Abstract
Rising damp is the upward movement of ground water through a permeable masonry wall. The water rises through the pores in the masonry via a process called capillarity. Capillarity is a process whereby water molecules are electrochemically attracted to mineral surfaces, enabling water to move vertically through pores of a certain size despite the counteractive force of gravity. The phenomenon of rising damp has been observed over the centuries. It is a perennial and ubiquitous problem.
Rising damp was identified and reported from both the heritage and ordinary masonry buildings all over the world. Dampness tends to cause many problems to a building with dire health, environmental, social and economic implications. The unwanted moisture enables the growth of various fungi in wood, causing rot. Plaster and paint deteriorate and wallpaper loosens. Stains from the water, salts and mould would ruin surfaces. Externally, mortar may crumble and salt stains may appear on the walls. Steel & iron fasteners rust. It may also cause respiratory illness in occupants. In extreme cases, mortar or plaster may fall away from the affected wall and the building can become completely inhabitable.
The purpose of this paper is to review the work published on the subject of rising damp or capillary rise. The review has been done by searching scientific papers from online databases for reported work and assessing them based upon author’s experience and expertise developed in his R&D activities in this area. This paper covers the mechanisms of water movement in masonry in an attempt to develop a good understanding of rising damp phenomenon and to review the research, development activities and common practices on combating against rising damp all over the world.
Categories
Below-ground Masonry, Crawlspaces and Basements, Damp proof courses and Waterproof Tanking, Existing Conditions, Historic Status, Indoor air quality, Masonry walls, Moisture in Materials, Penetrating and Rising Damp
Files
| File | |
|---|---|
| A Review of Rising Damp in Masonry Buildings |
Additional information
- [acf_PublicationInformation_knowl_meta_originating_url] Orginating URL
- [acf_PublicationInformation_knowl_meta_year_of_publication] Year of publication
- [acf_PublicationInformation_knowl_meta_document_type] Document accessibility
- [acf_PublicationInformation_knowl_meta_publishing_region] Relevant region
- Version
- 833 Times downloaded
- 289.60 KB File Size
- 1 File Count
- 2 August 2014 Creation Date
- 25 September 2019 Last Updated