RESILIENT FLOORING PUT TO THE TEST
Which concrete moisture testing tool will best meet your needs? Jason Spangler, Wagner Meters’ sales manager, weighs up the pros and cons of surface meters against relative humidity (RH) probes.
Failing to follow proper concrete moisture testing procedures comes at a cost. Inaccurate readings can cause moisture issues to go unnoticed, leading to floorcovering damage such as warping, mould and rot, as well as structural failure and a damaged reputation.
That’s why thorough testing is so crucial. But just how thorough should you be? Is a surface meter sufficient? Or do you need to measure a bit deeper with relative humidity probes?
SURFACE TESTING
Surface testing is just what it sounds like. It’s a form of testing that measures the moisture at the surface of a concrete slab. Surface testing is performed with pinless surface meters, such as our C555 Concrete Moisture Meter. They use a scanning plate to take moisture readings from the top half inch of the slab.
Because readings can be gathered at the push of a button without any prep work, surface meters are great for quickly scanning a concrete slab for moisture hotspots.
RELATIVE HUMIDITY TESTING
Unlike surface testing, relative humidity (RH) testing can measure beyond the concrete’s surface. This is done with the help of in-situ probes, like our Rapid RH L6 sensors. They’re able to get deeper, more comprehensive readings because they are placed into holes that have been drilled deep into the concrete.
This is important because most of a concrete slab’s moisture is located deep within the slab. So, those who only perform surface testing may get the impression that the concrete is dry when it’s not. But relative humidity testing can give you a fuller, more accurate picture of your concrete’s moisture condition.
Which concrete moisture testing method is better? Let’s compare professional-quality surface meters and RH sensors to find out.
PROS & CONS OF THE C555 CONCRETE MOISTURE METER
The C555 Concrete Moisture Meter is a surface meter. To take a reading, all you have to do is press its scanning plate against the concrete you want to measure.
PROS
The C555: •
• • •
Is quick and easy to use: Get an instant reading with a scan at the push of a button. You don’t have to drill into concrete or wait for equilibration.
Is non-destructive: Because it measures moisture with a pinless scanning plate, you won’t have to worry about dealing with drilling and filling in sensor holes. It is compliant with ASTM F2659 for non-destructive moisture evaluation.
Is versatile: It can be switched to ‘relative mode’ to get relative moisture readings on other building materials like gypsum, brick, and cement.
Is 2x more accurate than leading surface meters: An in- house case study conducted by Wagner Meters confirmed that the C555 is more accurate than competing meters.
CONS
The C555: • Only captures surface readings: Unlike the Rapid RH L6, the C555 only reads moisture on the surface, so it doesn’t account for moisture hidden deep within the slab.
• Has limited documentation capabilities compared to the Rapid RH: The C555 doesn’t store moisture data, and doesn’t have an app like the Rapid RH L6.
PROS & CONS OF RELATIVE HUMIDITY TESTING WITH RAPID RH L6 SENSORS
The Rapid RH L6 sensors are relative humidity probes. To use them, you must drill a hole into the concrete, clean the hole,
Rapid RH L6 measures deep into the concrete to get a fuller picture of its moisture condition.
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www.tomorrowscontractfloors.co.uk
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