FR3128020A1 - INSTALLATION AND PROCEDURE FOR LEAK TEST - Google Patents

Abstract

Installation for testing the leaktightness of a surface raised above the ground, comprising: - a watering system (10) capable of being placed on said surface, - a hydraulic pump (9) capable of being hydraulically connected to an outlet water from a cistern on the ground, - a flexible pipe (8) capable of hydraulically connecting the hydraulic pump to the irrigation system from the ground to the surface, in which the hydraulic pump is capable of raising from the cistern on the ground a column of water up to the sprinkler system. Abstract Figure: Figure 2

Description

INSTALLATION AND PROCEDURE FOR LEAK TEST

This disclosure relates to the field of installations and processes for leak testing, in particular concerning structures of the roof-terrace type.

Around 15 to 22 million m2 (depending on the sources) of new flat roofs are built in France each year, including 1.3 million m2 of green roofs. The waterproofing processes used are mainly bituminous processes (70%), synthetic membranes (20%, of which 75% for PVC membranes), asphalt (7%) and liquid waterproofing systems (3%) .

The waterproofing of a flat roof is not limited to the common parts but also concerns many singular works subject to specific implementation details: valleys, gutters, gutters, rainwater inlets, waterproofing statements and strip flashings, expansion joints, crossings for various networks, skylights, thresholds of frames, etc. The roofs can also receive additional works such as gardens, pedestrian or vehicle traffic, technical building equipment (cold, air conditioning, ventilation, photovoltaic panels, elevator machinery), relay antennas, advertising panels, etc.

These works can sometimes be defective: depending on the sources, the claim rate for flat roofs is estimated at between 10 and 30% of claims in the field of construction.

There is therefore a need to anticipate this risk of loss by testing the waterproofing structures:
- In their entirety: current part, singular works, and
- In their integrity, that is to say without modifying them, in the state of their future operation.

Summary

This disclosure improves the situation.

It is proposed an installation for leak test of a surface raised above the ground with a minimum height of 3 meters, comprising:
- a watering system adapted to be placed on said surface,
- a hydraulic pump adapted to be hydraulically connected to a water outlet of a tank on the ground near said surface,
- a flexible pipe capable of hydraulically connecting the hydraulic pump to the irrigation system from the ground to the surface,
in which the hydraulic pump is capable of causing a substantially vertical column of water to rise from the tank on the ground to the sprinkler system, so that the installation is capable of simulating in operation a rain of height defined on a set duration, over an area up to approximately 500m², the set height being in the range consisting of [20-60mm] and the set duration being in the range consisting of [30-60minutes]. For example, the rain corresponds to a rain of 15m3 in 30 minutes or to a rain of height equal to 24 mm in 30 minutes or 32mm in 60 minutes.

The surface may or may not be flat. For example, the surface can be a concave or convex surface, or a surface with inflection points in multiple places. The surface may or may not be cluttered with various works. In one embodiment, the surface is a house or building roof, for example a flat roof, or even a flat roof. In other embodiments, the surface can be a work of art, a swimming pool, a cistern, etc.

It will be understood by the expression “tank on the ground” that the tank is adapted to be placed on the ground at the level of the ground floor of the supporting structure carrying the surface to be tested, for example directly on the roadway. The fact that the tank is adapted to be placed on the ground makes it possible to avoid deforming the supporting structure by making it unnecessary to install it on the surface to be tested. In addition, it is not necessary to have a water inlet on the surface in height, a water inlet of the "drawdown tap" type at ground floor level is sufficient.

It will be understood by the expression “reservoir nearby” that the reservoir is in geographical proximity to the surface to be tested. By "geographical proximity", we understand a distance of less than 50 meters, preferably 20 meters, from an edge of the surface on the ground after projection on the ground of said edge.

The features set out in the following paragraphs can optionally be implemented, independently of each other or in combination with each other:

In one embodiment, the ground tank is a flexible tank.

Thanks to these features, the tank is easy to transport when empty; for example, it can be rolled up to fit in a van trunk;

In one embodiment, the sprinkler system comprises a plurality of sprinkler modules capable of being distributed over the surface according to a distribution corresponding to the range of the sprinkler modules so as to emit jets of water on the entire surface.

In one embodiment, the distribution is made in the form of a network or a grid.

In one embodiment, the irrigation system further comprises a nurse and a plurality of supply pipes capable of hydraulically connecting the irrigation modules to the nurse, in which the flexible pipe is capable of hydraulically connecting the hydraulic pump to the watering system via the nurse.

