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Basement Envelope and Data Acquisition System Installation
Test Home (A) 57 Bennett Drive B Full Basement Envelope System:
This test home was excavated to expose the entire concrete foundation to below footing level; no evidence of pooling water was observed. Minor evidence of damp proofing material (Tar) remained. 90% of the damp proofing (Tar) had leached from the foundation walls and into the soils and/or drainage system. The basement walls were pressure washed to remove all dirt and debris.
Visual inspections were conducted, looking for cracks and voids in concrete wall surfaces. Once dry all cracks and voids were filled using RubberTite Mastic. While Cathexis and SWC installed the interior data acquisition system and sensors, SWC’s team also installed the liquid polymer rubber to the exterior leaving a vertical gap for sensor installation (See photo #1, See photo #2).
Three Heat Flux Transducers with integrated Thermocouple sensors were installed directly to the concrete wall surface in the gap provided. A temperature sensor was also installed next to the exterior side of the footing (see page 7 of Cathexis Report). When all sensors were installed, tested and held in place, SWC completed the installation of liquid polymer rubber by coating over top of the sensors, thus filling the gap to provide a seamless rubber membrane engulfing the entire foundation area.
A humidity sensor was installed from the inside by drilling a 12" hole into the concrete wall core. The core humidity sensor was sealed in place using RubberTite Mastic adhesive. Two temperature sensors were installed measuring 8' from the foundation wall toward the basement center.
One sensor was attached to the floor slab surface the other was installed 3" into the soil beneath the concrete floor slab and sealed in place using RubberTite Mastic. Both drywall and insulation were removed to access the inside surface of the foundation wall. Four additional sensors were equally spaced and attached to the concrete wall surface through the access provided. With sensor installation complete, the insulation and drywall were restored to its original condition. The final two sensors were attached to the interior drywall surface to record interior air temperature and humidity levels.
Once cured, the polymer rubber was covered with DOW rigid insulation from footing to under side of siding around the entire perimeter of home and securely anchored in place using Code Blue.
New weeping tile was installed and connected to a free flowing drainage system in accordance with the NBC of Canada. 3/4" crushed stone was installed over top of weeping tile for additional drainage effectiveness. Foundation walls were back filled using existing soils and graded away from foundation wall.
While back filling was taking place, additional temperature sensors were being installed (5') away from foundation wall at 6"-3'-6' below soil level to coincide with wall sensors which were installed at the same time on the outside of the rigid insulation. These sensors will record soil temperature that will not be affected by home performance. All equipment was again tested by Cathexis and found to be in good working order. Test Home (A) 57 Bennett Drive, Gander, Newfoundland, was now ready to start recording data.
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