ABSTRACT
When an owner of a property ˆrst observes water damage through staining patterns on surfaces, dripping of water, or ponding of water on the —oor, the ˆrst questions are “Why is the leak occurring?” and “Where is the water leak coming from?” Often the answers to these questions are not readily known. Consequently, an owner will turn to his or her insurance company for help in determining the cause of the water damage and to obtain compensation for items damaged by water. These questions have led to the need for experts to determine the cause and origin of
water damage claims. Experience suggests that the answer to these questions can be quite simple and visible in some cases yet very complex and not so visible in other cases. Water cause and origin investigations can be some of the most complex issues a forensic inspector can encounter, and often the complexity of the situation will not become apparent until a detailed analysis is undertaken. Regardless of the complexity of the water inˆltration investigation, a systematic approach
or methodology, coupled with experience, offers the best opportunity for determining the cause(s) and origin(s) of water intrusion into building envelopes. Within this ˆeld of investigative engineering, the roles of these services are to identify the source of the water entry (i.e., the “where”) and then determine the cause (i.e., the “why”). This chapter will address leaks associated with different types of rooˆng systems and the most common areas that are prone to water entry. Steep-sloped rooˆng is generally deˆned as elevations with a pitch of 4:12 or greater.
