Tramex DEC Scanner DS2 – with flight case
The Tramex DEC Scanner is a mobile, non-destructive impedance scanner for the instant surveying of moisture conditions in flat roofing systems, and for leak detection and moisture mapping over large roof areas.
How it works
The DEC Scanner detects and evaluates moisture in roofing systems by non-destructively measuring electrical impedance. A low frequency signal is transmitted into the material under test via one of the two electrodes incorporated in the rubber electrode mat, and received by the second electrode. The strength of the signal varies in proportion to the amount of moisture present. The scanner converts that to a comparative moisture value, so moving it across a roof in a regular pattern gives a continuous reading and identifies areas holding moisture.
Operating procedure
Moisture detection testing can be carried out at the time of installation for warranty auditing and quality control, as part of an ongoing maintenance programme, or prior to re-roofing or repair of a damaged roof.
The DEC Scanner is durable but light enough to be transported to the roof surface. Having determined a known acceptably dry area, one of three sensitivity ranges is selected and the scanner is ready to use. It is then moved over the area without causing any damage to the roof surface, giving continuous readings from which a moisture map can be drawn and leaks traced to their source.
Why survey before re-roofing
Wet insulation left in place under a new membrane does not dry out. It stays wet, keeps degrading the deck and shortens the life of a roof that has just been paid for. A scan before re-roofing tells the client which sections actually need to come up, which is usually far less than the whole roof – and that is the argument that sells the survey.
Technical specifications
| Size | 762 mm x 400 mm x 158 mm |
| Scanning area | 609 mm x 394 mm |
| Carry case size | 940 mm x 508 mm x 270 mm |
| Weight, scanner | 9.95 kg |
| Weight, carry case | 9.9 kg |
| Total weight in carry case | 21.1 kg |
| Total shipping weight | 23.1 kg (dimensional 30 kg) |
| Display | Analogue |
| Measuring range | 0 to 100 comparative |
| Maximum depth of penetration | 152 mm (6 inch) |
| Power supply | 2 x 9 volt PP3 batteries (included) |
Limitations – where the DEC Scanner will not read reliably
- Some EPDM, butyl rubber and other conductive roofing membranes
- Hard coat stucco, wire lath or wire mesh reinforced finishes
Documents
Frequently asked questions
DEC Scanner or RWS?
The DS2 is built for area. Its 609 mm electrode mat and 152 mm depth let one operator survey a large commercial flat roof in a fraction of the time a handheld takes. The RWS reads to 100 mm, works on walls as well as roofs, handles EIFS and foam systems, and is the better tool for detail and tracing. Contractors doing commercial roof surveys regularly buy both and use the DS2 to find the areas and the RWS to define their edges.
Is the reading a percentage moisture content?
No. It is comparative on a 0 to 100 scale, referenced against a known dry area of the same roof. Confirmation is by core sample where the specification requires it.
What does the flight case cover?
The DS2 supplied by CCW includes the flight case, which accounts for most of the shipping weight. The case protects the electrode mat, which is the part that determines whether the instrument still reads accurately after a few seasons in a ute.
Does the roof need to be dry?
Yes. Surface water will be read as moisture. Survey a dry surface, or you will map rainfall rather than the condition of the roofing system.
Can it be used at installation, not just on failures?
Yes, and that is one of its better uses – a baseline scan at handover for warranty auditing and quality control gives the building owner evidence of the roof's condition on day one, and gives the installer protection against a later claim for moisture that was not there.
Contact Carpet Cleaners Warehouse to discuss whether the DS2, the RWS, or both suit the roof surveying work you take on.
