A thermography-based methodology for assessing the key parameters of rising damp in porous materials

Capillary rising damp is one of the main causes of deterioration in historic buildings and is difficult to assess. Conventional methods are invasive and unsuitable for the conservation of cultural heritage. This study promotes the use of quantitative infrared thermography for monitoring capillary moisture in masonry. Experiments were conducted here on clay bricks. The thermal data allowed us to trace the wetting front and extract parameters such as the inflection point and the rate of rise. The results confirm that QIRT is a reliable and non-invasive method for moisture, supporting its standardization for in-situ diagnostics.