Best Practices

Case Study: Detection of Condensation (Sweating)

Condensation is one of the most misunderstood moisture problems in Hong Kong buildings. It is not a pipe leak or waterproofing failure – it occurs when freezers, cold stores or excessive air-conditioning in the upper unit chill the slab below the dew point, causing warm moist air to condense into water beads on the ceiling. Many residents mistake it for a true leak and report it to the government seepage team, only to be told it falls outside their jurisdiction. Our condensation case studies document how we use infrared temperature scanning, dew point calculation, moisture metering and fluorescent dye exclusion tests to scientifically distinguish condensation from genuine leakage. From industrial building cold stores damaging goods downstairs, to domestic freezers causing persistent ceiling moisture, to poor ventilation triggering mould growth – each case presents a clear investigation logic, liability analysis, and the key details that helped clients successfully recover losses from the upper unit or complete an insurance claim.