Detection of Moisture Accumulation in Wall Assemblies Using Ultra-Wideband Radio Signals

Published

December 1, 2004

Author(s)

William M. Healy, E N. van Doorn

Abstract

This paper discusses the use of ultra-wideband radio signals to detect moisture problems within building assemblies. Ultra-wideband signals are made up of a large spectrum of electromagnetic waves, and hardware is available to temporally resolve the signals to a time scale on the order of picoseconds. By emitting these signals towards a wall assembly and analyzing the reflected signal, information can be obtained on the wall. Most notably, because water reflects these waves more significantly than dry building materials, the magnitude of the reflections can be correlated to moisture levels. This principle has been incorporated into a synthetic aperture imaging technique to create images of the moisture state of building assemblies. The pictures can help identify locations of unwanted moisture intrusion in a non-destructive manner. Advantages of using ultra-wideband compared to conventional radiofrequency techniques include the improved spatial resolution and the ability to penetrate a wide range of materials.

Conference Dates

December 5-10, 2004

Conference Title

Performance of Exterior Envelopes of Whole Buildings IX International

Pub Type

Conferences

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Keywords

buildings, Federal Communications Commission, moisture detection, non-intrusive, radio signals, ultra-wideband

Citation

Healy, W. and van, E. (2004), Detection of Moisture Accumulation in Wall Assemblies Using Ultra-Wideband Radio Signals, Performance of Exterior Envelopes of Whole Buildings IX International, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=861065 (Accessed October 10, 2025)