Beat Damp with the Damp Protect Solution

BEAT DAMP WITH THE DAMP PROTECT SOLUTION

THE PROBLEM OF DAMP
Damp is a problem found in the walls of many buildings, particularly those built before the use of protective membranes in the foundations. Damp is one of the main causes of building deterioration, particularly in older constructions. The presence of water in the walls can lead to significant problems:

• Reduced thermal performance and a consequent increase in heating requirements
• Appearance of marks and mould on the walls and detachment of plasterwork in more serious cases
• As time goes on, wall structures can suffer damage that is very difficult to repair.

THE IMPORTANCE OF IDENTIFICATION
For the reasons explained above, it is best to deal with damp problems as soon as they appear. Correct identification of the issue is equally critical, allowing the root causes to be pinpointed

• First of all, basic information regarding the building should be compiled: from locating plumbing connections, guttering and drains to identifying the presence of ground water.
• This is followed by a visual inspection, carried out with the help of an expert. During this phase, the presence of damp is carefully mapped, attempting to understand how long the problem has existed and under what conditions, etc
At this point, the expert will be able to establish which of the four main types of damp are behind the damage (atmospheric humidity, condensation, rain penetration and rising damp) and what the solutions are.

RISING DAMP:
This is one of the most common problems and also one of the most difficult to eradicate. It is caused by the transmission of water via capillary action with a process similar to osmosis.

This leads to water and dissolved salts rising up through the walls. In addition to negative aesthetic impacts, this type of damp not only causes deterioration of the walls themselves (swelling and disintegration of plasterwork and mortar joints, formation of mould, corrosion of bricks, etc.) with associated effects on mechanical performance, but also creates bad odours and health risks for inhabitants due to the formation of mould. This is the most dangerous type of damp because it is self-sustaining, with water rising via capillary action from a constant source. Due to the physical nature of the phenomenon, the whole body of the material is affected and it can lead to early degrading of the structure if underestimated.

DAMP IN WALLS
Rising damp due to capillary action is caused by the attraction of water to porous materials. A newly built wall is completely uniform within. More specifically, the positive and negative electrical charges present in all solids are uniformly distributed through the mass of the wall. Considering that water is itself polarised, becoming an electrical conductor when it contains salt ions, acids and bases, and that the microstructure of the constituent materials (bricks, tuff, mortar, etc.) feature microcapillaries, the base of a wall standing in water acts as a solid soaked in an electrolyte solution

In the capillaries, which are small channels with dimensions in the order of mm2 , absorption occurs at the interphase of dissolved substances which, as they are charged ions, create an electrical field. More specifically, as the construction materials are inert solids (silica, quartz, carbonates and similar) the positive charges (cations) progressively accumulate on the surface of the aforementioned capillaries, while the negative charges (anions) are able to move in relation to these. The water absorbed by the walls contains mineral salts (nitrates, sulphates and chlorides) and other substances contained in the earth below, causing the typical characteristics on the surface of the wall as water evaporates on contact with the air, including: marks, rings, flaking of paint, mould generating unpleasant odours, efflorescence and detachment of plasterwork. The filtration of salts through walls and crystallisation within them makes the structure even more hygroscopic.

For a clearer idea, consider that just eight grams of salt can absorb one litre of water. Generally, capillary rising damp occurs until the point at which the evaporation rate is equal to the absorption rate of the wall. Problems of this type are found predominantly in buildings surrounded by ground water (the earth is directly in contact with the external wall) in old buildings with very absorbent mortar, and particularly in cellars and basements. This is why these rooms often feel significantly cooler than upper floors.

THE DAMP PROTECT SOLUTION

The Damp Protect Solution from Termatrac is a modern technology designed to combat rising damp in walls. It operates by generating an electrostatic and electromagnetic field that opposes the natural electrical field created by rising damp, effectively halting and reversing the capillary action of water in the wall. Here’s a detailed overview:

Key Features of the Damp Protect Solution:

  • Electromagnetic Field Generation:

    The solution creates a field that opposes the natural electrical field generated by rising damp, causing water to return to the ground through the same pores it entered

  • Pollution-Free and Reversible:

    The process is environmentally friendly and reversible, making it suitable for historic buildings and sensitive environments

  • Flexibility and Comprehensive Protection:

    It functions perfectly on various types of walls, including basement walls, and self-adjusts based on dampness levels

  • No Structural Work Required:

    Installation is quick, typically taking a few hours, and does not involve structural modifications

APPLICATIONS

Historic Buildings

 Effective in preserving and dehumidifying historic structures without altering their integrity.

