TRAMEX RWS User Manual
RWS
Roof & Wall
Moisture Scanner
NON-DESTRUCTIVE
MOISTURE DETECTION
FOR
BUILT-UP &
SINGLE PLY ROOFS
AND
EXTERIOR
INSULATION
FINISHING SYSTEMS
(EIFS)
User
Guide
RWSUG01/05
TRAMEX MOISTURE/HUMIDITY
INSTRUMENTS
DEC SCANNER.
Mobile non-destructive moisture surveying instrument
for inspecting flat roofs.
LEAK SEEKER.
Leak tracing in flat and built-up roofing
SURVEY ENCOUNTER.
“State of the art” non-destructive moisture meter for
measuring and recording moisture in building
materials.
MOISTURE ENCOUNTER PLUS.
Non-destructive moisture meter employing advanced
analog and digital technology with automatic timed cutout and HOLD facility.
PROFESSIONAL MOISTURE METER.
Digital resistance meter with probes, tests deep into
wood.
COMPACT MOISTURE METER.
Economical pin-type resistance meter for wood.
WOOD MOISTURE ENCOUNTER.
Non-destructive testing of wood and wood products.
CONCRETE ENCOUNTER CME 4.
Non-destructive moisture meter for concrete floors.
CRH FLOORING METER.
“State of the art” non-destructive testing and recording
of moisture content and relative humidity in concrete,
gypsum screeds and sub-floors.
SKIPPER PLUS
Checks wooden boats for decay and finds osmosis in
GRP.
MOISTURE & HUMIDITY KITS ARE
AVAILABLE FOR THE FOLLOWING
INDUSTRIES:
EIFS and Wall Inspection, Roof inspection, Floor
inspection, Indoor Air Quality and Building
Maintenance
R.W.S.
User Guide
R.W.S.
User Guide
Roof and Wall Moisture Scanner R.W.S. ......................4
Introduction..............................................................4
Fig. 1. The RWS......................................................4
Modes Of Operation ................................................5
How It Works ..........................................................5
Fig. 2. RWS Low Frequency Signals on EIFS........5
Principles Of Operation ..........................................6
Prior To Use.............................................................6
Conducting A Moisture Survey ..............................6
OPERATION MODES ..................................................7
EIFS MODE ............................................................7
ROOF MODE..........................................................7
Conducting A Moisture Survey: ....................................8
IN EIFS Mode ........................................................8
Fig. 3. Laboratory Mock-Up ..................................9
Interpretation of Readings ......................................9
Table 1. Comparison of RWS and Professional
Pin Type Resistance Meter Readings ......................10
Tracing Moisture Back To Source In EIFS Or
Similar Construction................................................11
Fig. 4. Professional Pin Meter With
Deep Wall Probe......................................................11
Conducting A Moisture Survey: ....................................12
In Roof Mode ..........................................................12
Conducting A Roof Survey............................................12
Procedure ................................................................12
Fig. 5. Roof Grid Sketch ........................................13
Tracing A Leak And Checking Suspected
Trouble Areas ..........................................................13
Fig. 6. Tracing and Marking a Leak
on your Roof ............................................................14
Types Of Roofing Structures And Their More
Common Problems ..................................................14
Possible Problems Leading To Moisture Intrusion
Of The Roof System ................................................15
Moisture Survey Checklist ......................................15
Useful Items Required When Conducting
A Survey...................................................................15
Correct Use Of RWS. ..............................................16
Maintenance of RWS...............................................16
Warranty ........................................................................17
Warranty Claims ......................................................17
Product Development ..............................................17
Safety ......................................................................17
Additional Notes ............................................................18
R.W.S.
User Guide
Roof and Wall Moisture Scanner R.W.S.
Introduction
The RWS is a hand held, non-destructive, electronic
moisture meter specially developed for non-destructive
moisture evaluation and surveying of built-up or single
ply roofing and EIFS (Exterior Insulation Finishing
Systems).
