FEATURE


HOW TO MONITOR SURFACE MOISTURE AND AMBIENT CONDITIONS


Because RH in-situ probes measure deep into concrete slabs they can give you a picture of the moisture that exists deep in the slab. If you’re specifically interested in measuring the surface moisture you can choose to use a moisture meter. If this is what you opt for, know that C555 is your best option as it is proven to be two times more accurate than competing concrete moisture meters.


While a surface meter won’t give you a complete understanding of your concrete’s moisture condition, it will help you identify areas in the concrete’s surface that contain more moisture.


But an even better way to determine if you might have a surface moisture or condensation problem prior to floorcovering installation is to calculate dew point temperature, which uses the ambient relative humidity and temperature measurement of the room you’re in. The calculated temperature result provided from these measurements is then compared to the surface temperature of the concrete.


This information warns you of any surface moisture that has yet to develop (not just the moisture that’s already present). The tools used to determine dew point and ambient conditions – an infrared thermometer and data logger – are also typically less expensive than surface moisture meters.


Here’s how you use them to determine the dew point:


• Place the data logger in the room of your jobsite. Allow it to collect relative humidity and temperature readings.


• Use an infrared thermometer to determine the temperature of your concrete subfloor.


• Put the information you collected into a dew point calculator (these can easily be found online).


• Calculate the dew point. As long as the temperature of the concrete reads 10F (or 12C) higher than the calculated dew point you won’t have to worry about moisture condensing at the time of floorcovering installation.


METER ERROR by MIX DESIGN


Wagner Meters conducted an in-house case study, evaluating the accuracy of the C555 Concrete Moisture Meter against the top leading concrete moisture meter manufacturers, across nine varied and commonly used concrete mix designs in the United States. Recognizing that different


concrete compositions dry and react differently, our study was designed to encompass a broad spectrum of mixes—ranging from those with fly ash and air entrainment to mixes fortified with fibers or modified with accelerators and retarders.


The graph provided illustrates the average moisture meter error when testing these specific mix designs. Our findings were compelling: the C555's readings were consistently closer to the benchmark oven-dry


results compared to others, solidifying its status as twice as accurate as the leading concrete moisture meters.


This study underscores the C555's superior performance, ensuring that professionals working with any mix—from lightweight aggregates to


those with various admixtures—can rely on the C555 for the most precise moisture readings, critical for the integrity and longevity of their concrete projects.


KEY


Mix 1 - 3000 3/8-inch aggregate with fly ash and air entrainment Mix 2 - 3000 ¾-inch aggregate with no fibers


Mix 3 - 3500 ¾-inch aggregate with accelerator Mix 4 - 3500 ¾-inch aggregate with retarder


Mix 5 - 3500 ¾-inch aggregate with fly ash and air entrainment Mix 6 - 4000 ¾-inch aggregate with fibers


Mix 7 - 3000 JNA7MV Lightweight ½-inch aggregate with fly ash POLY 997 VMA


Mix 8 - 3000 LPA2KMV 6.5 SK pea gravel pump mix POZ 80 POLY 997 VMA


Te C555 Concrete Moisture Meter is shown to be more accurate than competing surface meters.


Besides calculating dew point, you can use the readings you get from your data logger to help you determine whether the room is too humid for your flooring materials.


Data loggers are especially helpful because they don’t evaluate ambient conditions once. They track them continuously, keeping you updated on any environmental changes your floor might have experienced since you checked it last. It even keeps an eye on your floor while you’re away from the jobsite.


At Wagner Meters, we offer accurate infrared thermometers, and a Smart Logger data logger for all of your ambient monitoring needs. Our Smart Logger even comes with an app to make checking up on your ambient data as easy as checking your phone.


MAKE AMBIENT TESTING PART OF YOUR MOISTURE MONITORING ROUTINE


In the end, monitoring surface moisture and ambient conditions can help you protect your floors from excess moisture in the air.


Here’s how you can make this monitoring a part of your RH testing routine:


• Check service conditions with Smart Logger to ensure quick and accurate floor acclimation.


• Use an infrared thermometer and dew point calculator to determine the risk of moisture condensation.


• Continue to check the Smart Logger to ensure ambient conditions stay consistent while you perform RH testing on the concrete subfloor prior to floor installation.


Along the way, if you have any doubts about moisture condensing on the floor’s surface you can check it with a concrete moisture meter.


In this way, you’ll have all your bases covered. You’ll know that there’s not an excessive moisture problem hiding deep in the slab or on the surface of your floors.


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