Ambient humidity vs. RH

[Rubensgt40]

Don't apologise! The devil's in the details. Plus I've been enjoying your work as a spectator for some time, JD. Thanks for the response.

Perhaps I need to go back to school on the meteorology, but I think I understand these alleged failures in the drier climate, if I'm getting my head around it right.

a) Perhaps installers are taking RH readings (in the cases where they even bother) with a higher slab temperature. When the slab cools to what is, presumably, its normal "operating" temp the RH increases and thus the likelihood of a related failure.

b) Or, in your words "the dry climate slab may need to be at a much lower RH before it reduces its push to rid itself of excess water." because the environment's RH is naturally lower. ("push"= vapour emission). So it is emitting more flooring-unfriendly vapour for a longer period before equillibrium with the surroundings, if you'll excuse my child-like layman's terminology.

Should this mean that the required acceptable RH for our flooring neighbours out west where its drier and hotter, should be lower? Or have I still missed something? This is quite possible, as I am Australian, and we have only just graduated from Paul Hogan to Hugh Jackman as our chief ambassador.

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(10-06-2011 03:43 PM)Ernesto Wrote:  

Quote:A major adhesives manufacturer rep mentioned to me that the highest number of moisture-related flooring failures occurred in a state which is known for its hot, dry climate.

Thats where I live! It's allot like the Australian desert down here. I think he was talking about Arizona...aka arid-zone.

Funnily enough the town I was referring to, Adelaide, is "sister city" to Austin, TX. I grew up in Adelaide, and once applied for a job in Austin. No correlation between these two trivialities, nor with the fact that I totally want to come to Austin for that F1 race!

I'd believe that the South Oz climate is much more like Arizona, though. It's pretty hot and dry. Now I live in the eastern states where we have four seasons in one morning. Ugh.