SMARTEX FAQ
Q&A about the Progeo SMARTEX™
Leak Monitoring System
A. Experience has shown that it
makes good economic sense to protect
your building, roofing and
waterproofing investment with a
permanent, built-in leak monitoring
system. With SMARTEX™, owners
can verify the quality of the roofing and
waterproofing products even before
acceptance of the installation. After
acceptance, SMARTEX™ continues to
monitor the condition of the building.
When leakage or other damage does
occur, no matter how small, notification
is immediate. Because the SMARTEX™, system can locate leaks with precision, repairs can be made
with the least amount of effort and expense.
Q. Why do we need a built-in leak-monitoring system when we have a 10 year warranty on the waterproofing/roofing system?
A. The roofing and waterproofing warranty will not prevent damage from occurring to the building if the
system is faulty or becomes damaged. And it never covers damage to the structure when leaks go
undetected for long periods of time. When a leak finally does become apparent, the warranty does not
usually cover damage to the building or its contents.
The roofing and waterproofing warranty only protects
the owner from defects in materials or workmanship
and is usually prorated based on the life of the
system.
It is up to the owner to prove that any damage that occurred to the roof or waterproofing was due to defective materials or workmanship. Any other type of damage is usually not covered and remains the responsibility of the owner. Without a monitoring system that can quickly and precisely locate damage when it occurs, arguments over who is responsible frequently become court cases with no clear winner. A leak-detection system that monitors, time stamps, detects and locates problems when they occur, can make repair a quicker and easier process and can prevent major damage and protracted litigation.
Q. How do SMARTEX™ leak monitoring systems work?
A. SMARTEX™ functions on a two-pole electrical
system, with one pole located above the
membrane and the other located below the
membrane. The positive side of the two-pole
system is underneath the membrane where a
prefabricated sensor grid and conductive felt are
placed. The sensors are connected by wire to
the system computer that monitors electrical
changes in the conductive felt that occurs when a
leak is present.
These changes are measured and located on the sensor grid, providing an instantaneous warning of damage to the membrane and pin points where the damage is located. The negative side of the two-pole system works with the dampness that occurs on the top surface of the membrane. When moisture and electrical current passes through an opening in the membrane, this creates a closed circuit which is picked up by the sensors and the monitoring system which sets off an alarm.
Q. Wasn't leakage the problem with flat roofs back in the '70's?
A. Roofing and waterproofing products and installation techniques have undergone considerable
development in the past few decades and improvements have definitely been made. However, a
number of factors have also increased the risk of damage to roofing and waterproofing membranes
as well. These factors include new, complex roof configurations, demands that construction be
completed in a short amount of time which can strain inspection processes, and new ways roofs are
now being used.
With the advent of the “Green Roof”, there is much more foot traffic on roofs than ever before. Green roofs can be used as plaza decks for both foot and vehicular traffic. Any sort of regular traffic on a roof creates a much greater possibility of damage to the roofing and waterproofing membranes.
In almost half of the projects where SMARTEX™ is installed, damage to the membrane occurs before the building is completed and accepted or during the first few months of use. Because a SMARTEX™ system will detect any leak in the roofing membrane regardless of whether it is overlain with soil, extra insulation or plaza tiles, the risk of damage to the structure or its contents is significantly reduced.
Q. How long has SMARTEX™ been around?
A. SMARTEX™ was developed in 1992 and was first introduced to the market in 1997. Since then, more than 100 projects and over 2.16 million square feet (200,000 m2) of building surfaces have been protected by SMARTEX™.
Q. Wouldn't it be better to use an extra layer of waterproofing instead of the SMARTEX™ system?
A. There are some cases where multiple layers of waterproofing make sense, and indeed, are required by building codes in certain areas and for certain types of structures. With single ply roofing and waterproofing systems, material properties and the thickness of the material are used to determine the toughness and the life of the membrane. Despite the high physical and mechanical properties of modern roofing and waterproofing membranes, buildings continue to be prone to significant damage due to roofing and waterproofing failures.
Because of the types of surfaces that these membranes cover and their placement in the building envelope, they remain more susceptible to damage during construction and over the life of the structure. It is only through timely inspection or automatic notification of damage that the condition of the membrane can be known. Detection and repair must be carried out on a timely basis or the structure of the building itself could be at risk of severe damage from even small undetected leaks.
Q. I worked with a leak monitoring system before. How can I estimate realistic capital and life cycle costs?
A. We would be happy to provide a budget price for your project. Furthermore, we will support the owner and the architect in planning the layout of the SMARTEX™ system in their building.
Q. Can SMARTEX™ be installed by my roofing contractor?
A. Generally, the components of the SMARTEX™
system which lie underneath the roofing or
waterproofing system are installed by the roofing
contractor concurrent with the installation of the
roofing or waterproofing membrane itself.
Q. How expensive is SMARTEX™?
A. The cost of a SMARTEX™ system depends upon several factors found in the building design including the location and size of the project and the number of distinct areas requiring a SMARTEX™ system. Once these factors are known, the cost of a SMARTEX™ installation can be easily calculated. One determining factor is the number of connection points and computer control mechanisms that are needed to monitor the building. We will be happy to review your building’s roofing and waterproofing plan and provide and estimated cost.
Leak Monitoring System
- Why do we need a leak monitoring system?
- Why do we need a built-in leak-monitoring system when we have a 10 year warranty on the waterproofing/roofing system?
- How do SMARTEX™ leak monitoring systems work?
