Module 5 · Conducting a Damp Inspection
5.5 Using Tools During an Inspection
7 min read
By this point you have the history, the external picture, the internal distribution and the ventilation assessment. You should have two or three candidate mechanisms. Now the instruments come out — not to discover the answer, but to test between candidates. This lesson covers that sequencing and the measurement routine that supports it.
Learning objectives
By the end of this lesson you will be able to:
- Sequence instrument use so it tests hypotheses rather than generating them.
- Run a measurement routine that produces comparable readings.
- Choose which measurements will actually discriminate between candidates.
- Record readings so they remain interpretable months later.
Key terms
- Discriminating measurement
- A reading whose outcome would change which candidate mechanism you favour.
- Reading grid
- A planned set of readings across and around an area, rather than opportunistic spot checks.
- Depth profile
- Readings taken at surface and at depth, distinguishing surface wetting from moisture within the fabric.
- Ambient record
- Room temperature and humidity recorded alongside the readings taken in that room.
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Read the rest of Conducting a Damp Inspection
Module 1 is open to everyone. The remaining six modules — building science, each damp mechanism in depth, meters and thermal imaging, the full inspection method, and report writing — are free too. We just ask for an email so you can pick up where you left off, and so we can send your certificate when you finish.