OLD PARLIAMENT HOUSE AND CURTILAGE HERITAGE MANAGEMENT PLAN 2008–2013

9. Building Fabric Investigation Permitted Action Schedule
Part C – Implementation Tools
Old Parliament House and Curtilage Heritage Management Plan 2008–2013
145
Permitted Actions
Use of ultrasound on all heritage fabric provided
that no intervention or damage is caused
to the heritage fabric being assessed.
Use of any type of coupling gel for direct
contact between the building element and the
transducer on non-absorbent heritage surfaces.
Repositioning of movable furniture or other portable
items to enable access for ultrasonic assessment
provided it is carried out in accordance with the
Housekeeping Permitted Action Schedule.
Use of any tools/equipment enabling access to heritage
fabric for the purposes of ultrasonic assessment
provided that all heritage surfaces such as floors and
walls are adequately protected from potential damage.
Not Permitted Actions
Removal, either temporarily or permanently, of
any existing building fabric for the purposes of
assessing fabric that is currently hidden from view.
Use of any type of coupling gel for direct
contact between the building element and the
transducer on delicate heritage surfaces where
its use may cause permanent damage.
Repositioning of movable furniture or
other portable items to enable access for
ultrasonic assessment without reference to the
Housekeeping Permitted Action Schedule or prior
consultation with the OPH Heritage staff.
Use of any tools/equipment providing access to heritage
fabric without adequate protective devices in place to
protect heritage surfaces such as floors and walls.
5.6 MOISTURE MEASUREMENT
Moisture measurement is a technique using simple electrical resistance meters to measure
the moisture content on, or just below the surface of a building material.
Advantages
Disadvantages
— Cheap and widely used
— Information obtained can be wildly inaccurate and often of little value; more serious problems
may remain hidden; salts in brickwork, foil behind plasterboard, high carbon content,
condensation and other factors can give false readings, old surface treatments, whether
protective or decorative, can change the resistivity of the timber and give misleading results.
Permitted Actions
Use of moisture meters on all heritage fabric
provided that no intervention or damage is
caused to the heritage fabric being measured.
Repositioning of movable furniture or other portable
items to enable access for moisture measurement
provided it is carried out in accordance with the
Housekeeping Permitted Action Schedule.
Use of any tools/equipment enabling access to heritage
fabric for the purposes of moisture measurement
provided that all heritage surfaces such as floors and
walls are adequately protected from potential damage.
Not Permitted Actions
Removal, either temporarily or permanently, of
any existing building fabric for the purposes of
measuring fabric that is currently hidden from view.
Repositioning of movable furniture or other
portable items to enable access for moisture
measurement without reference to the
Housekeeping Permitted Action Schedule or prior
consultation with the OPH Heritage staff.
Use of any tools/equipment providing access to heritage
fabric without adequate protective devices in place to
protect heritage surfaces such as floors and walls.