Balcony Structures on Sylt: Salt Air and Corrosion in View

Challenge

Salt water attacking before you can see it

The challenge at this balcony structure on Sylt is the saline sea water. Aggressive salt water leads to corrosion and, as a result, to structural problems that threaten the safety and service life of the structure.

On top of that comes operation: the complex consists of holiday flats whose guests are not meant to notice the monitoring.

Solution

One sensor per balcony

Infrasolute was commissioned to provide a monitoring solution for the balcony structures. Energy-free corrosion and moisture sensors were placed on every balcony to continuously capture the relevant parameters of the corrosion process and detect potential damage early.

Placement was per balcony, not sampled across the complex. Energy-free here means the sensor remains in the building element without its own power source.

Result

Data that disturbs no one

The data go out online around the clock via a gateway. This solves the decisive operational point: holiday guests are never disturbed, because no one needs to enter a flat to take a measurement.

For those responsible for the complex, this means they can respond early to corrosive influences and take targeted repair measures. The ongoing measurement lets them classify the degree of corrosion and assess its progress over time, instead of taking a one-off condition reading. This limits damage and directs maintenance to where it is needed.

The project shows how moisture and corrosion monitoring accompanies a building element permanently exposed to weather in balconies and buildings. If you have balconies, loggias or facade elements in a saline or humid environment, describe your structure to us through our project inquiry.