How To Test When A Concrete Floor Is Dry

Relative humidity test using probes astm f 2170 this method involves drilling a hole into a concrete floor and inserting an electronic meter into it or embedding the meter in the concrete before it has cured.

How to test when a concrete floor is dry.

The first step is to absorb any water lurking on the surface of the floor. This means that the process will take longer. Concrete slab floors take up to 90 days to fully cure or harden and dry. When you re finished vacuum the floor thoroughly with a wet dry vacuum or sweep it with a broom.

If flooding occurs and there is water leaking into the sub flooring it is crucial to dry out the subfloor as soon as possible. It also means the room has to be sealed in order to ensure that extra moisture is not introduced. Keep checking the floor with a level as you grind the concrete. 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.

Excess concrete moisture wreaks havoc on your floor covering in some environments moisture vapor seeps up through a slab. This will give you a sense of what it will take to keep the floor dry. The basic concept is simple. The relative humidity of the concrete is then tested over the course of 72 hours.

Dehumidification is one of the processes often used to try to encourage a concrete slab to dry more quickly in order to reach the installation point. Reduce the dew point of the air surrounding the slab so that more of the latent moisture within the slab can evaporate out through the slab surface. Then place a dehumidifier at high settings to pull out any moisture that is still in the air. A dust mask will not give you enough protection.

Grinding and repairing a concrete floor can create concrete dust so be safe and wear a respirator. Remember with no retarder barrier in place there are no guarantees that the concrete will ever dry or even stay dry at a specified critical zone to receive floor coverings. Dry the room and test again optional if moisture appeared on the top side of the plastic dry out the room with a dehumidifier or other method then retest the floor with the plastic squares. This information would also help if it is shared with the end user before drying and or installation of the floor coverings begins.