Engineer Mario Stelzmann awarded building maintenance innovation award the development of in situ measuring device for non-destructive measurement of capillary water absorption of facades”with this topic has grappled for a year Mario Stelzmann and is awarded for its scientific performance now with the building maintenance innovation award 2013. The civil engineer, now at the Institute for building climatology of TU Dresden submitted his doctoral thesis, has developed a measurement device can be used for checking compliance with DIN 4108-3. This standard regulates humidity protection technical requirements imposed on building, and defines relevant, physical sizes for this area. So far, compliance with this standard only tedious drilling on the affected wall settled check. This problem has prompted the 26 year old to develop of his method, with no interventions in the masonry are necessary: the meter is attached directly on the facade and by a special measuring circuit, water is pumped into the wall. Thus, the suction behaviour of the wall can be checked.

The meter determines a so-called building material characteristic value that can be compared with the requirements of the standard.” That Mario Stelzmann emerges with his innovative instrument as the winner from the competition, is the five-member jury was quick to agree: Mr Stelzmann research project has met all criteria to the highest degree. Personally especially the practical orientation of the work has impressed me”, Volker Schweizer reported. The prize winner will present his research project during the 24th Hanseatic renovation days from November 7 to 9 in Heringsdorf: I look forward to establish contacts with professionals from the building maintenance at this event. Maybe a chance for my future results.” Discipline is the price every year by the Association of moisture & e.V. remediation of old, Beuth Verlag, as well as the Fraunhofer IRB Verlag and is endowed with a Medal, 800 euros in cash and a book voucher for 300 euro.