Architectural Renovation

Useful in renovation projects where structural changes are undesirable.

Conservation of Monuments:

 Helps in maintaining the condition of monuments by preventing damp-related damage.

Civil and Industrial Structures

Applicable for dehumidification in various types of buildings.

New Builds

Can be used as a preventive measure in new constructions.

Flood-Prone Areas

Effective in areas susceptible to flooding.

ADVANTAGES OF DAMP PROTECT

Cost Savingswork

Offers significant cost savings compared to traditional methods requiring structural

Health Benefits

Improves indoor air quality by reducing damp-related issues.

Flexibility and Comprehensive Protection

Suitable for all types of walls and structures.

WHAT EXACTLY IS CAPILLARY DAMP?

Capillary rising damp is characteristic of old buildings, built at a time when builders were unaware of waterproof materials such as bitumen and the like, which are now used for waterproofing. Moreover, old buildings are often built without foundations, directly…
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WHAT EXACTLY IS CAPILLARY DAMP AND WHY DOES IT OCCUR?
Capillary rising damp is characteristic of old buildings, built at a time when builders were unaware of waterproof materials such as bitumen and the like, which are now used for waterproofing. Moreover, old buildings are often built without foundations, directly on the ground. Since the basic construction materials (brick, stone, mortar, concrete…) are to a greater or lesser extent porous, through them, that is through microcapillaries existing in their structure, damp gradually moves upward from the soil.

The “culprit” for this is the surface tension of water, which occurs due to the polarisation of water molecules, and its direct consequence is capillarity. Due to capillary action, water “climbs” up the wall, and while moving, creates an additional electromagnetic field in the wall, which enhances the capillary effect.

HEALTH HAZARD

1. Material disintegration and destruction Damp rises up the walls, carrying dissolved salts and nitrates. When the damp evaporates and dries up, the salts crystallise, and given that crystallization stress is one of the highest in nature, the resulting pressure…

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HEALTH HAZARD
1. Material disintegration and destruction Damp rises up the walls, carrying dissolved salts and nitrates. When the damp evaporates and dries up, the salts crystallise, and given that crystallisation stress is one of the highest in nature, the resulting pressure causes significant damages. Water in the wall changes its physical states. Frost in the winter and vapour in the summer rotate in the structure, causing the constant slow destruction of the structure, i.e. the disintegration of the wall. This means that the structure itself weakens in its functional sense. The worst damage usually occurs in the wall zone up to which damp rose, that is, where it stopped rising.

2. Unpleasant smell of damp The smell of damp is actually the smell of stale water in the walls that evaporates from the walls, spreading bacteria and fungi thus saturating the space and causing increased atmospheric humidity. Such spaces are unpleasant to stay and work in.

3. Health risks The presence of mould, water damage, or musty odours should be addressed immediately. People with weakened immune systems are particularly susceptible to mould-related illness, also infants and children and the elderly. Mould can produce toxic substances known as mycotoxins. Persons exposed to toxic mould can experience a variety of health effects, these include: Allergic and other immune responses: allergic sinusitis, allergic conjunctivitis, eczema, asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and allergic contact dermatitis. Infectious responses: mycosis, aspergillosis. Mycotoxin responses: commonly exhibited as eye and throat irritations. Neurotoxic responses: headache, fatigue, dizziness, memory and verbal problems, depression.

DEHYDRATION PROCESS

Firstly, water from the highest levels of the walls to which it has risen slowly begins to move towards the lower parts. – In the initial phase of the system, when the damp inside the walls starts moving, it…
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DEHYDRATION PROCESS
– Firstly, water from the highest levels of the walls to which it has risen slowly begins to move towards the lower parts.

– In the initial phase of the system, when the damp inside the walls starts moving, it can result in an increased evaporation of damp into the space that causes increased atmospheric humidity. This change of dehydration indicators may be visible on the building, but not necessarily. Because of this phenomenon, it is necessary to ensure good ventilation of the space which is important in the process of dehydration, at least in the first weeks of the system operation.

– During the dehydration process, the surface parts of the walls are the first to dry up. Thus, the damaged materials (paint and plaster) increasingly flake and fall off. It is also one of the indicators of the changes that occur due to building dehydration.

As a result of the dehydration process, materials often change colour (become brighter) and become smoother to the touch.