Drone Technology
BEPG uses several different drone technologies to support the services we offer.
Building Assessment/Inspection and 3D Modeling
Our most recent acquisition is a state-of-the-art drone technology that allows flight within inches of a structure to gather actual conditions in extreme detail. Then, we can assemble all of the high-quality images into an exact 3D model of a building.
Flying into areas restricted to drones is possible because our drone uses visual obstacle avoidance. Visual obstacle avoidance allows for operation in environments that would typically disrupt drone flight, such as GPS-denied environments, heavy electromagnetic environments (cell towers), and around structures or buildings with significant steel content that can interfere with drone magnetometers.
This technology is safer, faster, more cost-effective, and highly accurate. It replaces many person-hours using lifts, ladders, scaffolding, and other technologies to assess building conditions and reach areas that may be challenging to access due to safety and structural concerns. In addition, the 3D modeling generated from the drone images accurately represents the structure versus other computer-generated modeling methods.
Check out some 3D models or read more on how we use a smarter tool to get a fascinating view of your building.
Thermography Surveys
BEPG also uses an infrared-capable drone for conducting infrared thermography surveys of buildings. This drone is a more ‘conventional’ drone with an IR camera. Conducting drone infrared is often safer than traditional methods of walking over roofs at night with a hand-held camera and can often deliver better results.
Nuclear Moisture Surveying
Typical low-slope roof assessment utilizes Nuclear Moisture Surveying or Infrared (IR) Scanning to detect areas of the roof that could be wet. Both nuclear and IR require some manual, destructive (core) sampling to validate and confirm results.
Nuclear scanning involves the use of a very small nuclear source to detect very small amounts of hydrogen within a roof assembly. The presence of hydrogen often indicates the presence of moisture. Advantages to nuclear moisture surveying are: can be conducted during daylight hours, during most weather conditions, and for all low-slope roof systems. Disadvantages: increased time to complete the survey (compared to IR) and therefore higher cost.
We offer an “enhanced” nuclear surveying option by including a WUFI Hygrothermal moisture model of the roof assemblies being assessed. Depending what time of year the nuclear surveying is completed, the roof may be “wet” which may be acceptable or excessive. Use of a WUFI moisture models helps diagnose “how wet is too wet.”
Infrared Scanning
Typical low-slope roof assessment utilizes Nuclear Moisture Surveying or Infrared (IR) Scanning to detect areas of the roof that could be wet. Both nuclear and IR require some manual, destructive (core) sampling to validate and confirm results.
IR scanning uses an infrared camera to detect changes in heat of a roofing system. These changes can indicate moisture within the system as wet insulation provides less insulation value than dry insulation. An advantages to infrared include cost. Disadvantages include: scanning must be completed during night hours, scanning cannot be completed when the surface of the roof is close to or at its dew point, IR scanning is not as effective with light-colored, highly-reflective membranes, and IR often produces more anomalous findings which often must be manually validated by core sampling.
RILEM Test Method
RILEM is an acronym for Reunion Internationale des Laboratoires d’Essals et de Recherches sur les Materiaux et des Constructions (International Union of Testing and Research Laboratories for Materials and Structures) located in Paris, France. Similar to ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials), RILEM works specifically with measuring properties, performance, and durability of various building materials.
What is now commonly referred to as a “”RILEM test”, test tubes are used to evaluate water absorption rates on many types of new, existing, man-made and naturally occurring building materials. This evaluation may be used to determine a substrate’s need for a water-repellent, it may be used to compare the water absorption of treated vs. untreated substrates or it may be used to compare the performance of different treatments.
Spray Rack & Pressurized/Depressurized Chambers
Is a portable, durable, powerful vacuum pack test kit with accurate pressure differential meters, it includes a high and low scale flow meters for measuring air infiltration. Adheres to all specifications for performing the ASTM E783, the ASTM E283, E1105, E331, E547, E330, and AAMA 502, 503, and 511.
Hygro Thermometers
Is a meter that simultaneously reads and displays temperature, humidity and dew point. It has a basic accuracy of ±4%RH and ±1.8°F/1°C. It has a rear calibration pot for Humidity and Temperature. A Maximum/minimum with reset function, stores and recalls the highest and lowest readings recorded.
Tramex Roof and Wall Scanner (RWS)
The Tramex RWS Roof and Wall Scanner is a multi-mode non-invasive impedance scanner designed for the instant, precise and non-destructive evaluation of moisture conditions and leak tracing in roofing per ASTM D7954 and in wall systems of the building envelope.
Infrared Thermometer
Is a laser sighted thermometer that can determine the surface temperature by measuring the amount of infrared energy radiated by the target’s surface.
Delmhorst TechCheck Plus Moisture Meter
Is a dual pronged meter that can check for moisture contents in wood and relative moisture amounts in gypsum, plaster, and certain other materials that provides a rapid, minimally invasive means of measuring moisture.
Adhesion Pull Tester
Is an apparatus that measures the pull-off strength of a coating and is a performance property that may be referenced in specifications. This test apparatus serves as a means for uniformly preparing and testing coated surfaces, test the wind uplift adhesion of roof system assemblies in adhered decks, and evaluating and reporting the results.
WUFI (Wärme Und Feuchte Instationär)
WUFI® is a software program that allows realistic calculation of the transient coupled one- and two dimensional heat and moisture transport in walls and other multi-layer building components exposed to natural weather. WUFI® is an acronym for Wärme Und Feuchte Instationär—which, translated, means heat and moisture transiency. WUFI® software uses the latest findings regarding vapor diffusion and moisture transport in building materials. The software has been validated by detailed comparison with measurements obtained in the laboratory and on outdoor mockup testing field.
Digital Manometer/Pressure Gauge
is a dual channel touchscreen (wireless optional) manometer /differential pressure gauge for use along with blower doors, duct testing equipment, and many other applicable operations as it relates to measuring pressure differentials across wall assemblies.
Blower Door
Is a system will test a wide range of enclosures to measure and determine air leakage. It is similar in size to a box fan used in a residential home but, is outfitted with air flow and pressure measuring devices within its assembly. This high output fan includes 6 standard + 3 optional low flow ranges to provide accurate results over the widest range of enclosure volumes. It is used in conjunction with our Digital Manometer/Pressure gauge, infrared camera, and smoke pens to determine air leakage rates and locations.
Smoke Pencils
Is tool used to identify drafts and air leaks in a home. It is a non-toxic smoke stick that generates a small trail or large puff of smoke to help identify drafts from air leakage through building assemblies. It is essentially a handheld fog machine that turns invisible air drafts into visible smoke movement in order to identify air leakage.