Company and Website Disclaimer:
This website is intended to provide general information on certain aspects of moisture and leak detection in New Zealand. It must not be used as a substitute for specific advice from either building practitioners or legal practitioners. No home or building should be purchased or sold based off information on this website. Each individual’s home or investment property is a unique case.
Inspections:
All inspections (verbal or written) are valid for the day of inspection only, due to various conditions outside of our control after the day of inspection.
All thermal anomalies and moisture meter readings that are outside standard parameters are subject to further invasive inspection to confirm if moisture is present, source of leak and structural integrity of the area. Invasive inspections are by election of the customer.
The buyer of any property inspected by our company should first find out what type of timber has been used in the external walls, prior to purchasing the property (Buyers Responsibility to Find the Information). Untreated timber is very high risk and could rot if any moisture ingress takes place into the future, regardless of the test results on the day of inspection. We do not recommend buying any property with untreated timber in external walls of any home, commercial building, apartment building or any type of construction due to the poor performance track record in NZ climatic conditions.
NZ Leak & Heat Loss detection shall not be liable, and none of our employees or contractors shall be liable, to any customer, the customer’s agents or employees or any other person for any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damage or loss of any nature howsoever caused (whether based on tort (including negligence), contract or otherwise) including, but not limited to, loss of profits, loss of sales opportunity, damage to equipment or property (including any costs or loss relating to any invasive inspection) or any other claim whatsoever arising directly or indirectly or in any way attributable to the performance or non-performance of our services or other obligations.
A non–invasive moisture reading is not a conclusive indication that moisture is present. In some cases, a non-invasive capacitance moisture meter may be affected by hidden metals or chemical preservatives. Weather conditions could also affect the outcome of readings taken. The non-invasive moisture meter will only read moisture content up to 24mm into the wall, therefore some moisture in the wall could be missed if not within the vicinity of 24mm of the interior walls.
A thermal imaging camera can not see through walls, nor does it detect moisture. The infrared camera detects infrared radiation (Heat). NZ Leak & Heat Loss Detection carries a non-invasive moisture meter to do a secondary test in areas where thermal anomalies are detected by the camera.
You may see phrases on this website similar to ‘infrared moisture scan’ or ‘thermal imaging leak detection’… this simply means we use a combination of an infrared camera and moisture meter to scan for signs of moisture in your home, building or commercial premises.
Inspection Disclaimer: Please read before booking inspection.
Scope of our Reports:
1. The Report:
a. is a thermal-imaging/moisture report prepared following an above ground infra-red/moisture inspection of only the interior areas of the building that we have been instructed to inspect (the “Imaged Area”). For the sake of clarity, we will not inspect and the “Imaged Area” will not include:
i. the external cladding, external building envelope, exterior structures or roofing of any building;
ii. any interior area where we do not have direct access or a clear line of sight including, without limitation, any areas covered by furniture or structures such as cupboards; and any area that can not be reached with a hand held moisture meter without the use of props; and
iii. areas that were not accessible at the time of our investigation;
b. identifies potential thermal temperature and/or moisture anomalies within the Imaged Area at the time of our inspection only, is useful in detecting potential leaks, moisture and heat loss (the “Defects”) and provides an opinion on the presence or absence of the Defects in the Imaged Area; and
c. is a preliminary non-invasive investigation for potential Defects which, if any potential Defect is detected, may be followed up at the election of the customer with further invasive or non-invasive investigations. A non–invasive moisture reading is not a conclusive indication that moisture is present. In some cases, a non-invasive capacitance moisture meter may be affected by hidden metals or chemical preservatives.
d. The invasive and/or non-invasive moisture meter will only read moisture content up to 24mm into the timber frame, therefore some moisture in the timber could be missed if not within the vicinity of 24mm of the interior walls. Both invasive and non-invasive testing does not detect dry rot. Weather conditions could also affect the outcome of readings taken. Our reports do not determine if a home is or is not a ‘leaky home’ and is not a ‘weather-tightness’ report, as invasive testing would need to be carried through the exterior cladding into the timber framework to get conclusive results. As a precautionary measure, prior to purchasing any home built between Jan 1992 and Dec 2004, we recommend the purchaser undertakes further invasive testing through the exterior cladding side to determine if any moisture or rot is present where the cladding meets the timber framework (or the closest point between cladding and timber if a cavity system is in place). We only conduct invasive testing from the inside of the home to determine if standard house leaks have penetrated timber framework.
Limits of this Report:
2. Our Report:
a. is only for the benefit of the customer who instructed us to prepare the Report and may not be relied upon by any other party;
b. is not a structural survey and, in conducting our inspection, we do not uncover, dismantle or undertake any internal inspection of the building;
c. is not designed or intended to identify potential problems or issues within the Imaged Area other than the Defects and, without limitation, will not:
i. identify the presence or absence of dry rot or any hazardous substance including, without limitation, mould, toxins, carcinogens, noise or other contaminants;
ii. identify the presence or absence of any pests including, without limitation, wood damaging organisms, rodents or insects;
iii. determine the effectiveness of any equipment, utility, component or system installed to control leaks, moisture, heat loss, dry rot or hazardous substances;
iv. determine the life expectancy or future condition of any equipment, utility, component or system; and
v. determine compliance or non-compliance with any statutory or regulatory requirement, code, bylaw, ordinance or other restriction; and
d. does not contain any advice, and cannot be relied on for any advice, relating to:
i. any methods, materials or costs for the repair of any Defect;
ii. the suitability of the building for any specialized use;
iii. the market value or marketability of the building; and
iv. the advisability or inadvisability of the sale or purchase of the building.
Limits To Our Obligations
3. In conducting our inspection, the customer acknowledges and agrees that we will not be required to:
a. enter any area or perform any procedure that may damage any part of the building or be dangerous to any of our employees, contractors or any other person;
b. disturb or move any insulation, panels, furniture, personal items, equipment, vegetation or other items or materials that obstruct access or visibility to the thermal inspection; and
c. operate any equipment, utility, component or system that is shut down, inoperable or that does not respond to normal operating controls.
Exclusion of Implied Conditions and Warranties and Limitation of Liability
4. Where the customer is engaging our services for business purposes, the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 (the “Act”) will not apply.
5. If the customer is a consumer under the Act, to the extent that the customer’s rights under the Act have not been excluded in clause 4 above, nothing in these terms and conditions will affect the rights of the customer under the Act.
6. Subject to clause 5:
a. the customer relies upon its own knowledge, skill and judgement in relation to the particular use or suitability of this Report for the customer’s purpose; and
b. all warranties, descriptions, representations or conditions whether implied by the Sale of Goods Act 1908 or otherwise are expressly excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law.
7. Save as expressly provided otherwise in this Report or these terms and conditions, we shall not be liable, and none of our employees or contractors shall be liable, to any customer, the customer’s agents or employees or any other person for any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damage or loss of any nature howsoever caused (whether based on tort (including negligence), contract or otherwise) including, but not limited to, loss of profits, loss of sales opportunity, damage to equipment or property (including any costs or loss relating to any invasive inspection) or any other claim whatsoever arising directly or indirectly or in any way attributable to the performance or non-performance of our services or other obligations.
8. If, for any reason, we are found liable to the customer or any other person in connection with this Report and/or the performance or non-performance of our services and we are unable to rely on the exclusions of liability set out in these terms and conditions, our liability shall in all cases be limited to the price paid or payable by the customer for such Report or services.
