EFFLORESCENCE AND

DAMPNESS IN BUILDINGS
EFFLORESCENCE

Definition : It is the powdery deposit that

appears due to migration of a salt to the surface
of masonry or concreteafter construction .

Problem is mainly due to :

1) Material characteristics

2) Construction practices

3) Soil characteristics

4) High water table

CONDNS FOR EFFLORESCENCE TO OCCUR

Presence of water soluble salts

Sufficient moisture in masonry/ concrete

Construction material should be permeable

All three conditions must exist for efflorescence to

occur .
TEST FOR EFFLORESCENCE

The standard test for

determining efflorescence
rating of burnt clay brick
is carried out as per
IS 3495 (part 3) : 1992.

Fig 2: Apparatus required for

efflorescence test of bricks
REPORT AND RECORDING RESULTS

RESULT OBSERVATION

NIL no noticeable salt deposits

SLIGHT < 10% area covered with salt deposits.

MODERATE Upto 50% area covered with salt deposits

uaccompained by flaking of surface.
HEAVY 50% area covered with salt deposits
uaccompained by flaking of surface.
SERIOUS heavy deposit of salts accompanied by
powdering and /or flaking of the
exposed surfaces.
CASE STUDY AMBALA CANTT

Tests were conducted on randomly collected bricks,water

from natural GW source and fine aggregates(sand).

Observation from tests :-

1) Acid soluble content of sand is more than permissible
standard value.
2) Higher alkalinity in water than the max permissible
value.
3) Efflorescence was noticed at ground floor level , ceiling
and walls of kitchen , toilets were exhibiting more
efflorescence than drier locations.

Effect of efflorescence was more prominent on plastered

surface than on the unplastered surface
ANALYSIS OF TEST RESULTS

Local available materials consist of chemical constituents

which causes efflorescence.

Saltpeter viz nitrates of sodium, potassium and calcium is

found in soils of areas of Punjab and Haryana.

High GW table in Ambala

Water itself may contain the compounds which on drying

out appear as efflorescence.
REMEDIAL MEASURES FOR PREVENTION
OF EFFLORESCENCE

Selection of material :
i. Use of bricks of efflorescence rating upto
moderate may be allowed in works.
ii. Soluble salts in sand should not exceed 0.1
percent
iii. Use of Potable water for work

iv. Use of Ordinary Portland cement having alkali

content less than 0.1 percent.
v. Encourage fly ash bricks, PPC which takes care
of the problem to a great extent.
 Prevent ingress of water.
i. Provn of Plinth Beam/Band(PBs)at floor level.
No plasters of PBs. No flower beds to be
provided on PBs.
ii. Provn of polythene film at DPC and ground
level.
iii. Maintain gap of 50mm between soffit of PB and
soil underneath by providing RCC fil.
iv. Good quality concrete for /under floor.
v. Wide overhanging (projected) roof to prevent
splashing of rain water on walls.
vi. Water repellant treatment on brick masonry
before plaster.
vii. Parapat walls : PPC coping on top . It prevent
rain water ingress from top.
viii. PCC Coving at Chajja wall jn.
ix. Crumple joints : Minimum nos, location should
not be near water source
x. Let the wall dry before tiling work.
xi. Water pipe lines: Minimum no of joints to be
provided inside walls
 Precaution during progress of work
i. Brick/tiles, cement ,sand and water should be
stored off the ground.
ii. Prevent soaking of masonry wall in rain.
iii. Proper filing of mortar joints.

iv. Proper sealing of joints between masonry and

door/window frames and expansion joints.
v. Proper wet curing of concrete. Good quality
concreting of proper slump.
DAMPNESS IN THE BUILDINGS

The access and penetration of moisture content into

building through its walls, floor, roof etc. is called
dampness.

Dampness in building leads to unhealthy conditions ,

decreases the structural strength and ruins the appearance
of the building.
CAUSES OF DAMPNESS IN BUILDING
TYPES OF DAMPNESS
1. Rising damp:- Rising Damp is caused when water from
the ground enters a structure by capillary action.

Rising damp by itself causes wet

walls and limited decay of masonry but
when salt is present in soil , the salt
attack combines with rising damp to
cause substantial decay.
 EFFECTS OF RISING DAMPNESS

Causes bleaching and blistering of

paints.

