CASE SUDY

 

Hurricane Damage

Flood

 

 

 

This building was affected by category 3 flood water (Black Water) up to an elevation approximately 2" above the finished floor.

 

ET first examined this structure on or about October 2.  The floor, sub floor and lower structural framing material had been exposed to the original flood waters for about three hours and had remained wet for 39 days before ET’s drying activities began on October 15.

 

Using the Protimeter Moisture Measurement System and the Protimeter Hammer Electrode we determined the following:

 

1.         The sub floor in the Great Room measured a moisture content of 63% at a depth of approximately 1/8".

2.         The sub floor in the back Bedroom measured a moisture content of 57% at a depth of approximately 1/8".

3.         The sub floor in the front Bedroom measured a moisture content of 39% at a depth of approximately 1/8".

4.         The front center bedroom sub floor measured a moisture content of 37%% at at a depth of approximately 1/8".

5.         The crawl space floor joists measured a moisture content of 67% at approximately 3/8".1.

 

The entire foot print of the first floor consisting of approximately 1500 square feet was involved in the drying activities.  This included the crawlspace area CMU foundation walls, floor joists, sub floor, lower wall cavity area. 

 

The work consisted of:

 

Ø  Installing a vapor barrier in the crawlspace consisting of 6 mil poly to avoid the extra load on the equipment of drying the ground. 

Ø  Treating the foundation walls, floor joists, sub floor, base plates and exposed wall cavities with an anti-microbial agent.

Ø  Three LGR 28 gallon per day dehumidifiers and twelve high volume air movers (2000 CFM) were used during interior drying activities.

Ø  In the crawlspace we used one 85,000 BTU portable furnace producing 165 degree 3% relative humidity air at the rate of 1200 cubic feet per minute in conjunction with three high volume air movers (2000 CFM) and one 1250 CFM air mover functioning as an exhaust unit to prevent pressurizing the crawlspace.

 

The moisture content of various building materials were measured at acceptable levels and drying activities concluded on October 24. 

 

 

SPECIFIC CONDITIONS BEFORE & AFTER DRYING ACTIVITIES