Calcium Carbide Testing & How it Benefits Your Property
Preservit’s experienced surveyors use certain types of moisture meters and thermal imaging cameras to correctly identify moisture problems in properties, these meters and cameras show our surveyors where the dampness is located within the wall plaster and solid floors.
If high readings are found this doesn’t mean the brickwork is suffering from rising damp, this is where the Speedy Carbide Test is so important this meter is a precise method which can find any anomalies in your building with a high degree of accuracy within the mortar joints.
What are the Differences?
In contrast to the Protimeter, the speedy carbide method is a destructive test, requiring a sample from the affected wall or floor. Because of this, a Speedy Carbide Test will be only carried out by an expert if it is specifically requested by the owner of the home or business.
How does the test work?
The equipment is enhanced by a special sealed vessel which will be cleaned extensively before each survey. This will eliminate the likelihood of any discrepancies in the readings and provides a highly accurate result. The damp proofing specialist will then drill a hole in the wall, obtaining a sample of the material to begin testing for moisture that may be present.
The apparatus contains scales, allowing the surveyor to weigh the sample and then pour it into a vertically standing flask. Once the sample is sitting correctly within the flask, two measurements of calcium carbide will be accurately measured and inserted into the flask’s lid (this will ensure that the the two substances won’t mix prematurely). The lid will then be securely placed on the vertical flask and strongly shaken to allow the substances to now mix together.
Mixing the calcium carbide with the sample causes any moisture within the sample to react … releasing what is known as an ‘acetylene gas’. The gas will expand within the flask, turning the dial at the base. This allows the damp proofing specialist to accurately deduce the percentage of moisture that is contained in the extracted sample. Should the moisture reading be above 5%, this will be considered as a problematic level of content. If the results indicate that the moisture levels are 0%, you will be able to rest assured that your wall is not infested with a damp problem!
If you are interested in taking advantage of this innovative and accurate testing method, click here to contact Preservit.
