti | Honduras | Hungary | Iceland | India | Indonesia | Iran, Islamic Republic of | Iraq | Ireland | Israel | Italy | Jamaica | Japan | Jordan | Kazakhstan | Kenya | Kingdom of Eswatini | Kiribati | Kosovo | Kuwait | Kyrgyzstan | Lao People's Democratic Republic | Latin America and the Caribbean | Latvia | Lebanon | Lesotho | Liberia | Libya | Liechtenstein | Lithuania | Luxembourg | Madagascar | Malawi | Malaysia | Maldives | Mali | Malta | Marshall Islands | Mauritania | Mauritius | Melanesia | Mexico | Micronesia | Micronesia (Federated States of) | Middle Africa | Monaco | Mongolia | Montenegro | Montserrat | Morocco | Mozambique | Myanmar | Namibia | Nauru | Nepal | Netherlands | New Caledonia | New Zealand | Nicaragua | Niger | Nigeria | Northern Africa | Northern America | Northern Europe | Norway | Oceania | Oman | Pakistan | Palau | Panama | Papua New Guinea | Paraguay | Peru | Philippines | Poland | Polynesia | Portugal | Puerto Rico | Qatar | Republic of Korea | Republic of Moldova | Republic of North Macedonia | Romania | Russian Federation | Rwanda | Saint Kitts and Nevis | Saint Lucia | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Samoa | San Marino | Sao Tome and Principe | Saudi Arabia | Senegal | Serbia | Seychelles | Sierra Leone | Singapore | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | Slovakia | Slovenia | Solomon Islands | Somalia | South Africa | South America | South Sudan | South-Eastern Asia | Southern Africa | Southern Asia | Southern Europe | Spain | Sri Lanka | State of Palestine | Sub-Saharan Africa | Sudan | Suriname | Sweden | Switzerland | Syrian Arab Republic | Tajikistan | Thailand | Timor-Leste | Togo | Tonga | Trinidad and Tobago | Tunisia | Turkey | Turkmenistan | Turks and Caicos Islands | Tuvalu | Uganda | Ukraine | United Arab Emirates | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | United Republic of Tanzania: Mainland | United Republic of Tanzania: Zanzibar | United States | Uruguay | Uzbekistan | Vanuatu | Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) | Viet Nam | Western Africa | Western Asia | Western Europe | World | Yemen | Yemen: Former Democratic Yemen | Yemen: Former Yemen Arab Republic | Zambia | Zimbabwe ...
     
    list of our services following city
     
    Baghdad | Mosul | Al Başrah | Kirkuk | Erbil | An Najaf | Karbalā’ | As Sulaymānīyah | An Nāşirīyah | Al Ḩillah | Ba‘qūbah | Ar Ramādī | Ad Dīwānīyah | Az Zubayr | Al ‘Amārah | Dahūk | Al Fallūjah | Al Kūt | As Samāwah | Al Kūfah | Ash Shaţrah | Sāmarrā’ | Zākhū | Umm Qaşr | Tikrīt | Al Fāw | Nāḩiyat al Karmah | Sinjār | Al Ḩayy | Tall ‘Afar | Balad | Al Musayyib | Az Zubaydīyah | Ḩalabjah | Shaqlāwah | Ar Ruţbah | Kūysinjaq | Rāwah | Al ‘Amādīyah | Aţ Ţārmīyah | Al Hindīyah | Abū Ghurayb | Al Qayyārah | Ash Shūrah | Qaradāgh | Zāwītah | Darkār ‘Ajam | Bāţūfah | Ibrāhīm al Khalīl | Saymayl | Al Manādhirah | Al Khāliş | Al Hāshimīyah | Al Maḩmūdīyah | Tallkayf | Sūq ash Shuyūkh | Ash Shāmīyah | Al Ḩamzah | ‘Afak | ‘Aynkāwah | Mayrkasūr | Qūshtabah | Kasnazān | Sawrān | Khabāt | Rawānduz | Baḩirkah | Hīrān | Jawmān | Dāratū | Al Madīnah | Al Miqdādīyah | Al Majar al Kabīr | Ar Rumaythah | Abī al Khaşīb | Al Maḩāwīl | Ash Sharqāt | An Nu‘mānīyah | Aş Şuwayrah | Ar Rifā‘ī | Nāḩiyat ‘Atbah | Al Ḩamdānīyah | Nāḩiyat Zummār | Al Qurnah | Kalār | Qal‘at Şāliḩ | Bāmarnī | Kānī Māsī | Ar Riyāḑ | Al ‘Abbāsī | Al Ḩawījah | Sayyid Şādiq | Rāniyah | Jamjamāl | Ţūz Khūrmātū | Al ‘Azīzīyah | Atrūsh | Ash Shaykhān | Ḩalabjah al Jadīdah | Darbandīkhān | Al ‘Awjah | Hayraw | Halshaw | Qalādizay | Dibis | Al Khiḑr | Al Jabāyish | Dūkān | Khānaqīn | Al Maymūnah | Al Kaḩlā’ | Baynjiwayn | Makhmūr | Bayjī | Nāḩiyat Baḩār | ‘Ayn Tamr | Juwārtā | Māwat | Barwānah | Al Ḩaqlānīyah | Ḩadīthah | Dāqūq | Hīt | Al Qā’im | Ad Dawr | Kifrī | Al Ba‘āj | Baladrūz | ‘Alī al Gharbī | Badrah | Al Ḩaḑar | As Salmān | ‘Anah | ‘Aqrah ...
     
    list of our services following Governorate
     
    Ad-Dawr | Afak | Al-Awja | Al Diwaniyah | Al-Faris | Al Hillah | Al Qasim | Al Eskanaria | Al Mehawil | Al Mosayeb | Al-Qa'im | Al Zab | Amarah | Ar Rutba | Erbil | Baghdad | Baghdadi | Baiji | Balad | Baqubah | Basra | Dahuk | Fallujah | Haditha | Hīt | Iskandariya | Karbala | Khanaqin | Kirkuk | Najaf Governorate | Kut | Mosul (ku: Mûsil) | Muqdadiyah | Najaf | Nasiriyah | Ramadi | Samarra | Samawah | Shamia | Sulaymaniyah | Taji | Tal Afar | Tel Keppe | Tikrit | Umm Qasr | Zakho | Zubayr | Halabja | Saladin | Al-Qādisiyyah | Saladin | Al-Qādisiyyah | Saladin | Babil | Babil | Babil | Babil | Babil | Al Anbar | Kirkuk | Maysan | Al Anbar | Erbil | Baghdad | Al Anbar | Saladin | Saladin | Diyala | Basra | Dahuk | Al Anbar | Al Anbar | Al Anbar | Babil | Karbala | Diyala | Kirkuk | Wasit | Nineveh | Diyala | Najaf | Dhi Qar | Al Anbar | Saladin | Al Muthana | Al-Qādisiyyah | As Sulaymaniyah | Saladin | Nineveh | Nineveh | Saladin | Basra | Duhok | Basra | Halabja Governorate | Babylon (ܒܒܝܠ) (بابل) | Ctesiphon (Al-Mada'in, المدائن) | Eridu (إريدو) | Hatra (حضر) | Kish (كيش) | Lagash (لجش) | Nineveh (ܢܝܢܘܐ) (نينوى) | Nippur (نيبور) | Nuzi (Nuzu) | Samarra | Shenna (Sinn Barimma) | Sumer (سومر) | Tell Ubaid (تل عبيد) | Ur (أور) | Uruk (أوروك) |