Drying

Our rapid response times, efficient drying technologies and effective project management means that our drying operations now take just days or weeks; minimising costs and returning the building to pre-incident condition in the shortest time possible.

Moisture

The rate of evaporation is affected by three key factors: air moisture content, rate of airflow and temperature. Addressing each of these areas will maximise evaporation potential, which means: creating a moisture differential between the material and the ambient room condition using an appropriate dehumidification process; promoting air movement to ensure evaporation is not negatively influenced by the boundary layer; and increasing the temperature of both the ambient air (to reduce moisture content) and the material (to encourage the movement of moisture molecules).

Porosity and permeability

The pore structure and density of a material will affect its ability to absorb, hold and release water and the rate at which water can flow through it. These properties all need to be considered, and they may be further complicated by the presence of additional materials, or coatings, either on the surface, underneath or mixed into the primary material in question. Where coatings with low permeability are present, they should be removed when the material is still wet as the plaster may also need to be removed if they are left to dry.

Dehumidifiers

There are two types of dehumidifiers used to remove moisture: refrigerant and desiccant. Refrigerant dehumidifiers use gas to cool air and remove moisture content through condensation. The ideal working temperature for a refrigerant-type dehumidifier is approximately 12-28°C. Desiccant dehumidifiers employ a fan to draw in moist air and pass it through an exposed three-quarters section of a silica-impregnated rotor that absorbs moisture. They work best in the temperature range of 5°C to 25°C but some can operate as low as -20°C, making them more suited to applications during colder periods of the year.

Air Movement

Used in conjunction with measures to control moisture levels and temperature, air movers or fans play an important role in aiding evaporation of moisture from damp materials, directing damp air towards dehumidifiers, and venting air out of a property. Even when open doors and windows are drawing dry air from outside the property – known as an ‘Open Drying System’ – fans are still important to promote efficient moisture removal.

Heat Drying

Introducing hot air into the property accelerates evaporation of the moisture at the material surface into the ambient air, leaving it to be exhausted out of the property using fans and/or ducting. There are various methods available, including heat mats, Drymatic heat drying (DBK), speed/trailer drying and direct/indirect heaters.

Remote Monitoring

Sensors can be used to provide constant assessment of drying progress, monitoring temperature and relative humidity among many other things. This data is recorded to provide an audit trail and can be accessed in real-time via the internet to allow for closer monitoring on a remote basis. This ensures equipment use is optimised, secondary damage risks are minimised, site visits are reduced, and drying times are reduced.