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A two-stage approach to damp investigation in a three bedroom residential building in Kumasi, Ghana

Buildings are composites of different materials and forms of construction and each has its own specific performance characteristics. Despite the lasting qualities of buildings, they are all susceptible to natural and man-made mechanisms of deterioration, one of which is dampness. This study emplo...

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Main Authors: Agyekum, K., Ayarkwa, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Penerbit UKM 2014
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/8879/1/111-300-1-PB.pdf
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/8879/
http://spaj.ukm.my/jsb/index.php/jbp/issue/view/24
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spelling my-ukm.journal.88792016-12-14T06:48:18Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/8879/ A two-stage approach to damp investigation in a three bedroom residential building in Kumasi, Ghana Agyekum, K. Ayarkwa, J. Buildings are composites of different materials and forms of construction and each has its own specific performance characteristics. Despite the lasting qualities of buildings, they are all susceptible to natural and man-made mechanisms of deterioration, one of which is dampness. This study employed a holistic approach to dampness investigation involving a two stage protocol which sought to identify and document areas in the walls of a three bedroom residential facility severely affected by dampness. The results from the visual inspection showed that blistering of paint, flaking of mortar, cracks, mould growth and surface efflorescence were symptoms identified on the walls of the building. Also, the results from the moisture content measurements (non-destructive tests) showed that though the walls located in all the four orientations experienced dampness, it was very pronounced in the walls located in the western, eastern and southern directions. The results further showed that with the exception of rising dampness, no other source(s) of dampness existed. Further detailed destructive tests are recommended for the confirmation of the source of dampness present and this will help to put in place appropriate intervention mechanisms to address the problem. This study should provide the necessary platform for construction professionals in Ghana and other tropical countries with similar geological settings like Ghana to educate themselves on this common but dangerous problem. Penerbit UKM 2014 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/8879/1/111-300-1-PB.pdf Agyekum, K. and Ayarkwa, J. (2014) A two-stage approach to damp investigation in a three bedroom residential building in Kumasi, Ghana. Journal of Building Performance, 5 (1). pp. 50-61. ISSN 2180-2106 http://spaj.ukm.my/jsb/index.php/jbp/issue/view/24
institution Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
building Perpustakaan Tun Sri Lanang Library
collection Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
content_provider Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
content_source UKM Journal Article Repository
url_provider http://journalarticle.ukm.my/
language English
description Buildings are composites of different materials and forms of construction and each has its own specific performance characteristics. Despite the lasting qualities of buildings, they are all susceptible to natural and man-made mechanisms of deterioration, one of which is dampness. This study employed a holistic approach to dampness investigation involving a two stage protocol which sought to identify and document areas in the walls of a three bedroom residential facility severely affected by dampness. The results from the visual inspection showed that blistering of paint, flaking of mortar, cracks, mould growth and surface efflorescence were symptoms identified on the walls of the building. Also, the results from the moisture content measurements (non-destructive tests) showed that though the walls located in all the four orientations experienced dampness, it was very pronounced in the walls located in the western, eastern and southern directions. The results further showed that with the exception of rising dampness, no other source(s) of dampness existed. Further detailed destructive tests are recommended for the confirmation of the source of dampness present and this will help to put in place appropriate intervention mechanisms to address the problem. This study should provide the necessary platform for construction professionals in Ghana and other tropical countries with similar geological settings like Ghana to educate themselves on this common but dangerous problem.
format Article
author Agyekum, K.
Ayarkwa, J.
spellingShingle Agyekum, K.
Ayarkwa, J.
A two-stage approach to damp investigation in a three bedroom residential building in Kumasi, Ghana
author_facet Agyekum, K.
Ayarkwa, J.
author_sort Agyekum, K.
title A two-stage approach to damp investigation in a three bedroom residential building in Kumasi, Ghana
title_short A two-stage approach to damp investigation in a three bedroom residential building in Kumasi, Ghana
title_full A two-stage approach to damp investigation in a three bedroom residential building in Kumasi, Ghana
title_fullStr A two-stage approach to damp investigation in a three bedroom residential building in Kumasi, Ghana
title_full_unstemmed A two-stage approach to damp investigation in a three bedroom residential building in Kumasi, Ghana
title_sort two-stage approach to damp investigation in a three bedroom residential building in kumasi, ghana
publisher Penerbit UKM
publishDate 2014
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/8879/1/111-300-1-PB.pdf
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/8879/
http://spaj.ukm.my/jsb/index.php/jbp/issue/view/24
_version_ 1643737600179044352
score 13.211869

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