Water Intrusion Field Testing Services
BDG performs field-testing procedures relative to evaluating the performance of installed windows, doors, storefront, curtain walls, sloped glazing systems, skylights, ribbon windows, and exterior building facades for new construction quality assurance and diagnostic services to determine the cause of water intrusions.
Wall Penetration Testing
The outer wall surface of a masonry wall will experience water penetration when subjected to wind-driven rain. The resistance to water penetration is dependent on materials, workmanship, design, and maintenance. The ASTM C 1601 – Standard Test Method for Field Determination of Water Penetration of Masonry Wall Surfaces covers the field determination of water penetration of masonry wall surface(s) under specific water flow rate and air pressure conditions.
Storefront / Curtain Wall Water Testing
Storefront and curtain wall systems are similar in appearance but differ in the way water drainage mechanisms are used. Details related to their design and installations vary among manufacturers. Common problems with these systems include water leakage, air infiltration, and failed insulated glass units.
Masonry Wall Drainage Testing
Although masonry wall systems are durable and capable of fulfilling their function for many years, defects are often encountered, usually becoming apparent as water intrusions within the building. These defects can arise from deficiencies in design, poor workmanship, inadequate project supervision, complicated cladding transitions, or a combination of these conditions.
Forensic Water Intrusion Testing
Our systematic approach to a project includes an initial evaluation, full service history review, identifying physical symptoms, visual inspection of reported intrusions, developing a hypothesis, recreating leaks simulating normal rainfall, tracing and correlating intrusions, verifying the hypothesis, providing a final analysis and accurately reporting through field documentation.
