System of inspection, diagnosis and repair of external claddings of pitched roofs

This paper presents a system to support the inspection, diagnosis and repair of external claddings of pitched roofs (ECoPiR). The aim of this system is to standardise and systematise the inspection of these construction elements to aid the experts who perform this task. Classification systems of anomalies in ECoPiR and their causes are proposed in this paper, along with the correlation matrices of anomalies-probable causes and inter-anomalies. A classification system of in situ non-destructive tests and the correlation matrix between them and the anomalies are also presented to assist the diagnosis of anomalies in ECoPiR and their causes. A set/series of approaches to carrying out repairs is proposed in this paper. They allow the maintenance and the restitution of the functional properties of ECoPiR. The information collected during the validation of the inspection system enabled individual files of anomalies, diagnosis methods and repair techniques to be built up. The implementation of this system supports the inspection activities included in the predictive pro-active maintenance strategies of ECoPiR. The standardisation of these inspections will help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the actions put into practice when these claddings exhibit pathologic phenomena.