water and moisture intrusion

Water is a problem in the built environment. Moving the water to where you want it and keeping it out of the envelope is paramount in design and construction.

If unwanted water enters the building, it can be significantly challenging to ascertain why. Correcting the conditions requires identification of the intrusion site. Water makes the intrusion a challenge because it can enter the built environment as a solid, liquid and/or gas. The presence of anyone of these three forms of water is not known until the secondary effects of the intrusion, such as deterioration, surface defacement, corrosion or mold occur. The proper design and installation of the built environment will help prevent water intrusion and any of the three forms noted. The use of an infrared thermographic camera and moisture meters allow the intrusion site of liquid water to be readily determined.

JPC experts' knowledge of building science, dew points, psychrometrics, flashings, vapor pressure, and air infiltration are all used to determine how the water intruded into the built environment.

An investigation of water intrusion by JPC will address the following:

• Where is the water currently?
• In what form did the water enter the building?
• Does the intrusion correspond with climatic activities?
• What are the elevated moisture levels?
• Where are the entry points for?
• What caused the defacement or what exacerbated the intrusion?