DBI conducts standardized and customized field diagnostic testing to identify and evaluate design and/or construction deficiencies or to validate repairs. Our services are used to evaluate performance problems associated with water leakage, excessive air infiltration or exfiltration, or other performance related failures in window, wall and roof systems. We can provide quick site documentation using digital laser scanning or total station to preserve evidence and allow reconstruction to quickly begin. We also provide building monitoring to evaluate the performance and conditions of the building over time as they may relate to environmental conditions, mechanical system operations, or other construction deficiencies. DBI’s field testing services include:
- Customized component isolation water leakage testing to evaluate water entry paths and the use of infrared thermography to help identify locations of water and air leakage in building construction.
- AAMA 501.2 – “Quality Assurance and Diagnostic Water Leakage Field Check of Installed Storefronts, Curtain Walls, and Sloped Glazing Systems”
- AAMA 502 – “Voluntary Specification for Field Testing of Newly Installed Fenestration Products”
- AAMA 503 – “Voluntary Specification for Field Testing of Newly Installed Storefronts, Curtain Walls and Sloped Glazing Systems”
- AAMA 511 – “Voluntary Guideline for Forensic Water Penetration Testing of Fenestration Products”
- ASTM C1060 – “Standard Practice for Thermographic Inspection of Insulation Installations in Envelope Cavities of Frame Buildings”
- ASTM C1153 – “Standard Practice for Location of Wet Insulation in Roofing Systems Using Infrared Imaging”
- ASTM C1601 – “Standard Test Method for Field Determination of Water Penetration of Masonry Wall Surfaces”
- ASTM C1715 – “Standard Test Method for Evaluation of Water Leakage Performance of Masonry Wall Drainage Systems”
- ASTM E783 – “Standard Test Method for Field Measurement of Air Leakage through Installed Exterior Windows and Doors”
- ASTM E1105 – “Standard Test Method for Field Testing Water Penetration”
- ASTM E2128 – “Standard Guide for Evaluating Water Leakage of Building Walls”
- ASTM E 2359 – “Field Pull Testing of an In-Place EIFS”
- In addition to the above standardized tests, we use other basic equipment to evaluate buildings and the existence of building deficiencies including:
- thermal imaging cameras
- calibrated moisture meters
- digital laser scanning
- metal detection equipment
- borescopes
- infrared thermometers
- air leakage detection equipment
- smoke generation devices
- anemometers
- digital manometers
- total station
- digital levels
- tilt meters
- coating thickness gauges
- micro crack gauges