No commercial flooring contractor wants to redo a job. That costs time and money.
Like other materials covered by flooring, concrete slabs are susceptible to moisture. Water vapor passing through a concrete slab can quickly damage a new floor, resulting in problems like warping or the breakdown of adhesives. These complications are challenging to resolve and often demand significant expenditures on moisture control systems and replacement flooring, costs that may be borne by the installer.
Checking moisture content in a concrete slab is an absolute necessity before flooring is installed.
Unlike other materials such as wood, measuring moisture content in concrete slabs requires specialized methods and unique measurements. Testing for moisture in a concrete slab requires a different type of investigation and obtaining different type of measurement.
Accurately Measuring Moisture in Concrete Slabs
Measuring for moisture in concrete slabs – whether it’s one that’s brand new or was put in decades ago – is a misnomer of sorts. While it’s certainly possible to determine whether a concrete surface is wet or dry using a moisture meter, those readings are only a representative estimate of the moisture present within the concrete.
The best – and most accurate – concrete moisture meter isn’t actually a moisture meter. A hygrometer is the optimal tool as it measures relative humidity (Rh) to gauge moisture within the concrete.
Why is concrete relative humidity testing the preferred method for concrete slabs?
Several reasons:
Moisture meters rely on electrical conductivity and generally do not measure more than ¾ inch below the surface. As concrete’s electrical properties are varied and do not change just because of the presence of moisture it makes moisture meters useful for guidance measurements only.
Equilibrium relative humidity is a test method that has been in use for over 30 years and with many global standards in place. The ERH method measures the amount of free water in the concrete at depth and the base conductivity of the concrete does not affect the reading.
Though hard when cured, concrete is porous. Moisture is able to travel through it if the vapor barrier underneath is ineffective. What’s more, water is one of the main ingredients in making concrete. If the concrete’s moisture level hasn’t equilibrated to the environment around it during curing, excess moisture may not fully escape as it cures.
Tests conducted in the 1990s at the Technical University of Lund in Sweden confirmed that moisture moves from deep within a concrete slab to the surface at a gradient. In other words, moisture in a concrete slab isn’t always the same throughout.
On the accuracy front, just as concrete moisture content is influenced by moisture permeating from below, its surface-level moisture is directly influenced by the surrounding environment. A humid or wet environment will likely cause false or inaccurate readings of a concrete slab’s moisture when taken at surface level.
RH probes inserted into a concrete slab (in situ testing) provide the most reliable and precise measurements of moisture within a slab, as readings come from within.
Side Note: The Technical University of Lund in Sweden’s tests lead to the creation of the ASTM F-2170, the standard for measuring RH in concrete slabs.
7 Steps: Testing Relative Humidity in Concrete Floor Slabs
Though more labor-intensive and longer than using a moisture meter, testing relative humidity in concrete floor slabs is a straightforward process.
After identifying an area of concern within a concrete slab, follow these steps – which are in accordance with ASTM F-2170 – to test RH:
- Drill three holes per 1,000 square feet in the area of a concrete slab being investigated to a depth equal to 40% of the slab’s thickness.
- Clear the holes of dust and debris – we recommend using a wire brush to free up any loose particulate and then vacuuming each opening.
- Visually inspect the bottom of each hole to make sure you haven’t drilled into the heart of a piece of coarse aggregate (e.g. gravel). If more than half of the hole’s base is coarse aggregate, drill a new opening.
- Set your RH probe sleeves to the correct depth and insert them into each hole.
- Insert RH probes into their respective sleeves and place a cap to seal each opening.
- Wait 24 hours for the probes to equilibrate with their microenvironment’s relative humidity.
- After one day’s time, take & record RH readings using a hygrometer.
Resource: Check out our MMS2 Flooring Kit in action while testing a concrete slab’s relative humidity:
Relative Humidity Vs. Moisture Content Testing in Concrete (Hygrometers Vs. Moisture Meters)
While the surface of a concrete slab may test as wet or dry with a standard moisture meter, the readings don’t go much deeper into the actual moisture conditions as in situ testing does.
Moisture meters – primarily, pinless – still have a place in checking for moisture coming up through concrete slabs. During an initial inspection, moisture meters are a valuable tool in locating areas within a concrete slab that require further investigation.
Taking non-invasive readings with radio frequencies, a pinless moisture meter gauges moisture presence in a material within its depth of measurement. For concrete slabs, pinless meters allow an inspector to quickly locate areas that contain more moisture than others. Their readings can be confirmed with in situ RH testing.
While pin-type meter readings are for actual moisture content within a material, the depth of measurement doesn’t go much beyond surface level. What’s more, a pin-type meter’s probes aren’t meant to be driven into hard substances such as concrete, as attempts to break the surface cause damage that may affect accuracy.
Concrete moisture meters – both pinless and pin-type – do exist. However, it’s important to note that both types only take readings from the surface and don’t gauge Rh conditions within a concrete slab. Their readings aren’t accepted by the ASTM as an assessment for moisture within a concrete slab.
Concrete Moisture Testing FAQsHow Much do Hygrometer Probes Cost?That really depends on their manufacturer and distributor and the prices they set. Generally speaking, however, reusable probes are a much better investment than disposable probes as they save you money in the long run. Find out how much you could save with our Savings Caluculator. What Standards Should I Adhear to?That’s easy. As we mentioned the golden standard for measuring Rh in concrete is the ASTM F-2170. What are the Biggest Challenges in Completing Successful Rh Tests?Common challenges when completing moisture testing on a concrete slab include ensuring the concrete slab is at service condition, avoiding contamination during sample collection, and using properly calibrated equipment to ensure accurate readings – all things you can be mindful of and stay ahead of. |
Concrete Relative Humidity Testing: Different Moisture Measurement, Same Intent
Like most other materials comprising a building, concrete isn’t immune to moisture issues.
Testing for moisture within a concrete slab is distinctly different than taking measurements in other materials with a traditional moisture meter. However, like checking wood subflooring for moisture, an accurate diagnosis of moisture in concrete slabs serves the same purpose: stopping moisture from causing irreparable and expensive damage.
Make Concrete Relative Humidity Testing a Breeze
Our HygroMaster Flooring is your go-to for testing concrete slabs’ relative humidity. Explore the kit:
