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.
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.
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?
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:
- ILD® technicians use EFVM® testing to locate membranes breaches.
- EFVM® requires as little as a spray of water or existing water within the overburden to test waterproofing
- EFVM®’s technology can be used on flat, sloped and vertical surfaces
- Testing can occur after all work is completed and overburden is installed
- Any breach allowing even minute amounts of water will conduct electricity to complete a circuit, measurable by the ILD® technician
- The EFVM® system gives measurable and accurate readings from a potentiometer
- The contractor can repair the defects found and have them retested the same day
- 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
- Little water is needed for an electrical flow to be created
- Flood testing can neither locate breaches, nor verify the absence of breaches
- May actually cause more damage with membrane breaches from the required amount of flood water
- Sloped or vertical surfaces cannot be flood tested
- Expensive and time-consuming
- Pinholes and minor seam voids escape flood testing detection
- Prone to limitations of human perception of water leaks
- Water infiltration damage from flood testing often restrains retesting
- Garden roofs prohibit flood testing
- The additional load of the flood testing water can create structural concerns.