Are electrokinetic methods suitable for the treatment of rising damp?

Journal article (2018)

Authors

J. Bolhuis Heritage & Technology - Architecture and the Built Environment
M de Bouw BBRI
B. Lubelli Heritage & Technology - Architecture and the Built Environment
L. Miedema Heritage & Technology - Architecture and the Built Environment
R.P.J. van Hees Heritage & Technology - Architecture and the Built Environment
Research Group
Heritage & Technology (Architecture and the Built Environment) (TU Delft)
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Published Date

2018

Language

English

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Faculty

Architecture and the Built Environment

Department

Architectural Engineering +Technology

Research Group

Heritage & Technology

Abstract

The treatment of rising damp is an important issue when dealing with the conservation and restoration of historic buildings. The most effective solutions for the problem of rising damp are usually very ‘invasive’: depending on the method, there might be a substantial loss of authentic materials, the intervention may have a significant impact on the stability of the construction, there could be a mild to very important visual impact, and the intervention might be irreversible. An efficient treatment for rising damp, without these disadvantages, would therefore be more then welcome. Several companies offer nowadays such a solution, in the form of so-called ‘electrokinetic’ methods. Within the research project EMERISDA (www.emerisda.eu) (Effectiveness of Methods against Rising Damp), on-site measurements have been carried out on more sites, in order to evaluate their effectiveness. On one of the sites, the effectiveness of such an electrokinetic method has been compared to more conventional injections of water repellent agents.