Sources of Information

Interviews

• Interviews conducted by the investigator with any party connected with the design , construction , maintenance & use of the building can provide valuable information on a number of aspects associated with a defect .

Inspection

• Inspection of the defect obviously provides the most important information , for it is during this process tha the investigator uses his keen sense of observation , making use of sight , hearing , smell or touch .
• The observations made during the inspection usually have to be compared with other data collected by other means .

Published Information & Research Reports

• There is wealth of information available from many institutions noted for their research work .
• These organisations include both publicly & privately funded ones , for example , universities , polytechnics & trade associations .

Test Results .

• Test & measurements of properties of materials may include moisture determination , chemical analyses of the composisiton of samples & physical analyses related to structural properties & resistance to water or frost .
• Other readings taken on the site thay may assist the investigator in his diagnosis of the defect , maybe those of temperature of air or surfaces , relative humidity of the air , rate of ventilation & movement of cracks .