- Wasn't leakage the problem with flat roofs back in the '70's?
- How long has SMARTEX™ been around?
- Wouldn't it be better to use an extra layer of waterproofing instead of the SMARTEX™ system?
- I worked with a leak monitoring system before. How can I estimate realistic capital and life cycle costs?
- Can SMARTEX™ be installed by my roofing contractor?
- How expensive is SMARTEX™?
A. Experience has shown that it
makes good economic sense to protect
your building, roofing and
waterproofing investment with a
permanent, built-in leak monitoring
system. With SMARTEX™, owners
can verify the quality of the roofing and
waterproofing products even before
acceptance of the installation. After
acceptance, SMARTEX™ continues to
monitor the condition of the building.
When leakage or other damage does
occur, no matter how small, notification
is immediate. Because the SMARTEX™, system can locate leaks with precision, repairs can be made
with the least amount of effort and expense.Q. Why do we need a built-in leak-monitoring system when we have a 10 year warranty on the waterproofing/roofing system?
A. The roofing and waterproofing warranty will not prevent damage from occurring to the building if the
system is faulty or becomes damaged. And it never covers damage to the structure when leaks go
undetected for long periods of time. When a leak finally does become apparent, the warranty does not
usually cover damage to the building or its contents.
The roofing and waterproofing warranty only protects
the owner from defects in materials or workmanship
and is usually prorated based on the life of the
system.It is up to the owner to prove that any damage that occurred to the roof or waterproofing was due to defective materials or workmanship. Any other type of damage is usually not covered and remains the responsibility of the owner. Without a monitoring system that can quickly and precisely locate damage when it occurs, arguments over who is responsible frequently become court cases with no clear winner. A leak-detection system that monitors, time stamps, detects and locates problems when they occur, can make repair a quicker and easier process and can prevent major damage and protracted litigation.
Q. How do SMARTEX™ leak monitoring systems work?
A. SMARTEX™ functions on a two-pole electrical
system, with one pole located above the
membrane and the other located below the
membrane. The positive side of the two-pole
system is underneath the membrane where a
prefabricated sensor grid and conductive felt are
placed. The sensors are connected by wire to
the system computer that monitors electrical
changes in the conductive felt that occurs when a
leak is present.
These changes are measured and located on the sensor grid, providing an instantaneous warning of damage to the membrane and pin points where the damage is located. The negative side of the two-pole system works with the dampness that occurs on the top surface of the membrane. When moisture and electrical current passes through an opening in the membrane, this creates a closed circuit which is picked up by the sensors and the monitoring system which sets off an alarm.
Q. Wasn't leakage the problem with flat roofs back in the '70's?
A. Roofing and waterproofing products and installation techniques have undergone considerable
development in the past few decades and improvements have definitely been made. However, a
number of factors have also increased the risk of damage to roofing and waterproofing membranes
as well. These factors include new, complex roof configurations, demands that construction be
completed in a short amount of time which can strain inspection processes, and new ways roofs are
now being used. With the advent of the “Green Roof”, there is much more foot traffic on roofs than ever before. Green roofs can be used as plaza decks for both foot and vehicular traffic. Any sort of regular traffic on a roof creates a much greater possibility of damage to the roofing and waterproofing membranes.
In almost half of the projects where SMARTEX™ is installed, damage to the membrane occurs before the building is completed and accepted or during the first few months of use. Because a SMARTEX™ system will detect any leak in the roofing membrane regardless of whether it is overlain with soil, extra insulation or plaza tiles, the risk of damage to the structure or its contents is significantly reduced.
Q. How long has SMARTEX™ been around?
A. SMARTEX™ was developed in 1992 and was first introduced to the market in 1997. Since then, more than 100 projects and over 2.16 million square feet (200,000 m2) of building surfaces have been protected by SMARTEX™.
Q. Wouldn't it be better to use an extra layer of waterproofing instead of the SMARTEX™ system?
A. There are some cases where multiple layers of waterproofing make sense, and indeed, are required by building codes in certain areas and for certain types of structures. With single ply roofing and waterproofing systems, material properties and the thickness of the material are used to determine the toughness and the life of the membrane. Despite the high physical and mechanical properties of modern roofing and waterproofing membranes, buildings continue to be prone to significant damage due to roofing and waterproofing failures.
Because of the types of surfaces that these membranes cover and their placement in the building envelope, they remain more susceptible to damage during construction and over the life of the structure. It is only through timely inspection or automatic notification of damage that the condition of the membrane can be known. Detection and repair must be carried out on a timely basis or the structure of the building itself could be at risk of severe damage from even small undetected leaks.
Q. I worked with a leak monitoring system before. How can I estimate realistic capital and life cycle costs?
A. We would be happy to provide a budget price for your project. Furthermore, we will support the owner and the architect in planning the layout of the SMARTEX™ system in their building.
Q. Can SMARTEX™ be installed by my roofing contractor?
A. Generally, the components of the SMARTEX™
system which lie underneath the roofing or
waterproofing system are installed by the roofing
contractor concurrent with the installation of the
roofing or waterproofing membrane itself.Q. How expensive is SMARTEX™?
A. The cost of a SMARTEX™ system depends upon several factors found in the building design including the location and size of the project and the number of distinct areas requiring a SMARTEX™ system. Once these factors are known, the cost of a SMARTEX™ installation can be easily calculated. One determining factor is the number of connection points and computer control mechanisms that are needed to monitor the building. We will be happy to review your building’s roofing and waterproofing plan and provide and estimated cost.