The Tramex RWS is an effective Moisture Scanner with
2 operating modes, EIFS (Walls) and Roofing, each
mode has 2 ranges of sensitivity, affording you the
opportunity to scan roofing, walls and the building
envelope for excess moisture. In the EIFS mode, the
RWS can also be used on foamed-over roofing systems.
For those familiar with Tramex moisture meters, the
RWS incorporates two of Tramex’s well-known moisture scanners, with additional features and benefits, in
one instrument. These are the Leak Seeker, for Roofing
moisture detection and Wet Wall Detector for Wall
(EIFS) moisture detection.
To get maximum benefit from your TRAMEX RWS, it
is suggested before undertaking a moisture survey, that
you read this manual to familiarise yourself with the
operation, features and capabilities of this multi-mode
non-destructive moisture detection and scanning instrument.
Fig. 1. The R.W.S.
R.W.S.
User Guide
Modes Of Operation
The RWS (Roof and Wall Moisture Scanner) has two
operating modes, each with two ranges of sensitivity.
EIFS Mode (Yellow LED selected on MODE switch.)
is for moisture scanning of exterior insulation and finish system (EIFS) and similar type of construction
cladding as well as polyurethane and polystyrene foam
insulation and other types of low-density insulation systems applied to the building envelope.
Roof Mode (Red LED selected on MODE switch) is for
moisture scanning and leak tracing of built-up and single ply roofing systems.
Each of these measurement modes incorporates two
sensitivities, which are activated by pressing the
RANGE switch:
Yellow LED for lower sensitivity and lower penetration. Red LED for higher sensitivity and deeper penetration.
How It Works
The R.W.S. is an electronic instrument powered by one
9volt PP3 or similar battery. It operates on the principal of electrical impedance measurement. This means
that a harmless, low frequency, non-destructive signal
is sent from the two rubber coated electrodes at the base
of the instrument through the surface of the material
being tested, deep into this material. See Figure 2.
Fig. 2. RWS Low Frequency Signals On EIFS
Principles Of Operation
To measure / detect moisture, the rubber coated base of
the instrument is pressed onto the material being tested.
The detection signals from the instrument penetrate the
material under test to a depth of up to approximately 75
mm. (3 inches) depending on the mode, the range of
sensitivity selected and the material being tested. The
small current flowing through the field is inversely proportional to the impedance of the material. This current
is a measure of the change in the electrical impedance
caused by a change in the moisture content. This
change is translated by the RWS and instantly and continuously displayed on the large clear analog dial which
gives comparative readings of 0 to 100.
Prior To Use.
Although the RWS is checked on manufacture and at
quality control to ensure it is in working order before
leaving the factory, a few minor checks should be carried out following transit. These are as follows :
Depress ON/OFF switch (located on facia right side of
grab handle) to power on the RWS. Check battery
strength by depressing BATTERY check switch. The
needle on the analog dial should go past the BATTERY
line on the dial. If not, change the battery. Set the sensitivity dial to 10, place your hand on the base of the
instrument, making contact with both electrodes, a fullscale reading of 100 should be obtained, irrespective of
which mode or range is selected. See Figure 1. for
graphic illustration of switches and controls.
Ensure that your new RWS is received in pristine condition, just as it left our factory. Complete and return
warranty registration card to Tramex or the supplier of
your RWS.
Conducting A Moisture Survey
1. Before commencing moisture testing, it is advisable
to familiarise yourself with the RWS, its functions
and principles of operation.
2. It is also advisable, prior to commencing your moisture survey, to familiarise yourself with construction
details and specification, in particular, thickness of
exterior insulation, type and thickness of lamina,
number of layers of lamina and its reinforcing, coating and covering materials. The composition and
specification of the substrate material is also worth
knowing. This familiarisation will help you to make
the best use and interpretation of the RWS.
R.W.S.
User Guide
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