Infrared thermal imaging to inspect pathologies on façades of historical buildings: A case study on the Municipal Market of São Paulo, Brazil

Cultural assets are historical buildings that combine formal and technical elements with an immaterial dimension with great significance and value for the population. These buildings may present several pathologies, since they were constructed with outdated systems and techniques and are subject to weathering. The use of non-destructive techniques to inspect cultural assets is essential to evaluate building pathologies without causing damage or altering their structure. Infrared thermal imaging may be applied to identify superficial damages in construction elements and monitor the conservation of these buildings. Then, interventions may be performed to minimize the possibility of damage that could cause problems to the integrity of the building. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the presence of pathologies on the façades of the Municipal Market of São Paulo using infrared thermal imaging. Results indicated several damages that present risks to the integrity of the building, such as the presence of moisture, cracks, and regions with a detachment of the rendering mortar. Based on the results obtained, a proposal for intervention in the building was elaborated to reduce the damages that compromise its service life and maintain its original characteristics.