
Published 2022-08-16
Damage assessments with Celsicom
Unfortunately, all too often, people’s house dreams quickly turn into a nightmare when it turns out that there is moisture and mold in the walls, ceilings or floors. Peter Ornsäter at Husexperten Fastighetskonsult AB has been investigating the causes of moisture and mold damage for many years. One of Peter’s key tools in these investigations is the Celsicom measuring device.
When damage to a house is discovered, it can sometimes be difficult to get justice against the seller, as there is a far-reaching obligation to investigate before buying a house. Peter Ornsäter has extensive experience in damage investigations on behalf of housing associations and tenants, as well as house buyers and sellers.
How do you use Celsicom in damage investigations?
– You could say that we do structural testing of building envelopes – that is, roofs, walls and floors. Often it’s about building up a burden of proof, so we make several different measurements with different instruments. Remote monitoring with Celsicom is usually used when long-term measurement of temperature, humidity or air pressure is needed. This sometimes involves destructive interventions such as drilling holes in wooden structures such as ceilings, floors, ceilings and so on. It all depends on what is to be investigated.
– For example, in the case of ventilation gaps in the ceiling or built-in moisture in walls or floors, we drill a small hole and insert the Celsicom cable sensor to the desired depth.
How long does such logging take?
– This can range from a week to a month, sometimes even longer. It is a case-by-case assessment.
How many donors are usually needed?
– Each case is specific, so it depends entirely on what is being measured. Normally we have several different sensors that simultaneously measure temperature and humidity in the structure and in the air, both inside and outside. We can also measure air pressure differences by connecting a Testo pressure sensor to the Celsicom system using a signal converter.
– But when it comes to ventilation, we can measure air flows directly on site with a testo 417. No logging over time is needed. The same applies to the direct measurement of moisture content in wooden structures, which we can do with a testo 606, for example.
How were these measurements made in the past?
– In the past, we had to make bigger holes in the structure and put in regular data loggers. After that, they had to come back at regular intervals to read the measurements. Now you can simply log on to the Celsiview cloud service and view the curves directly on your mobile phone or office computer.
– Another major advantage of Celsicom’s wired sensors is that they are easier to insert to the desired depth in the structure. Moreover, a small hole is enough. Of course, we also use wireless Celsico sensors where appropriate.
Does it work well to review the measurement results remotely via the cloud service?
– Yes, it is perfectly possible. The values from the different sensors are shown in graph form. Trends can be quickly identified by comparing different measurement points, such as outdoor humidity with moisture levels in walls or ceilings. The measurement results can then be sent by email as plain images or as data, for example in Excel format to be used in the final report.
Can you tell us about an interesting mission?
– Yes, for example, we had a housing association where some members had obtained permission to remove the ventilated top wind in a number of attic apartments. They moved the insulation up to the roof but failed to add a functioning air gap. This resulted in a short circuit in the roofs of all the attic apartments. In the apartment we investigated, it was found that air was entering the gap, but there was no device for the air to escape. This created the risk of moisture and mold, which could also spread to the indoor environment. In this case, we used Celsicom’s wired sensors in the ceiling to take measurements over time.
– We also have a case with a building supplier who had installed a rubber sheet at the bottom behind the facade panel. It went up 20 cm behind the panel and out at the bottom to protect the wall block below. Moisture from the concrete slab and rain then made its way behind the canvas, but had no chance to dry out. As a result, all sills had to be sawn off and replaced at great cost. All the plumbing in the walls will probably have to be replaced as well. Using Celsicom sensors in the walls, we were able to monitor moisture development for as long as three months.
– Then we recently had a case of acute moisture damage in the roof of a barely 10-year-old house. By inspecting air gaps and logging the moisture with Celsicom, we were able to document the faults. It turned out that the entire roof had to be replaced due to mold and moisture damage caused by the construction contractor’s faulty workmanship. Thanks to the fact that the defects were discovered within 10 years of the final inspection, the homeowner was ultimately compensated by the building defects insurance. The costs were estimated at SEK 1.5-2.5 million.
Have you thought about extending the Celsicom system?
– Yes, we will extend the system with a radon sensor. The ability to log gamma radiation may also be of interest. In addition, we are considering a wireless Celsicom sensor for logging moisture content in wooden structures.
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Contact persons

CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SALES
Thomas Ottosson
Area of responsibility: Industrial and stationary
applications
thomas.ottosson@nordtec.se
031-704 10 87
031-704 10 70