MSR145 Data Loggers Detect Moisture Damage

Identifying the causes of building physics-related problems facilitates damage repair.

Damage to buildings caused by moisture is an unpleasant nuisance that is often very costly. Moisture damage does not only occur in old buildings, but very frequently also in newer houses. Prior to repairing this damage, a detailed investigation of the causes must be conducted. In a great number of cases, cost-effective miniature data loggers can help record important building physics-related parameters over long periods of time and thus provide a basis for a substantiated damage analysis.

Author: Reto Niedermann, building and energy consultancy, Bau- und Energieberatung Reto Niedermann GmbH

The causes for damage as a result of moisture and, subsequently, mould growth or accumulation of water, can be complex: a defective roof, cracks in the masonry or damaged sealing elements. Thermal bridges caused by incorrect execution of construction work can also result in extensive damage. However, incorrect user behaviour that is not adapted to the building conditions is also frequently the cause of damage. If, for instance, an extremely well-insulated house is insufficiently aired or incorrectly heated, an excessively damp indoor climate may develop, promoting the growth of mould or causing condensation damage.

Investigating the causes of moisture damage is extremely important

In order to uncover such problems and subsequently remedy them expertly, a detailed building physics analysis must be performed by trained specialists. Bau-& Energieberatung Reto Niedermann GmbH, a building and energy consultancy based in Unterentfelden, works in this field; its experts specialise in building physics as well as construction design and energy planning. It prepares surveyor’s reports and provides detailed information in order to expertly remedy moisture damage. As virtually all associated remedial action is very complex and thus very expensive, a well-founded investigation of the causes is an indispensable requirement. In addition to expert knowledge, complemented by practical experience, nowadays modern electronic measurement technology contributes a great deal to ensuring that the required building physics-related diagnostic works can be carried out accurately, in a well-founded manner, cost-effectively and quickly, and that it can be documented in detail.

In this context, the MSR145 mini data loggers of the MSR Electronics GmbH based in Seuzach are very helpful. You can use their internal sensors to record temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, 3-axis acceleration and light intensity; when investigating building physics, the temperature, air pressure and humidity data is of outstanding importance. However, recording acceleration values can also be helpful if it has to be established, for example, whether the loggers have been moved to another place. The measurements can be taken with an extremely high degree of accuracy over long periods of time. To this end, these miniature measurement laboratories are capable of recording more than two million measured values, or with an optional microSD card even over one billion measured values. All data can be quickly transferred to a computer using the USB port or microSD card. Subsequently, it can be examined using the free Analysis software supplied by MSR Electronics GmbH, with split-second accuracy. These data loggers can also be supplied with analogue inputs for very specific measuring tasks, for instance in order to connect special external sensors for analysing the air, measuring conductivity or pH values.

As the diagnostic measures, which are intended to analyse the user behaviour of the residents, have to be carried out during normal everyday life, the disturbance of the occupants should be kept to a minimum. In this respect, the miniaturised design of these compact data recording devices is particularly beneficial as they can be placed virtually anywhere whilst remaining inconspicuous.

Data loggers aid accurate diagnostics

In the experience of Bau-& Energieberatung Reto Niedermann GmbH, moisture damage analyses would not be possible at all without these small data loggers. After all, determining whether the user behaviour is responsible for the damage to the building can only be done by means of long-term measurements of the indoor climate values. In the specific case, the temperature and humidity data of the outdoor and room air is recorded, as well as the acceleration values in the interior, in order to ascertain whether the data logger was moved to a different location by the user during the measurement period. Depending on the premises, the loggers are either positioned free-standing or attached with hook-and-loop or adhesive tape. Then, for approximately two to four weeks, the loggers remain in the measuring sites of the building to be investigated. Upon completion of the series of measurements, the experts read out the recorded measured data and, using the MSR PC software, are able to determine the exact indoor climate data at any point in time, draw the relevant conclusions and thus establish a basis for the required proposals for remedial action. As the company has realised, detailed moisture damage analyses in such an accurate manner have only become possible by using these loggers. The examinations undertaken based on this logger data carry more weight due to the underlying measuring accuracy and are more meaningful than previously conducted examinations using traditional measurement tools. Furthermore, by using the software, examinations can be documented optimally, which for instance is of fundamental importance when preparing surveyor’s reports.

All in all, these miniature data loggers can contribute significantly to conducting damage analyses relating to building physics in a quick, accurate and cost-optimised manner. However, these loggers are also useful in numerous other areas of application, such as transportation, machine and system monitoring, aeronautics, automotive engineering or security tasks, and they are extremely successfully employed by many companies in these fields.