In one embodiment, each sprinkler module comprises a nozzle with a vertical axis capable of emitting jets of droplets at least on a portion of a cone with a vertical axis.

In one embodiment, the angle at the top of the cone is between 50° and 90°, preferably between 75° and 90°, preferably is equal to 75°, so that the nozzle is capable of emitting at 15 ° from the horizontal upwards. In one embodiment, the cone portion is between 50% and 100%, preferably 100%, so that the nozzle sprays 360° around itself.

In one embodiment, each sprinkler module comprises a nozzle raising support capable of raising the nozzle at a distance of 5 to 50 cm from the surface, preferably from 10 to 15 cm.

In one embodiment, each sprinkler module further comprises a hydraulic connection having a T-shape, capable of hydraulically connecting the three branches of the T to each other, in which the first branch of the T is capable of hydraulically connecting the nozzle, and the second branch and the third branch of the T face each other and are adapted to hydraulically connect one end of a supply pipe.

In one embodiment, the installation further comprises the tank on the ground which can be hydraulically connected to a water supply external to the installation.

Thanks to these characteristics, it is possible in a systematic way to make the water resource available on the high surface with a sufficient flow rate for impoundment in a reasonably short time.

In one embodiment, the sprinkler modules are distributed over the surface and are hydraulically connected in series to the feeder. In one embodiment, the irrigation modules are connected in several lines, each of which is hydraulically connected in series. In one embodiment, the number of lines M is between 3 and 6. In one embodiment, the number of modules per line n is between 3 and 6. For example, M=4 and n=6.

In one embodiment, the hydraulic pump further comprises an electric drive motor, the installation further comprising a lithium battery capable of electrically powering the electric drive motor.

In one embodiment, the hydraulic pump has a flow rate in the range consisting of [15-70m3/h], preferably [30-50m3/h]. Thanks to these characteristics, the surface can be sprayed with a sufficient volume of water for a limited time, for example limited to 30 minutes or 60 minutes.

The invention further provides a vehicle comprising the installation described above.

The invention further provides a method for simulating rain on a surface raised above the ground, the method comprising the use of the installation described above, the method comprising:
- Simulate rain on the surface, by supplying the hydraulic pump placed on the ground to the sprinkler system placed on said surface.

In one embodiment, the surface is sprayed with 15m3 in 30 minutes.

Thanks to these characteristics, it is possible to simulate real, intense or long-lasting rain.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises a subsequent leak detection step.

In one embodiment, the leak detection is carried out by controlling the humidity after having allowed the surface to dry, either using measurements with a nuclear hygrometer, or using an ultraviolet detector capable of to detect a fluorescent tracer placed in the water in the cistern, or a combination of the two.

Thanks to these characteristics, it is possible to check the absence of leaks in the underlying elements (insulation, load-bearing element) in a non-invasive and non-destructive way. Such a process allows a tightness test limited in time to ½ or 1 day, installation and removal included.

Thanks to these characteristics, the duration of the leak test is reduced compared to what would be a flooding of the terrace of 24, 48 hours or more, with a water height adjusted to -5 cm from the highest point. bottom of readings. In addition, the test has a higher reliability of results.

Thus, it is possible to test the tightness of the roof without the need to flood the roof terrace. This has many advantages:
- make unnecessary the use of a cofferdam system, i.e. a temporary water retention structure,
- do not deform the load-bearing element: in fact, it is not insignificant to load a roof with a water weight of 100 kg/m2, particularly in the case of buildings whose load-bearing structure is made of steel or wood: it there is then a risk of bending and permanent deformation of the structure,
- avoid creating during artificial flooding water damage and damage to the finishing works.

Thanks to these characteristics, the entire roof terrace can be wetted effectively over the entire surface, such as during rain, for example a ten-year rain, and regardless of the shape of the roof terrace.

Thus, the tightness test allows a test in real operating conditions of inlets and rainwater evacuation routes.

In particular, the watertightness test as described above also makes it possible to test the watertightness of the flashing strips which are often the cause of water infiltration due to a lack of watertightness between the wall (i.e. the acroterion ) and the flashing strip.

Thanks to these characteristics, it is possible to detect micro-leaks which would sometimes have taken weeks or even months before appearing on the floor below, after having soaked and ruined the insulation complexes.

Advantageously, the test as described can be implemented and repeated, without the need to free up the spaces of the flat roof, and regardless of the phase of the work; including before and/or after the development of gardens, pedestrian or vehicle traffic, and/or the installation of technical building equipment (refrigeration, air conditioning, ventilation, photovoltaic panels, elevator machinery), installation of antennas relays, billboards, etc.

