Dehydration (construction)

Even dry building material fit for use as concrete, plaster/render, wood, etc. still contains water, e.g. in or between the pores. The evaporation of this water is termed dehydration and results in a volume reduction with the corresponding consequential damages, e.g. shrinkage cracks, loss of elasticity, increasing risk of fire (wood), etc. The extent of dehydration depends on the influencing factors, as e.g. weather/climate in outdoor areas and the heating/ventilation behaviour in indoor areas. Dehydration processes may require (hardly perceptible) many years but can also be accelerated (whether or not intended) by artificial measures.