The thermal behavior and signatures of water in buildings

In this paper we discuss the thermal properties of water as they relate to the structures, buildings in particular, thermographers routinely inspect. Interestingly, it is the unique thermal properties of water that allow us, under the right conditions, to locate its very presence in a building. Unfortunately, when conditions are less than ideal, water is often all but impossible to detect thermally. It is important then, to understand both the properties and behavior of this common substance as well as the conditions that cause it to be revealed. To this end we will also show examples of the interaction of water and heat and the surrounding materials as we observed them in several controlled situations. We will also apply the lessons learned to a wider variety of real world thermal imaging situations.