There are two types of electronic leak detection equipment, which represent the best technologies available for leak detection in roofs.

Dry Test System and the Wet Test System. Both work by testing the insulative qualities, in that we are looking for breaches/mechanical damage of the membrane against conductive qualities of another element, either water or foil faced insulation board.

Wet Roof testing requires the roof surface to be soaking wet, as transmission of electricity through the water in the leak source provides the signal that there is a leak. The operator surrounds the area to be tested with a trace wire and uses two electrodes and a pulse generator to send an electrical pulse through the roof surface. Like detecting the ripples from a pebble thrown into a pool, a direction finder then directs the operator towards the fault in the surface that is producing the leak.

The Dry Roof System has been in use since the 1990s and uses high voltage; here the roof surface must be dry as the system uses the high voltage to jump in air and identify the fault. After setting up the test area, the operator sweeps an electrode over the roof and an audible and visible alarm is triggered, pointing directly to where the breach/damage has occurred.

They work well on:

• Single Ply Membranes
• Hot Melt
• Cold Applied Liquids, GRP

They aren’t suitable for EPDM roofs as EPDM conventionally contains a large amount of carbon, which makes it a poor insulator. 

Please contact Roofing Advisors to discuss your requirements.