5.1 Excess moisture trapped in roofing or waterproofing systems can adversely affect performance and lead to premature failure of roofing or waterproofing systems and its components. It also reduces thermal resistance, resulting in reduced energy efficiency and inflated energy costs. Impedance scans can be effective in identifying concealed and entrapped moisture within roofing or waterproofing systems.

5.2 This practice is intended to be used at various stages of the roofing and waterproofing system’s life such as: completion of installation of roofing system to determine if there was moisture intrusion into the roofing system or materials for quality control purposes, at regular intervals as part of a preventative maintenance program, and before re-roofing or repair work to assist in determining the extent of work and replacement materials.

5.3 This practice alone does not determine the cause of moisture infiltration into roofing or waterproofing systems; however, it can be used to help tracing excess moisture to the point of ingress.

1.1 This practice applies to techniques that use non-destructive electrical impedance (EI) scanners to locate moisture and evaluate the comparitive moisture content within insulated low-slope roofing and waterproofing systems.

1.2 This practice is applicable to roofing and waterproofing systems wherein insulation is placed above the deck and positioned underneath and in contact with electrically nonconductive single-ply or built-up roofing and waterproofing membranes and systems such as coal tar, asphalt, modified bitumen, thermoplastics, spray polyurethane foam, and similar electrically non-conductive membrane materials. This practice is also applicable to roofing and waterproofing systems without insulation placed above moisture absorbing decks such as wood, concrete, or gypsum, that are in contact with single-ply or built-up roofing and waterproofing membranes as described above.

1.3 This practice is applicable to roofing and waterproofing systems incorporating electrically nonconductive rigid board insulation made from materials such as organic fibers, perlite, cork, fiberglass, wood-fiber, polyisocyanurate, polystyrene, phenolic foam, composite boards, gypsum substrate boards, and other electrically nonconductive roofing and waterproofing systems such as spray-applied polyurethane foam.

1.4 This practice is not appropriate for all combinations of materials used in roofing and waterproofing systems.

1.4.1 Metal and other electrically conductive surface coverings and near-surface embedded metallic components are not suitable for surveying with impedance scanners because of the electrical conductivity of these materials.

1.4.2 Black ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM) produces false positive readings when tested because of the material’s high dielectric constant.

1.4.3 Aluminum foil on top-faced insulation, roofing, or waterproofing membranes gives a false positive reading and is not suitable for surveying with impedance scanners; however, liquid-applied aluminum pigmented emulsified asphalt-based coatings shall not normally affect impedance scanner readings.

1.4.4 See A1.4 for some cautionary notes on roofing anomalies and limitations that affect the impedance test practice.

1.5 Moisture scanners using impedance based technology are classified as EI scanners.

Note 1: The term capacitance is sometimes used when describing impedance scanners. Capacitance scanners are purely capacitive as they do not have a resistive component. Impedance scanners combine both capacitance and resistance for testing; thus, they are well suited to the measurement of different types of materials and constructions found in roofing and waterproofing systems as the combination of both components allows for a more versatile testing, calibration, and measurement arrangement.

1.6 This practice also addresses necessary verification of impedance data involving invasive test procedures using core samples.

1.7 This practice addresses two generally accepted scanning techniques for conducting moisture surveys using electrical impedance scanners:

1.7.1 Technique A—Continuous systematic scanning and recording (see 8.2), and

1.7.2 Technique B—Grid format scanning and recording (see 8.3).

1.8 This practice addresses some meteorological conditions and limitations for performing impedance inspections.

1.9 This practice addresses the effect of the roofing or waterproofing construction, material differences, and exterior surface conditions on the moisture inspections.

1.10 This practice addresses operating procedures, operator qualifications, operating methods, scanning, surveying, and recording techniques.

1.11 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.

1.12 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Caution should be taken when accessing, walking, or using scanning equipment on the roofing or waterproofing surfaces, or elevated locations, when using ladders, and when raising and lowering equipment to elevated locations.