Rapid RH Testing for Concrete Floors Webinar Video Excerpts

Below are excerpts from a presentation by Howard Kanare, “Measuring Relative Humidity in Concrete Slabs.” Kanare speaks on breakthroughs in concrete moisture measurement methods.

The complete presentation is available by invitation only to closed groups. To learn more, see the free concrete moisture webinar, email RapidRH@wagnermeters.com, or call 800-634-9961.

Also included are segments by Ron Smith of Wagner Meters discussing the advantages of in situ testing and preparing you for questions in the field. These training videos will prepare you for the Rapid RH^® Certification test.

After viewing the videos, you can purchase your Rapid RH Exam & Course Certificate of Completion.

Presenters

Howard Kanare
Technical Director, Koster American Corporation

Kanare was the Senior Principal Scientist for the Portland Cement Association’s laboratory (CTLGroup). He is a leading authority on concrete slab moisture and related floor covering failures, and is the chairman and author of ASTM F2170.

Ron Smith
Sales Manager, Wagner Meters

Ron has an extensive technical background. In previous positions, he has served as a regional sales manager, product and projects manager, and sales manager with manufacturers involved with measurement instrumentation used by water/wastewater and power utilities, national testing laboratories, forest products companies, and the flooring industry.

Relative Humidity (RH) Training Videos

Video 1: RH Testing for Concrete Floors

Ron Smith introduces the main speaker and outlines this webinar. Moisture is always an issue in concrete slabs.

2009 Copyrighted material by Wagner Meters. All rights reserved.

Video 2: RH Testing for Concrete Floors, by Howard Kanare

After more than 20 years of field experience seeing the issues addressed in these segments, Kanare developed a stay-in-place RH probe to mitigate them. He starts by discussing how moisture is always an issue in concrete slabs.

2009 Copyrighted material by CTLGroup. All rights reserved. Used with permission by Wagner Meters

Video 3: Moisture Is Always an Issue in Concrete Slabs

Finding the true moisture condition in a slab matters, and Kanare discusses the considerations involved. RH measured in the middle of the floor system is the best predictor of floor covering and adhesive system performance.

2009 Copyrighted material by CTLGroup. All rights reserved. Used with permission by Wagner Meters

Video 4: Calcium Chloride Shown to Give False Readings, Part 1

Calcium chloride (CaCl) testing has never had a strong scientific basis. It has been shown to provide both false positive and false negative results. Kanare discusses the history of CaCl testing and the flaws of the method.

2009 Copyrighted material by CTLGroup. All rights reserved. Used with permission by Wagner Meters

Video 5: Calcium Chloride Shown to Give False Readings, Part 2

Extensive testing has shown CaCl testing to be unreliable, and there is no strong correlation between CaCl results and in situ RH results. Kanare sums up the problems with the ASTM F1869 calcium chloride test method.

2009 Copyrighted material by CTLGroup. All rights reserved. Used with permission by Wagner Meters

Video 6: Problems with Moisture Meters

At best, hand-held concrete moisture meters are designed as survey tools. Since they cannot measure much more than 0.75 inch below the surface, and can be affected by other variables in the concrete, they cannot give an accurate picture of the moisture condition deeper in the slab.

2009 Copyrighted material by CTLGroup. All rights reserved. Used with permission by Wagner Meters

Video 7: Problems with the Hood Method

Initially adopted in Europe, the hood method for testing surface RH was later accepted in the USA. Its sensitivity to varying concrete conditions and the time needed to yield accurate results make it impractical in many ways.

2009 Copyrighted material by CTLGroup. All rights reserved. Used with permission by Wagner Meters

Video 8: RH as a Test Method

Kanare shows why measuring RH at the correct slab depth reveals the future moisture condition of the slab’s surface after a floor covering has been installed.

2009 Copyrighted material by CTLGroup. All rights reserved. Used with permission by Wagner Meters

Video 9: Depth-Specific Measurement with the Rapid RH

Smith discusses why depth-specific measurement matters, and how the Rapid RH obtains depth-specific RH readings.

2009 Copyrighted material by Wagner Meters. All rights reserved.

Video 10: RH Compared with Other Methods

With an accurate, proven testing method, there is no need to run a second method such as CaCl.

2009 Copyrighted material by CTLGroup. All rights reserved. Used with permission by Wagner Meters

Video 11: How Quickly RH Gives Results

RH probes give an accurate answer in a relatively short time. ASTM F2170 now authorizes official readings after 24 hours of equilibration. See RH testing now faster than ever for the study behind the change.

2009 Copyrighted material by CTLGroup. All rights reserved. Used with permission by Wagner Meters

Video 12: Leapfrogging Problems with Reusable Probes

Kanare demonstrates how reusable probes must re-equilibrate when moved from hole to hole.

2009 Copyrighted material by CTLGroup. All rights reserved. Used with permission by Wagner Meters

Video 13: How the Rapid RH Addresses Leapfrogging

Patented, stay-in-place technology allows the Rapid RH Smart Sensor to equilibrate in place rather than being moved between holes.

2009 Copyrighted material by Wagner Meters. All rights reserved.

Video 14: Recalibration Issues with Reusable Probes

ASTM F2170 requires reusable probes to have their calibration checked on a regular basis. Kanare demonstrates the process and what to do when recalibration is needed, which stay-in-place probes do not require.

2009 Copyrighted material by CTLGroup. All rights reserved. