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This product has easy to use 3-in-1 meter, offers pin mode, scan mode, and thermo-hygrometer in a single handheld unit. This also features advanced job definition that organizes readings of the floor, wall, and ceiling in affected rooms. Stored readings can be downloaded to a spreadsheet on your PC, providing clear, complete documentation of every job.
This product has easy to use 3-in-1 meter, offers pin mode, scan mode, and thermo-hygrometer in a single handheld unit. This also features advanced job definition that organizes readings of the floor, wall, and ceiling in affected rooms. Stored readings can be downloaded to a spreadsheet on your PC, providing clear, complete documentation of every job.
Includes a job definition of up to 5 jobs with unique Job ID numbers in Enhanced Mode.
Features
by: Tom Laurenzi, Delmhorst
For any flooring installer and inspector, testing the moisture of concrete can be a pain. Unlike wood or other building materials with a consistent set of physical properties, concrete can have countless different properties from one batch to the next, even when two mixes come from the same manufacturer!
This prevents concrete from having a consistent electrical resistance value to allow pin-type moisture meters to get accurate readings. The variable density of concrete mixes means that there is no consistent specific gravity value for pinless meters to be calibrated to, either.
Calcium chloride tests are another popular testing method. However, they only reveal the moisture conditions in the top layer of the slab. Because of this, these tests miss the moisture conditions in the deeper layers of the slab, where the majority of the moisture resides. So, while useful for determining if the slab is ready for a chemical sealant to be applied, a calcium chloride test doesn't provide the whole picture to a contractor.
So, how can contractors perform reliable concrete moisture tests, ones that generate quantifiable results that can be used to guide installation decisions?
The best way to get accurate information about the moisture conditions deep inside of a concrete slab is to follow the ASTM F-2170 standard, which was recently updated by ASTM to a 24 hour waiting period.
Testing concrete moisture under the F-2170 standard is a process that involves several different steps:
Using this process, you can gather quantitative data about the moisture conditions deep in the slab - which is useful for determining your risk of moisture-related problems later on.
To follow this process, you'll need to have a few specific tools available, including:
With all of these tools in hand, plus the obligatory safety gear for the jobsite, you should be ready to take accurate measurements in concrete on nearly any job!
by: Tom Laurenzi, Delmhorst
Odds are that, if you're a flooring contractor or inspector, you're already familiar with the ASTM-F-2170 standard for measuring moisture in concrete. This testing method for concrete has been the industry standard for years now, allowing flooring specialists to establish whether or not concrete subfloors are ready to be built on, or a coating or sealer to be applied.
However, most laymen have never even heard of the standard, let alone become familiar with the details and reasons why the tests are necessary for flooring work. Some inexperienced individuals try to use a pin moisture meter for concrete floor testing rather than following the rigorous ASTM standard.
While a pin or even pinless moisture meter can give a general idea of the presence of moisture, their results do not provide information upon which to make sound decisions.
To explain why the ASTM-F-2170 standard is so necessary in the world of concrete and flooring work, it's necessary to know what the standard is.
The ASTM-F-2170 standard is a testing method for determining the relative humidity (RH) that is present in concrete floor slabs. This testing method was developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials, aka ASTM International.
Using this testing method, contractors are better able to predict how a concrete slab will behave in its final use. This helps prevent contractors from building on concrete subfloors that aren't yet ready.
Building on concrete that isn't ready can lead to flooring problems such as buckling, warping, or other moisture-related problems as excess moisture from the concrete bleeds into the flooring installed over it.
Worse yet, these issues lead to callbacks and dissatisfied customers, which can hurt a contractor's business. By following the ASTM-F-2170 testing method, flooring contractors can avoid these problems from poorly prepared concrete.
Beyond that, contractors follow this ASTM testing standard because it is often considered the gold standard for moisture testing in concrete, and many manufacturers cite it as an accepted testing method. If a contractor doesn't follow this testing guideline, or any other manufacturer-approved testing method, the manufacturer may deem their product warranty is voided and not assume responsibility if there's a flooring failure later because of moisture issues.
Under this testing standard, contractors drill holes in a concrete floor and insert sleeves that are then sealed. After this is done, the holes are given time to acclimate so that any changes caused by drilling a hole into the concrete can be eliminated.
These in-situ probes that are left in the concrete are then attached to an RH meter (also known as a thermo-hygrometer) to take readings of the moisture conditions deep in the slab.
The readings are taken on a regular basis until the RH conditions in the concrete indicate that it's ready.
To adhere to the ASTM-F-2170 standard, several steps need to be taken:
First, the contractor needs to verify the slab's thickness and surface area, as well as the RH of the room/area where the concrete slab is located, and any potential sources of moisture that may be present.
Knowing the depth of the slab lets you know how deep to drill the testing holes, and knowing the total surface area tells you how many test sites you'll need to meet the standard's minimum requirements.
Checking the RH of the area where the concrete slab is located and identifying possible moisture intrusion sources can help you see why a slab might not be ready for the next step.
Additionally, no in-situ probe should be left in concrete for more than 30 days without a calibration check, according to the standard. This is because concrete is a mildly caustic environment, which can damage RH sensors, causing them to lose calibration and start to return unreliable readings.
Overall, the use of the concrete testing ASTM-F-2170 standard is a key part of any flooring job. Following the standard can help reduce callbacks, improve the useful life of flooring, and preserve a contractor's reputation through superior quality work.
by: Tom Laurenzi, Delmhorst
For any flooring installer and inspector, testing the moisture of concrete can be a pain. Unlike wood or other building materials with a consistent set of physical properties, concrete can have countless different properties from one batch to the next, even when two mixes come from the same manufacturer!
This prevents concrete from having a consistent electrical resistance value to allow pin-type moisture meters to get accurate readings. The variable density of concrete mixes means that there is no consistent specific gravity value for pinless meters to be calibrated to, either.
Calcium chloride tests are another popular testing method. However, they only reveal the moisture conditions in the top layer of the slab. Because of this, these tests miss the moisture conditions in the deeper layers of the slab, where the majority of the moisture resides. So, while useful for determining if the slab is ready for a chemical sealant to be applied, a calcium chloride test doesn't provide the whole picture to a contractor.
So, how can contractors perform reliable concrete moisture tests, ones that generate quantifiable results that can be used to guide installation decisions?
The best way to get accurate information about the moisture conditions deep inside of a concrete slab is to follow the ASTM F-2170 standard, which was recently updated by ASTM to a 24 hour waiting period.
Testing concrete moisture under the F-2170 standard is a process that involves several different steps:
Using this process, you can gather quantitative data about the moisture conditions deep in the slab - which is useful for determining your risk of moisture-related problems later on.
To follow this process, you'll need to have a few specific tools available, including:
With all of these tools in hand, plus the obligatory safety gear for the jobsite, you should be ready to take accurate measurements in concrete on nearly any job!
by: Tom Laurenzi, Delmhorst
Odds are that, if you're a flooring contractor or inspector, you're already familiar with the ASTM-F-2170 standard for measuring moisture in concrete. This testing method for concrete has been the industry standard for years now, allowing flooring specialists to establish whether or not concrete subfloors are ready to be built on, or a coating or sealer to be applied.
However, most laymen have never even heard of the standard, let alone become familiar with the details and reasons why the tests are necessary for flooring work. Some inexperienced individuals try to use a pin moisture meter for concrete floor testing rather than following the rigorous ASTM standard.
While a pin or even pinless moisture meter can give a general idea of the presence of moisture, their results do not provide information upon which to make sound decisions.
To explain why the ASTM-F-2170 standard is so necessary in the world of concrete and flooring work, it's necessary to know what the standard is.
The ASTM-F-2170 standard is a testing method for determining the relative humidity (RH) that is present in concrete floor slabs. This testing method was developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials, aka ASTM International.
Using this testing method, contractors are better able to predict how a concrete slab will behave in its final use. This helps prevent contractors from building on concrete subfloors that aren't yet ready.
Building on concrete that isn't ready can lead to flooring problems such as buckling, warping, or other moisture-related problems as excess moisture from the concrete bleeds into the flooring installed over it.
Worse yet, these issues lead to callbacks and dissatisfied customers, which can hurt a contractor's business. By following the ASTM-F-2170 testing method, flooring contractors can avoid these problems from poorly prepared concrete.
Beyond that, contractors follow this ASTM testing standard because it is often considered the gold standard for moisture testing in concrete, and many manufacturers cite it as an accepted testing method. If a contractor doesn't follow this testing guideline, or any other manufacturer-approved testing method, the manufacturer may deem their product warranty is voided and not assume responsibility if there's a flooring failure later because of moisture issues.
Under this testing standard, contractors drill holes in a concrete floor and insert sleeves that are then sealed. After this is done, the holes are given time to acclimate so that any changes caused by drilling a hole into the concrete can be eliminated.
These in-situ probes that are left in the concrete are then attached to an RH meter (also known as a thermo-hygrometer) to take readings of the moisture conditions deep in the slab.
The readings are taken on a regular basis until the RH conditions in the concrete indicate that it's ready.
To adhere to the ASTM-F-2170 standard, several steps need to be taken:
First, the contractor needs to verify the slab's thickness and surface area, as well as the RH of the room/area where the concrete slab is located, and any potential sources of moisture that may be present.
Knowing the depth of the slab lets you know how deep to drill the testing holes, and knowing the total surface area tells you how many test sites you'll need to meet the standard's minimum requirements.
Checking the RH of the area where the concrete slab is located and identifying possible moisture intrusion sources can help you see why a slab might not be ready for the next step.
Additionally, no in-situ probe should be left in concrete for more than 30 days without a calibration check, according to the standard. This is because concrete is a mildly caustic environment, which can damage RH sensors, causing them to lose calibration and start to return unreliable readings.
Overall, the use of the concrete testing ASTM-F-2170 standard is a key part of any flooring job. Following the standard can help reduce callbacks, improve the useful life of flooring, and preserve a contractor's reputation through superior quality work.