Thus, the test can be carried out while minimizing the risk of water damage even when the finishing work is already well advanced on the floor below the roof, for example if false ceilings have started to be installed.

Thanks to these characteristics, we avoid possible subsequent claims which generally give rise to costly, complex and lengthy expert appraisals as well as repair work on the roof which causes inconvenience and which is most often accompanied by repair work in the the upper floors, occupied by their inhabitants, and which suffered water damage.

Other characteristics, details and advantages will appear on reading the detailed description below, and on analyzing the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1

shows an example of cutaway roof terrace.

Fig. 2

shows a leak test installation according to one embodiment, in use.

Fig. 3

shows a nozzle installation of the , according to one embodiment.

Fig. 4

shows a hydraulic connection for nozzle installation of the , according to one embodiment.

Fig. 5

shows a base for the hydraulic connection of the , according to one embodiment.

Fig. 6

shows a water supply hose from the hydraulic connection of the , according to one embodiment.

Fig. 7

shows a sprinkler module mounted for use according to one embodiment.

Fig. 8

shows the hydraulic connection of the sprinkler modules on the flat roof according to one embodiment.

Fig. 9

shows a base according to an alternative embodiment.

Fig. 10

shows an installation according to an alternative embodiment.

Claims (16)

Installation for leak testing of a surface raised above the ground with a minimum height of 3 metres, comprising:
- a watering system (10) adapted to be placed on said surface,
- a hydraulic pump (9) adapted to be hydraulically connected to a water outlet of a tank on the ground near said surface,
- a flexible pipe (8) capable of hydraulically connecting the hydraulic pump to the irrigation system from the ground to the surface,
in which the hydraulic pump is capable of causing a substantially vertical column of water to rise from the tank on the ground to the sprinkler system, so that the installation is capable of simulating in operation a rain of height defined on a set duration, over an area up to 500m², the set height being in the range consisting of [20-60mm] and the set duration being in the range consisting of [30-60minutes]. Installation according to claim 1, in which the tank on the ground (3, 29) is a flexible tank. Installation according to claim 1 or 2, in which the sprinkler system (10) comprises a plurality of sprinkler modules (13) capable of being distributed over the surface according to a distribution corresponding to the range of the sprinkler modules (13 ) so as to emit jets of water over the entire surface. Installation according to claim 3, in which the irrigation system (10) further comprises a manifold (11) and a plurality of supply pipes (12) able to hydraulically connect the irrigation modules (13) to the manifold (11),
wherein the flexible pipe (8) is able to hydraulically connect the hydraulic pump (9) to the sprinkler system via the nurse (11). Installation according to claim 3 or 4, in which each sprinkler module (13) comprises a nozzle with a vertical axis capable of emitting jets of droplets at least on a portion of a cone with a vertical axis. Installation according to claim 5, in which each sprinkler module (13) comprises a support (19) for raising the nozzle (14) capable of raising the nozzle (14) at a distance of 5 to 50 cm from the surface, preferably from 10 to 15cm. Installation according to Claim 4 taken in combination with Claim 5 or 6, in which each sprinkler module (13) further comprises a hydraulic connection (15) having the shape of a T, able to hydraulically connect the three branches of the T between they, in which the first branch of the T is able to hydraulically connect the nozzle (14), and the second branches and the third branch of the T are opposite each other and are adapted to each hydraulically connect one end of a pipe supply (12). Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising the ground tank (3, 29) which can be hydraulically connected to a water supply external to the installation. Installation according to claim 4, in which the sprinkler modules (13) are distributed over the surface and are hydraulically connected in series to the manifold (11). Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the hydraulic pump (9) further comprises an electric drive motor, the installation further comprising a lithium battery capable of electrically supplying the electric drive motor. Installation according to claim 10, wherein the hydraulic pump (9) has a flow rate comprised in the interval consisting of [30-50m3/h]. Vehicle comprising the installation according to any one of the preceding claims. Method of simulating rain on a surface raised above the ground, the method comprising the use of the installation according to any one of claims 1 to 11, the method comprising:
- simulating rain on the surface, by supplying the hydraulic pump (9) placed on the ground to the sprinkler system (10) placed on said surface (1). Method according to claim 13, in which the surface is sprayed with 15m3 in 30 minutes. Leak test method comprising the rain simulation method according to claim 13 or 14, and further comprising a subsequent leak detection step. A method of leak testing according to claim 15, wherein leak detection is performed by monitoring humidity after allowing the surface to dry, either by nuclear hygrometer measurements or by using an ultraviolet detector capable of detecting a fluorescent tracer placed in the water in the tank, or a combination of the two.