EFVM vs Flood
There's no question about it. Electric Field Vector Mapping® is the most reliable method in the industry for integrity testing and troubleshooting waterproofing membranes. And only ILD® has it.
How EFVM® Works:
ILD®'s proprietary EFVM® test is a low-voltage method that
creates an electrical potential difference between a non-conductive
membrane surface and conductive structural deck or substrate, which
is earthed or grounded.
A. Small electrical pulses are directed onto
the membrane. The electricity is searching for a ground
connection.
An electric field is created by applying water on the membrane
surface and using the water as a conductive medium. A
breach in the membrane creates a vector (ground fault connection),
which can then be measured by a certified ILD®
technician.
B. If the membrane is watertight, the
electricity is isolated and does not find a ground connection.
The EFVM® technician reads the electric flow traveling
across the membrane, mapping the "vectors" with pin point
accuracy. What better way to get peace of mind when it
comes to the integrity of your waterproofing membranes?
C. If the membrane is not watertight, the
electricity makes a ground connection and is pulled toward positive
poles.
Once EFVM® testing is complete, ILD® customers receive CAD
drawings, picture documentation and a written report detailing the
location and nature of all breaches and defects found.
Here is a look at how EFVM® compares to traditional
Flood Testing methods:
| EFVM® |
Flood Testing |
| ILD® technicians use EFVM® testing to locate membranes
breaches. |
Flood testing can neither locate breaches, nor verify the
absence of breaches |
| EFVM® requires as little as a spray of water or existing water
within the overburden to test waterproofing |
May actually cause more damage with membrane breaches from the
required amount of flood water |
| EFVM®'s technology can be used on flat, sloped and vertical
surfaces |
Sloped or vertical surfaces cannot be flood tested |
| Testing can occur after all work is completed and overburden is
installed |
Expensive and time-consuming |
| Any breach allowing even minute amounts of water will conduct
electricity to complete a circuit, measurable by the ILD®
technician |
Pinholes and minor seam voids escape flood testing
detection |
| The EFVM® system gives measurable and accurate readings from a
potentiometer |
Prone to limitations of human perception of water leaks |
| The contractor can repair the defects found and have them
retested the same day |
Water infiltration damage from flood testing often restrains
retesting |
| EFVM®'s non-destructive method reads through all typical
water-permeable overburden mediums such as soil, sand, crushed
stone, pavers, asphalt, and un-reinforced concrete |
Garden roofs prohibit flood testing |
| Little water is needed for an electrical flow to be
created |
The additional load of the flood testing water can create
structural concerns. |
ILD offer a wide range of products including VectorGrid and ProtectSys
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