Stormdry^® Masonry Absorption Gauge

The Stormdry Gauge (also known as a Karsten tube or Rilem tube) is a simple and economical tool to assist in diagnosing rain penetration problems in walls.

Many defects in masonry that allow the passage of water such as small cracks and porous mortar, brick, and stone, are difficult to identify by visual examination alone. By using a Stormdry Gauge the water absorption characteristics of a small test area of wall can be monitored over time (typically up to one hour) and the results compared with those found on other areas of the wall. This allows the surveyor to build up a picture of where rain penetration is most likely to be occurring- for example through porous bricks, through small cracks at the brick-mortar interface, or through a particularly permeable type of mortar.

The Stormdry Gauge is simply fixed to the masonry surface using a mastic adhesive. It is then filled with water to the "zero" mark and the water penetration into the section of wall measured at regular intervals. To assist comparison with measurements elsewhere on the wall this information is usually plotted on a graph.

Guidelines for using the Stormdry Gauge can be found in the

Stormdry Test Kit

Stormdry gauges can be purchased individually or as part of a Stormdry Test Kit.

The test kit contains four Stormdry gauges together with mastic adhesive and a water bottle. A sample tube of Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream and a brush are also included.

Guidelines for Use

Guidelines for using the Stormdry masonry absorption test guage and test kit can be downloaded free of charge in PDF format by clicking on the image to the left.

Related Pages

• Protimeter Moisture Meters
• Rain Penetration
• Stormdry Cream

RIBA-Approved CPD Seminars

Safeguard currently offer the following RIBA-Approved CPD Seminars free-of-charge to architects and specifiers on the UK mainland:

• Waterproofing Existing Basements
• Waterproofing Basements and Underground Structures (Newbuild)
• Dealing with Dampness in Existing Properties (Above Ground)
• An Introduction to Green Roofs