b'EFVM TechnologyTomitigatetherisksassoci- Legal exposureThe Hidden Cost ofBy Chris Eichhorn, atedwithaleakingcommercialRaised insurance premiums roof, effective and immediate leakPremature roof replacementPresident of International Leak Detection detection is of paramount impor- Weather and exposure to the tance to avoid some of these com-Commercial Roof Leaks mon hidden costs:tofurnish- elements take their toll on com-Interiordamagemercial roofs, making it critically ings,fixtures,equipment,importanttoundertakepreven-lighting and other assets tive roof maintenance, at mini-Using EFVM technology for roof system commissioning and preventative maintenance Health and wellnesspoten- mum, every spring and fall. Do-tial harm to employees fromingsoincreasestheroofslife mold,mildewandcompro- expectancy,protectspeopleand mised air quality contents, ensures minor damage Service costs, from leak de- doesnt escalate into costly repairs tectiontoleakandstruc- and preserves peace of mind for tural repair the building owner. Some build-Utilitycostsheatinganding owners may neglect to under-coolingsystemswillwork harder to moderate tempera- take a proactive preventive plan ture in response to damagedfor various reasons, as they focus insulation on their core business, put off cre-Business disruptionwheth- ating a tailored maintenance pro-er due to interior repairs orgram or underestimate the cost of safety evacuation, no compa- acompromisedroofingsystem. ny wants to incur companyHowever, as the expression goesdowntime an ounce of prevention is worth a Brandreputationwaterpound of cure!stains on the ceiling tiles dont reflect well on any companyChris Eichhorn is the President of anddiminishtheperceivedInternational Leak Detection. Find value of the building out more at www.leak-detection.com.R oofingcontractorsknowmitigation, which is unfortunatetechnology in experienced hands well that safeguarding a cli- given the reality that roofing sys- delivers accurate results.entsroofinginvestmenttems are assets with a limited lifeEFVM is Europes most widely involvesavarietyofelements,expectancy. The insidious natureused, nondestructive test method includingqualitymaterialsandof water damage is such that ex- for detecting leaks in membrane installation,familiaritywithvari- tensive damage can be done qui- roofsandisapracticalalterna-ous construction details and speci- etly and over extensive periods oftive to flood testing on horizontal fications,roofingdesignandatime before being discovered. and vertical surfaces and on new-myriad of best practices pertainingJust as death and taxes are in- ly installed roof systems, as well to roofing structures and systems.evitable, so too are leaks in virtu- asagedroofs.Thistestmethod Theroofsofinstitutional,com- ally all commercial roofs. Whendeliversalowvoltageelectrical mercialandindustrialbuildingsit happens, pinpointing the loca- chargebetweenthenon-con-represent significant capital expen- tion of the leak quickly and accu- ductivemembranesurfaceand dituresforbuildingowners,andrately is of paramount importancetheconductivestructuraldeck, the roof plays an important role inso that repairs can be initiated im- orsubstrate,whichisearthed protecting the structure itself andmediately to safeguard the build- or grounded. By applying water everything beneath it. ing, occupants and assets.on the surface of the membrane Few businesses today can toler- Buildingownersmustassessand using the water as a conduc-ate a delay or stoppage of opera- their roofing system to determinetive medium, an electric field is tions,andformany,destructionthebestmethodofleakdetec- createdtomarkanybreachin causedbywaterdamagetothetion.Isthestructuralroofdeckthe membrane, creating a vector interior of the facility could provemetal, concrete or wood? Is thethatcanthenbemeasuredand disastrous. Consider facilities suchroofslopingormulti-level?Ismappedwithpinpointaccuracy as museums, art galleries, heritagethere overburden, a parking deck,in order to be repaired.buildings,hi-techenvironments,blackmembrane?Isthewater- TheEFVMtechnicianwill national security operations, hos- proofingconcealedorburied?thencompletethetestbycon-pitalsandcriticalcarelocations,Are there both flat and horizontalducting a visual inspection of all to name a few. Sites such as thesesurfaces?EFVM (Electric Fieldwalljunctions,perimeterdetails must rely on proactive roof pre- VectorMapping)leakdetectionandmembranepenetrations. ventivemaintenanceinordertotechnology is suitable for each ofThe locations of any breaches are decreasethelikelihoodofleaks,these scenarios.numbered to allow for repairs by mitigateriskandliability,saveEFVM technology was devel- the waterproofers onsite and are money and ensure issues can beopedinGermanyinthemid- retestedtoconfirmwatertight-identified before they become per- 1970s and was brought to Northness.Photodocumentationis vasive and costly. America in 1990 by Internationalprovidedtotheclient,showing Roof leaks can be budget kill- LeakDetection(ILD).Foral- wire placement and breach loca-ers and pose numerous risks be- most20years,EFVMtechnol- tions. EFVM can be particularly yond the obvious structural dam- ogyhashelpedlocateeventhehelpful in cases where the water age. Many building owners dontsmallestsplitsorpuncturesonexit location is different than the have a plan for leak detection androofs around the world. The rightpoint of entry. 18ONTARIO ROOFING NEWSISSUE 1 2020 THE ONLY SOURCE FOR PROFESSIONAL ICI ROOFING CONTRACTORS IN ONTARIO ORN'