Die Bohrwiderstandsmeßmethode / A Method to determine the resistance with respect to drilling

The German Centre for Craftsmanship and Preservation of Historic Monuments performs intensive help oriented towards practical applications of a testing apparatus for non-destructive assessment of the condition of historical wooden structures. Possibilities and limits of a resistance drilling measuring apparatus are clearly demonstrated using as an example the Peace Church of the Holy Trinity at Swidnica, Poland, which is a monumental timber-framed building serving for a congregation of 7500. By means of the above mentioned apparatus, the task of assessing the condition of the completely faced and painted interior supporting structure was successfully solved. Damage inside the timber as well as structural changes, types of joints, species of timber, and the load transferring capability of the joints were determined. The restoration of the church dealing with these aspects is nearly completed. One can state that there were no "bad surprises " and the estimated expenditures could be maintained. This is an excellent result, especially in such a sensitive and cost-intensive area like the restoration ofhistoric monuments.