Elo System - Method

The ELO SYSTEM method The ELO SYSTEM method is based on the physical principle of electro-osmosis. Any type of wall affected by rising damp is optimally and permanently restored using materials, components and elements that have been specifically designed for this purpose. Electro-osmosis is a physical principle that has been known for over a century. It is based on the fact that the water creates an electric field with positive pole in the ground by rising with capillary action through a porous septum (e.g. bricks, stone, concrete). Therefore the water always moves towards the negative pole. The presence of rising damp in a wall can be checked by simply measuring the electric field on the wall using a voltmeter. The voltmeter tips must be inserted in the mortar layer between bricks, while making sure that the positive tip is inserted at a height from the ground of approximately one metre and that the negative tip is as close as possible to the ground. If the electrical contact between the wall and the tips is sufficient, a negative potential difference of approximately 100 millivolts can be measured. This voltage may vary depending on the position of the tips in the wall and is called streaming potential. It is generated by the capillary rise water which is present inside the wall and is proportional to the water flow and the concentration of salts in the water. This leads to the conclusion that the only method that can permanently solve all the problems resulting from rising damp is to apply to the wall a potential difference greater than and opposite to the natural one and this is exactly what the ELO SYSTEM does, by inserting electrodes that have been specifically designed for this application inside the rising damp-affected wall.

The principle of electro-osmosis can be applied on both above-ground and retaining walls. The electrodes are positioned according to the type of intervention required.
	ABOVE-GROUND WALLS In this case, one or more positive electrodes are to be positioned above the highest level of moisture, whereas a negative electrode, which may consist of a cable or a bar, is to be positioned at the base of the wall being treated: a continuous negative electrode aided, if necessary, by bar electrodes is placed at the base of the wall; one or more positive electrodes are placed above the maximum height of moisture.
	RETAINING WALLS The principle of electro-osmosis can be applied on both above-ground and retaining walls. The electrodes are positioned according to the type of intervention required. In this case, one or more positive electrodes are to be positioned above the highest level of moisture, whereas several negative bar electrodes are to be positioned inside the embankment behind the wall being treated and a negative cable or bar electrode is to be positioned at the base of the wall being treated (see figure): one or more positive electrodes are positioned above the maximum level reached by moisture; one or more series of negative bar electrodes are placed inside the embankment; a negative continuous electrode is positioned at the base of the wall.

The ELO SYSTEM method

ABOVE-GROUND WALLS

RETAINING WALLS