Crack Monitoring Tell Tales

[Dot Liljenquist]

Inthis article, we are going to discuss how you can easily monitor a crack within your home. The methods described are relatively low cost and will give you an indication if a crack is opening or closing.

Cracks in buildings can be a sign of structural problems or other issues, and it is important to monitor them closely in order to identify and address any underlying issues as soon as possible. Some common reasons why cracks may appear in buildings include:

Moisture damage: Cracks in walls or floors can also be caused by moisture infiltration, which can weaken the structural integrity of the building. This type of damage may be accompanied by other signs of moisture damage, such as peeling paint or wallpaper, or a musty smell.

Aging or wear and tear: Over time, buildings can experience wear and tear that can lead to cracks and other types of damage. This may be due to natural aging, or it may be caused by other factors, such as changes in temperature or humidity.

By regularly monitoring cracks in buildings, it is possible to identify and address any underlying issues before they become more serious and costly to repair. It is especially important to pay attention to cracks that are growing or spreading, as these may be a sign of a more serious problem.

If you notice cracks in your building, it is a good idea to consult with a professional, such as an engineer or contractor, to determine the cause and appropriate course of action. They may require the services of a monitoring survey company whom can undertake a detailed movement monitoring survey.

Each plate is secured either side of the crack, over time, if the crack moves the plates will move over each other. The cross-hair which starts at 0 mm will indicate the direction and magnitude of movement.

Monitoring a tell-tale gauge is very simple. Simply take a photograph, square on to the gauge and observe the movement in the X (along) and Y (up / down) axis. Record these figures down along with the date. This will then be used for further analysis into the future! Having a photograph on your phone is a useful backup in case you lose the data.

Demec studs are extremely simple in their nature, they have a small dimple in the middle of the disk that a measuring caliper can measure to. When used in a pair, the measuring caliper can record the distance between the 2 disks. The measurements can then be compared over time to see if the crack is opening or closing.

Measuring calipers vastly range in price dependent on the brand and quality. We would recommend getting a digital set which show the display electronically. You can purchase a decent measuring caliper for 50, we have seen some as low as 10, but we question the quality!

Demec studs are installed either side of a crack and secured using high strength adhesive. A high quality measuring caliper is recommended to ensure you reliably and accurately record the distance between the 2 disks.

Once your calipers are set, then you can measure the dimples on each stud. We would recommend taking a few measurements, zeroing your calipers, and then average out the readings. Once you have the reading, write down the date, reference number and measurement. Store this data somewhere safe, so you can easily access it in the future!

THS Concepts has a passionate team of surveyors and CAD draughtsman delivering detailed, thorough and accurate surveys and CAD drawings. We are far more than just a land and building surveying company.

Tell-tales are a low cost, easily installed monitoring device which will provide a continuous visual indication of the roof conditions. They are capable of resolving roof strata movement within two horizons - typically within the bolted roof horizon and above the roof bolts. Tell-tales are typically installed in holes up to 10m long (longer on request), for a range of hole sizes (please check with our sales staff for a product to suit your application). They can be easily and quickly installed by operators on a systematic basis.

Automotive tell-tales are regulated by automobile safety standards worldwide. In the United States, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 101 includes tell-tales in its specifications for vehicle controls and displays.[4] In Canada, the analogous Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 101 applies.[5] In Europe and throughout most of the rest of the world, ECE Regulations specify various types of tell-tales.

Different tell-tales can convey different kinds of information. One type lights or blinks to indicate a failure (as of oil pressure, engine temperature control, charging current, etc.); lighting and blinking indicate progression from warning to failure indication. Another type lights to alert the need for specific service after a certain amount of time or distance has elapsed (e.g., to change the oil).[6]

Colour may also communicate information about the nature of the tell-tale, for example red may signify that the vehicle cannot continue driving (e.g. oil pressure).) Many older vehicles used schemes which were specific to the manufacturer, e.g. some British Fords of the 1960s used green for oil pressure warning, while many other makes of the same era used amber for oil pressure. [citation needed]

