Assessing the performance of building envelopes is becoming more important, especially with the current administrations focus on retrofitting existing buildings. Using non-destructive methods for these assessments is ideal because they are usually quicker and cheaper than destructive means. In this presentation we will discuss available non-destructive and non-invasive technologies for assessing the building envelope and then describe two novel techniques being developed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The first is an application of background oriented Schlieren photography to enable visualization and even measurement of air flow from leakage points in the building envelope. The second technology uses radar to look inside the building envelope to measure the moisture content of wood sheathing, a critical layer when assessing the envelopes moisture durability. For each of these technologies we will explain how they work and our progress in developing them for eventual commercialization.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe widely used non-destructive testing techniques to assess the building envelope.
2. Discuss why locating and sealing air leakage in building is important.
3. Discuss why finding areas of high moisture in walls is helpful in retrofits.
4. Explain how cameras can be used to see air leakage.
5. Explain how radar can be used to measure moisture content.

Philip Boudreaux      

Philip Boudreaux is an R & D associate staff member in the Building Envelope Materials Research Group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. His training and early career experience is in physics and optics and since 2008 has been working in the building research area. Over the past few years he has been able to apply his past optics expertise to buildings. He is working on non-intrusive testing techniques so that building performance assessment can be done easier, quicker, and cheaper. This will better enable building retrofits that save energy and decrease emissions.