Matkowski SP. z o.o. was asked to inspect the condition of the roofing on one of Wrocław’s residential buildings, as there were suspicions of leaks in various parts of the structure. The roof was covered with roofing felt, which made it difficult to visually detect micro-cracks, delamination or damage to the flashings and around service penetrations.

Solution: using the Trotec FS200 fog and flue gas simulator to locate leaks

The inspection was carried out using the Trotec FS200 fog and flue gas simulator– a compact, German-made device designed specifically for leak detection and leak-tightness testing.

Key features of the FS200 smoke generator that proved to be important in this project:

A lightweight aluminium design, making it easy to transport even up ladders and through narrow passageways
An adjustable fan turbine and a mist fluid pump, which allow the output to be adjusted to suit operating conditions
The intelligent coordination of the power from the turbine, the heater and the pump ensured a continuous stream of thick white smoke for several minutes without interruption
Low fluid consumption – up to 100 ml/min at maximum throughput, which has optimised the costs and logistics of the test
Fast heat-up time (around 7 minutes)

For years, we have been looking for a method that would allow us to assess the condition of roofs with complete certainty, without having to dismantle the roof surface. The FS200 has met these expectations one hundred per cent. The accuracy of its readings, the device’s portability and its speed of operation mean that it is now our primary tool for testing roof watertightness.
Igor Matkowski, Matkowski Sp. z o.o.

Procedure for the leak test

Preparation: Around 10 holes were drilled in the roof, which covered an area of over 400 m². Thanks to its lightweight design, the FS 200 unit could be moved freely as required, making it easy to connect the flexible hose to the hole and feed the generated smoke into it.
Smoke generation: A container of fog concentrate is connected directly to the FS200 unit.
Smoke distribution: Once the device was activated, clouds of thick white smoke were produced and fed under the roof covering via a flexible hose. Thanks to the force of the draught, the smoke easily penetrated the roof spaces.
Observation: After a while, smoke began to escape from places where there were leaks that were not visible at first glance.

Results of the flat roof leak test

Several leaks have been identified:

in sheet metal work,
in cracks and delaminations in the roofing felt,
where the roof meets the wall,
in installation penetrations (cables, pipes).

Each of these locations was marked and photographed, which enabled accurate documentation of the problems.

Thanks to the test, it was possible to draw up a precise repair plan – with clearly defined locations – which significantly reduced the time and cost of the subsequent sealing work.

Benefits of using the Trotec FS200 fog and smoke generator

High diagnostic accuracy – the smoke test revealed leaks that were invisible to the naked eye.
Cost-effectiveness – only 2.5 litres of concentrate were used to locate all the leaks.
Non-invasive process – no need to dismantle the roof surface to detect leaks.
Repair documentation: the precise identification and documentation of the leak locations enabled effective planning of the repair work and quality control following the repairs.

Accurate diagnostics and savings on repair costs

By using the Trotec FS200 fog and flue gas simulator, Matkowski Sp. z o.o. was able to quickly and effectively identify leakage problems on a flat roof, which resulted in time and cost savings during the subsequent repair process. This case demonstrates that modern leak-testing methods – particularly those using equipment such as the Trotec FS200 – are extremely effective in roof diagnostics and have practical applications in the construction industry.

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Locating a leak in a flat roof on a residential building

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