The oil pressure idiot light lights when engine oil pressure drops below a predetermined level. The light normally appears when the vehicle ignition is turned on, but the engine is not running, as it detects no oil pressure due to the oil pump not operating (the oil pump is powered off the crankshaft, so only operates when the engine is running). It normally turns off a few seconds after engine start as the oil pump starts working and building up oil pressure. This tell-tale can bear the legend .mw-parser-output span.smallcapsfont-variant:small-caps.mw-parser-output span.smallcaps-smallerfont-size:85%oil or a pictogram of an oil can. Some cars illuminate the light red or yellow, depending on the action needed to be taken.[7]

The engine temperature tell-tale is usually installed singly, but has less commonly been installed in pairs. A pair of lights indicate insufficient (cold, blue) and excessive (hot, red) engine temperature.[8] A single light usually indicates only an overheat condition in engine. In electric cars, it is usually to monitor the EV battery temperature and indicate the EV battery is overheating or is too cold to operate. One example is in a Nissan Leaf EV.

A "malfunction indicator lamp" (MIL) or "check engine light" (CEL) illuminates, usually in red, amber, or yellow, to indicate malfunction or a service requirement detected by the computerized engine management system. It is found on the instrument console of most automobiles. In the United States, an MIL with specified functions is required by environmental protection regulations. Unlike other types of idiot light, an MIL does not correspond to a condition that would have been read out on a gauge.[9]

On vehicles equipped with OBD-II, the light has two stages: it illuminates steadily to indicate a minor fault such as a loose gas cap or malfunction with the vehicle's emissions controls, and it flashes when a severe condition is detected to alert the driver that continued driving may cause severe damage to the engine or catalytic converter emission control system.The MIL can present a legend, such as check engine, power limited, engine, or service engine soon; or it also can present a pictogram of an engine.

In hybrid and electric cars, a fault with the hybrid/EV system shows the pictogram of the vehicle with the exclamation point to indicate a fault with the electric motor and/or hybrid/EV battery (in fuel cell cars, it is also to determine a fault with the hydrogen fuel cell)

An idiot light can indicate that the vehicle's alternator or generator is not properly charging the battery. The battery will then discharge, disabling the car. The light normally appears when the vehicle ignition is turned on, but the engine is not running, as it detects that no power is coming from the alternator (the alternator is powered off the engine so only generates when the engine is running). It subsequently extinguishes as soon as the engine starts and the alternator starts generating electricity. This light presents a pictogram of a battery, or it presents the legend amp or batt or gen.

Some vehicles had a single indicator labeled trouble or engine; this was not a Check Engine Light, but a catch-all warning light to indicate trouble that was serious enough to portend an imminent breakdown. Early 1980s Fords, such as the LTD Crown Victoria, without the instrument option, had only this light, which indicated low oil pressure, overheating and carburetion problems without distinguishing among them. This usage of the "engine" light was discontinued in the mid-1980s to prevent confusion with the MIL.[citation needed]

Many vehicles have a red tell-tale to indicate that the parking brake is engaged or that there is a fault with the vehicle's braking system.[7] This tell-tale in most cases bears the ISO symbols for a parking brake and for a braking system emergency. In the past, US regulations required this tell-tale to bear the legend brake.[10]

Dashboard indicator lights or tell-tales are provided for turn signals, high beam, transmission mode in automatic transmission vehicles, and similar devices. These indicate running status and are not an indication of a fault.

Model 1800 Telltales are designed to measure the pattern of load transfer in piles, drilled shafts, and tieback anchors. They can also be used to garner information on pile tip movements and deflections along the pile. Telltales are commonly used in piles subjected to Static Load Tests, the results of which provide information used to confirm (or refine) the design of deep foundations. A major advantage of the Telltale system is the fact that the telltale rods can be inserted into the PVC or steel tubes after the pile has been driven or cast, thus reducing the likelihood of damage. This configuration also allows the telltale rods to be removed after testing is complete, such that they can be reused on subsequent tests.

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