What is BS EN 16682 - Methods of measurement of moisture content, or water content, in materials constituting immovable cultural heritage about ?
BS EN 16682 discusses conservation of cultural heritage. BS EN 16682 European Standard is aimed to inform and assist users in the choice and use of the most appropriate method to obtain reliable measurements of the moisture content, or water content, in wood and masonry (including brickwork, stonework, concrete, gypsum, mortars, etc.) in the specific case of the built cultural heritage. BS EN 16682 provides a basic framework to take and interpret this kind of measurements on the above cultural heritage materials that have undergone weathering, pest attack, salt migration, or other transformations over time.
BS EN 16682 specifies four absolute methods (i.e. gravimetric, Karl Fischer titration, azeotropic distillation and calcium carbide); explains their characteristics, pros and cons, and gives specifications for the transformation of readings into the same unit to make measurements taken with different methods comparable. BS EN 16682 specifies the three principal relative methods (i.e. electrical resistance, capacitance, and relative humidity in equilibrium with the material), pointing out their characteristics and uncertainties when used in the field of cultural heritage. In addition, BS EN 16682 provides an informative overview of ten other relative methods, their characteristics, pros and cons. BS EN 16682 gives specifications for the calibration of the various methods. BS EN 16682 also compares the above methods in relation to their accuracy, sampling requirement, sample size, laboratory or field use, and other problems encountered in the field of cultural heritage to prevent instrument misuse, reduce uncertainties and avoid reading misinterpretation.
Who is BS EN 16682 - Methods of measurement of moisture content, or water content, in materials constituting immovable cultural heritage for ?
BS EN 16682 on cultural heritage is useful for:
- Cultural heritage conservatives
- Cultural heritage organizations
- Archeologist
Why should you use BS EN 16682 - Methods of measurement of moisture content, or water content, in materials constituting immovable cultural heritage ?
The specific field of cultural heritage is characterized by particular needs and in most cases the existing standards devised for normal materials cannot be applied. The moisture content, or the water content, in materials is of primary relevance for the preservation of cultural heritage. High content can be very damaging (e.g. salt dissolution and mobilization, fungal infestation, corrosion, swelling) as well as low content (e.g. salt crystallization, shrinkage, wood cracking) or alternating high/low content. It is therefore important to determine and control this variable to assess the risk of damage and take preventive conservation measures.
Different methods exist to measure moisture content, or water content, in modern building materials, based on different physical or chemical principles but most of them are not applicable to cultural heritage and need to be adapted to this aim. Generally, non-destructive methods are recommended but their accuracy may be limited. In turn, the most accurate methods require sampling and can only exceptionally be used. Readings taken with nondestructive methods may not be comparable especially because they are expressed in different units. The interpretation of measurements may be obscured by a number of factors (e.g. material, salts, temperature) to which the methods are subject.
BS EN 16682 European Standard considers and specifies characteristics, operative methodologies, pros and cons of all methods of measurements and establishes a uniform presentation of data and units. BS EN 16682 is addressed to anyone who needs to measure or interpret readings of moisture content, or water content, in building materials (particularly masonry and wood), and in general to whoever is responsible for the preservation and maintenance of heritage buildings.
