Building Diagnosis

Necessity to diagnose Outer Wall of Building

Finishing materials for outer wall of building, such as tile and coated structure, tend to peel from base concrete, because of defective construction or aged deterioration. When the peeling area extends, those finishing materials are anticipated to fall off to the ground. Recently, this kind of falling accidents occurred successively became a social problem, and as a result, needs for safety management of outer wall has been focused upon.

The Ministry of Construction of Japan has issued a diagnostic guidelines of outer wall, in which outer wall diagnostic method with using thermography is approved as "Infrared Equipment Method". Outer Wall Diagnosis has now being conducted by either of this "infrared Equipment Method", External Appearance Observation Method, Tapping Method or Repulsion Method, or combinations of those methods.

Principle of "Infrared Equipment Method"

In the peeled area, spacing develops between base concrete and finishing materials, such as tile or coated structure, where the space forms thin aerial layer which does not tend to conduct heat. Generally, when sunlight hits and heats up the outer wall of building, heat flows from outer wall to inner wall, creating temperature gradient with the outer wall higher and inner wall lower. In this state, temperature gradient is different between intact area of wall and peeled area, where aerial layer is created. Assuming the condition of sunlight is constant, the temperature of peeled area is higher than that of intact area. (Fig.1) Also, the temperatures of those areas vary according to changing sunlight conditions. (Fig.2) Therefore, by measuring the temperature on the wall surface, peeled area can be detected as temperature difference. This method, using Infrared Thermal Image Equipment, is called as "Infrared Equipment Method" in the diagnostic guidelines.

Principle of "Infrared Equipment Method"

Deterioration States of Mortar under Beam
Deterioration States of Mortar under Beam
High temperature portions in upper left and left of window frame represent crack and peeling respectively. (by TVS-2000MkIILW)

Advantage Infrared Equipment Method for Outer Wall Diagnosis

As compared with the conventional standard diagnosis method by tapping outer wall of buildings with test hammer, "Infrared Equipment Method" has the following advantages.

  1. Higher efficiency, because of non-destructive and short time diagnosis for wider area.
  2. Higher safety and lower cost, without the need of constructing scaffolding.
  3. Effective and persuasive image data of measurement, which can be recorded and saved.

Regarding the Committee of Building Diagnostic Researches by TVS

For those who is trying the diagnosis with TVS for the first time, support is provided by the Committee of Building Diagnosis with TVS in Japan. This committee is organized by members from diagnostic servicing companies for building outer wall, to improve diagnostic quality of diagnosis of outer wall of building by Infrared Equipment Method, and also provides the following services voluntarily.

  1. Training for newly joined members.
  2. Presentations of diagnosis examples.
  3. Lectures by academic authorities.

It was established in 1983, and has members of 90 companies (as of April 1996).

Observation of coated structure wall of a condominium
Observation of coated structure wall of a condominium
Peeled area detected as high temperature portions. (by TVS-2100)
Thermal image of the outer wall after epoxy resin has been injected inlo gap made with peeling
Thermal image of the outer wall after epoxy resin has been injected inlo gap made with peeling
Even the number of injection holes and the resin extent can be observed (by TVS-2100)

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