Causes rotting of wood and

corrosion of metallic fixtures.

Deteriorate carpet & furnitures.

Causes petting off and removal of plaster

Causes spots on the floors and walls.

Causes salt accumulation and
efflorescence.
Reduce the life of structures

Heating, ventilation and air

conditioning play a critical
role in determining the
height to which damp will
rise
2. FALLING DAMP:-

It is moisture entering masonry walls from

above and percolating downward through
networks of pores.

Sources include

Failed roof coverings, blocked or leaking

gutters and joints that have lost mortar.

Build up of dirt mosses on upper surface of

parapets and cornices .

Falling damp leads to localized patches of

damage.
3. PENETRATING DAMP:-

Penetrating Damp normally affects older

buildings and is caused by issues with the
building itself.

Causes :- It can be caused by cracked rendering

or defective pointing allowing water to enter the
fabric of the building.

Sometimes defective guttering and downpipes,

leaking plumbing or roof problems allow
rainwater to saturate areas of wall.

effects:-It often results in moss growth, increased

heat loss and frost damage into masonry.
BRIDGING OF DPC
Bridging of Damp Proof Courses is caused when
the ground level outside a solid wall is higher
than the installed damp-proof course.

Even if the ground level is below the damp proof

course bridging can occur in a solid wall when
rainwater hits the ground and splashes onto
the wall above the damp proof course.
 Other forms of bridging include external wall renders
and internal plastering extending down over the damp
proof course line and making contact with the ground.
Exposed timbers bearing onto the wall may also be at
risk from dampness and therefore may rot.
 Following scope of investigation:

1. Ascertaining reason of dampness

2. Proposing corrective measure for mitigating problem of

dampness

3. Examination of current design and construction

methodology of new building and thereby the proposal of
appropriate modifications , if any.
OBSERVATIONS

Dampness and resulting

deterioration was confined to
the ground storey walls of
these buildings.

Spalling of paint and plaster

in the walls and exposure of
underlying white salty
deposits.
 Dampness in GF brick infill walls over their bottom 1m
above the plinth.

Dampness near downpipes and wet areas of the buildings.

Accumulation of salts was also noticed in the damp

portions especially in bottom height of walls.

Where ever wall paneling/ wall tiles are provided , the

height of dampness was found to be relatively more.

Problem of Bridging of DPC is also seen in one of the

vintage building.
 The rising damp and resulting deterioration of masonry
walls can be attributed to :-
i. The presence of a high water table and salt attack.
ii. Absence of DPC in old buildings
iii. Bridging of DPC wherever provided.
iv. Absence of water proofing measures in the plinth beams
or under the ground floor slab.
v. Instances of falling damp and penetrating damp are
attributed to inadequate maintenance, unsatisfactory
roof water drainage system and inferior quality of
plumbing.
LABORATORY TESTS

Quality of building materials and of construction and

subsequent maintenance as well as climate and soil
conditions are strong determinants of the severity of salt
damp problems.

Sample of bricks, cement and water being used in the

construction projects were collected and tested in Dep of
civil engg, IITR.
TEST RESULTS( FOR BRICK SAMPLES )
Sample Water efflorescence Specifications of
no absorption IS:1077
(%)
1 16.4 moderate % water absorption should be
2 14.2 mild less than 20% for class of brick
up to 12.5 and should be less
3 16.3 moderate than 15% for higher classes.
Similarly efflorescence should be
up to moderate for class of brick
up to 12.5 and should not be
more than mild for higher class
of bricks.

Table 1: test results of the brick sample

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF CEMENT
SAMPLE
S.NO. Test Test Value Specifications of
IS:1489
1. Loss of ignition 1.9 % 5%(max)
2. Magnesia(MgO) 2.4 % 5%(max)
3. Sulphuric 2.8% 5%(max)
anhydride(SO3)
4. Insoluble Residue 22.9% X+4(100-X)/100
X= % of Flyash

Table 2: chemical composition of cement sample collected form site

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF WATER
SAMPLE
S.No. Test Test Value Specifications
of IS:456
1. pH value 6.56 -
2. sulphate 522(mg/l) 400(mg/l)
3. Organic Solid 18.5(mg/l) 200(mg/l)
4. Inorganic solid 10.4(mg/l) 3000(mg/l)
5. Suspended 5.4(mg/l) 2000(mg/l)
solid
6. Chloride 205(mg/l) 2000(mg/l)
7. Alkalinity 40(mg/l)
8. Acidity 30(mg/l)
9. Turbidity 1.77

Table 3: Chemical composition of the water sample collected from

the site.
ANALYSIS OF TEST RESULTS
The results in Table 2 show that although the bricks
sample satisfy requirements of class 12.5 of relevant code,
it is considered opinion that keeping in mind of rising
damp, GF water table and climate conditions of Ambala the
bricks should confirm to requirements of classes higher
than 12.5.Such condition imply that water absorption
bricks should be less than 15% and efflorescence should not
be more than mild.
 The chemical properties of cement sample were found to
comply with requirements as is evident from table 3.

The chemical composition of water sample also satisfied

requisite criteria except for sulphate content which is more
than max acceptable value.

The high sulphate content can be a significant source of

salts precipitated on the walls of the buildings under
reference.
SUGGESTIONS FOR MITIGATING THE PROBLEM
OF DAMPNESS IN EXISTING BUILDINGS

In case of severe damp, effective soln is insertion of new

DPC
New DPC can be inserted by range of techniques
including:-
i. Undersetting , in which section of base of wall are
progressively rebuilt in new materials, together with
DPC.
ii. Slot Sawing :- In this a horizontal slot is sawn through a wall
allowing insertion of a sheet DPC
Diamond chainsaws and grinders are used to cut a section through
the wall, of up to 1m in length. The DPC plates are then placed in
the slot, bedded on mortar, with spacers inserted along the section
to support the wall and compress the mortar. This wall is then
repointed to create a finished job that is both neat and tidy, and
more importantly effective. After the first section of wall is
finished then the next metre of wall can be treated. It is a labour
intensive and disruptive process but the work can be guaranteed for
50 years.
The lifespan of a physical damp course is far longer than any
chemical damp-proofing and it creates a total barrier against rising
damp.
Chainsaws And Grinders DPC Plates Are Then
Are Used To Cut A Section Placed In The Slot
Through The Wall
iii. Chemical impregnation:-
Here water repellant chemicals are introduced into a wall via a
series of drilled holes.

The fluid permeates through the pore structure of the masonry

to form a continuous water repellant zone.

It should be carried out at an elevation between between

150mm to 250mm( 2 to 3 course of bricks) above finished GL on
ext. walls.

In internal walls , chemical DPC shall be inserted just above

floor levels( even in bldg. with plinth beams) after removing
skirting and dado.
PROCESS

Holes of abt 10-15mm in dia shall be drilled at an spacing

of 100-120mm in a line along the base of the wall.
Chemical named siloxane which are carried in organic
solvent at a rate of abt 5-7% by wt shall be used for
impregnation.
NOTE:- It shall not be attempted where mortar or masonry
is weak and crumbling, treat only relatively sound
materials.
Where voids are significant, it is necessary to fill them with
cement grout before chemical impregnation.
 It is advisable that desalinization of
salt deposits shall accompany
chemical impregnation.

No water repellent coatings shall be

applied on the plaster.

Regular maintenance of roof drainage

systems, including gutters and
downpipes.

Proper site drainage shall be

entrusted to avoid accumulation of
water near walls.
MEASURES ADOPTED TO CONTROL
DAMPNESS IN NEW STRUCTURES

Keeping in mind the high GW table , the soil and weather

conditions, bricks of class higher than 12.5 shall be used in all
type of walls.

In RCC framed bldg, an integral water proofing compound

shall be used in the concrete of column up to plinth level as
well as in plinth beam.

DPC shall also be provided under the infill walls (and over the
plinth beams) as well as under the ground floor slab as per
details shown in fig 12
Dpc under infill wall should be contiguous with that under
the floor slab.
 In load bearing walls type of bldg. also an integral water
proofing compound shall be used in the mortar of brick
masonry up to level of plinth. DPC shall be provided as per
details shown in fig

Polyethylene sheet DPC may also be used , though it is not

approved by any Indian code.

A min level diff of 200mm shall be maintained between

DPC and ground level.

No possibility of ponding near walls