Testing Moisture Content In Concrete

Moisture in concrete should be measured by an anhydrous calcium chloride test kit per the astm f 1869 test method or by using an in situ probe test for relative humidity rh per the astm f 2170.

Testing moisture content in concrete.

Doing a concrete moisture test before you install any type of flooring over a concrete floor or slab is important because too much moisture vapor transmission mvt can delaminate flooring materials like epoxy linoleum laminate tile can buckle wood floors and can cause mildew in carpeting. Article concrete mix design. A second direct test astm f 1869 standard test method for measuring moisture vapor emission rate of concrete subfloor using anhydrous calcium chloride was standardized in the 1990s by the subcommittee on practices of the committee on resilient floor coverings. And one for every 1 000 sq.

Concrete slabs and floors can be excellent subfloor surfaces for tile and other floor coverings but too much moisture in the concrete can cause problems with flooring installations. In addition read the september october 2018 precast inc. Concrete slabs are naturally breathing elements of a home readily taking in moisture and air expanding and contracting and shifting with nature. A definitive test that measures the amount of moisture released from the concrete requires a calcium chloride kit or a relative humidity meter.

You see the cacl test and most other concrete moisture testing procedures employ methods such as the plastic sheet application only measure moisture escaping from the surface of the concrete slab. Testing with either method will tell you how precisely how much moisture is present making it possible to choose a surface flooring that is appropriate. Concrete moisture test how to test for moisture in a concrete floor or slab. Only the astm f2170 in situ probe concrete rh test has been scientifically proven to provide this information.

Testing concrete for moisture astm f2170 stipulates the use of in situ probes to determine the moisture condition of a concrete slab at the time that it will be sealed or covered by flooring material. How to test a concrete floor for excessive moisture. You can also refer to the npca quality control manual for precast concrete plants for more information on the frequency of aggregate moisture content testing. Before diving into the myths let s talk about how to test concrete for moisture.

Therefore it s advisable to have a floor tested for moisture content prior to installing flooring or moisture barriers. How to do a moisture test for concrete slabs. Three tests must be performed for the first 1 000 sq.