An infrared roof survey is used in a flat roof inspection to locate moisture in a roof by seeking areas of increased surface temperatures. During the cold weather season, heat from the building interior is lost at a greater rate through wet roof areas and elevates the surface temperature. Alternatively, during the warm seasons, solar heat is absorbed into the wet area, and then retained for hours after the sun sets.

To understand the methodology for infrared roof evaluations, it is important to first comprehend how thermal differences are detected and analyzed when applied to areas of wet and dry insulation. Roof areas that contain moisture have higher thermal conductivity and capacitance than dry areas. During the day, the sun radiates energy onto the entire roof surface (solar loading). Later in the day, the wet insulation has the capability to retain more energy (heat capacity). Areas of the roof that are of higher mass (wet) retain heat longer than the lower mass (dry) areas and therefore radiate heat for a longer period of time, because it takes longer to cool.

When viewed through the infrared imager, wet areas appear as brighter, lighter tones of gray in black and white images. Alternatively, in color images, wet areas will appear as hotter colors. In general, the higher the concentration of water, the higher the surface temperatures.

Because higher surface temperatures and consequently hotter colors may be produced by several phenomena not related to moisture intrusion, additional capacitance tests are made to verify the findings of the infrared inspection including core cuts and other non-destructive testing.

Nuclear Backscatter Methodology for flat roof inspections is a non-destructive testing technique that uses a radioactive isotope consisting of Americium-241 with a beryllium target to emit high-speed neutrons aimed at the roof. The measurement method relies on the thermalization (slowing) of fast neutrons by the hydrogen atoms in water. Because water contains hydrogen, reflected neutrons indicate the presence of water in the roofing material.

Capacitance/impedance testing is a non-destructive testing technique used to quickly and accurately identify water entry pathways and areas of entrapped water within a roof construction.  This technique is based on the ability of a material to store electrical energy.

It involves placing a moisture meter on the surface of the roof to send a safe electric current into the roof without penetrating the roof membrane. If the material is wet, the dielectric properties of the material would produce a higher meter reading than it would if the material were dry.

The Tramex Dec Scanner is a mobile device that is used for detecting relative moisture content of large roof areas. The Dec Scanner is designed for testing built up roofing and non-conductive single ply membrane. It provides instantaneous, clear indications of roof conditions and is able to detect as little as 2% excess moisture in these large-scale roofing systems.

To determine the true moisture content of a roof system, core samples need to be extracted from the affected roof areas. Core samples consist of cuts through the roof membrane down to the roof deck.

The sample provides an absolute test of moisture content and location. The core cut also permits the constituents of the roof system, and their condition, to be determined. Core samples may be weighed, dried and re-weighed to provide a quantitative measure of moisture content.