Preserving Copenhagen's Icon: How real-time moisture monitoring informed on-site decisions
The iconic Copenhagen City Hall Tower, standing at 105.6 metres, has witnessed countless events since its completion in 1905. To ensure its preservation for decades to come, Rambøll Denmark, in collaboration with the Municipality of Copenhagen, implemented a moisture monitoring strategy during the construction process, using Tector’s monitoring system. This system played a critical role in managing the necessary climate to dry out the existing brickwork during renovation work, ensuring that the remediation works could be delivered on time.
Challenge
The City Hall Tower, exposed to Copenhagen’s harsh weather conditions, required a comprehensive renovation to extend its life. The renovation involved replacing roof tiles, joints, and bricks, repainting windows, and reinforcing the structure. At such a great height, the tower is particularly vulnerable to moisture infiltration, which could compromise the masonry and internal structures.
Solution
Rambøll Denmark, led by Jan-Erik S. Samdal, Principal Lead in Building Physics, selected Tector for its cloud-based system that provides real-time moisture monitoring. Sensors were installed to track moisture content within the tower’s masonry and structural beams, ensuring optimal conditions for drying. Samdal explains:
"We needed a cloud-based monitoring system so that we could follow the moisture content 'live' and document that the drying conditions were optimal."
The sensors were easily mounted on-site, and the data visualisation through Tector’s user-friendly graphs enabled the team to make informed decisions on-site. This proactive approach meant that the drying process could be fine-tuned based on real-time data, ensuring the preservation of this historic landmark.
Impact
By integrating Tector's moisture detection system in the construction phase,, Rambøll and the Municipality of Copenhagen ensured that the City Hall Tower will stand the test of time. The ability to monitor moisture in real time helped optimise the drying conditions by adjusting the heating and dehumidification processes on-site. As a result, the renovation team minimised the risk of future damage and extended the life of this historic structure.
"With Tector we managed to optimise the drying conditions by calibrating the heating and dehumidification on-site."
— Jan-Erik S. Samdal, Rambøll Denmark
Providing optimal drying conditions is essential for building longevity. With quicker project completion times, we help streamline construction while ensuring compliance with building codes.
The monitoring system helped the team to ensure that Copenhagen’s City Hall Tower will continue to mark the city's skyline, preserving an architectural and cultural icon. Samdal recommends Tector for its simplicity in setup and ease of data analysis:
"Tector is fairly easy to set up and mount on-site, and the graphs are easy to follow."
By managing moisture levels during the construction phase, Rambøll and Copenhagen Municipality have safeguarded the City Hall Tower for future generations, ensuring that its New Year’s Eve countdown tradition will continue for many years to come.
