Monitoring and stabilising built environments

Environmental monitoring includes the data logging of temperature, humidity, moisture content and other parameters in building materials, including internal and external environmental conditions, using on-site sensors and an automatic weather station. Environmental monitoring may also involve monitoring of building fabric, materials and the building environment.

Remote sensing of moisture content in timber

Remote sensing of the moisture content in timber and monitoring of drying provides simple and economical methods of avoiding serious timber decay. These systems accurately determine the source and distribution of moisture within the building fabric, and detect water penetration in critical areas or monitor drying following building failure, fire or flood. Data from these investigations is used to determine a policy and control the drying out of the building fabric to reduce the risk of future decay after refurbishment.

Remote sensing of moisture content in masonry

Remote sensing systems can be installed in damp masonry or areas likely to be at risk from water penetration, and the resulting data can be used to determine the state of drying out and to take profiles of moisture across a thick wall that may take many months to dry out. Permanently installed systems can act as a warning for future water penetration.

These systems can be simple or complex, and are tailor-made to suit a particular building. In complex remote sensing systems, the data can be transferred to computer or via a model to a central building management system.

Mothballing

Mothballing is preventative conservation and can be the best option for cost effective environmental management of deterioration to historic fabric, contents, decorative finishes and fixtures.

Once investigations are complete, it is important to develop a strategy to stabilise the historic building environment. For the holistic and sustainable conservation and preservation of the building, various building works may be required to prevent further water penetration and to maximise ventilation to damp-affected materials.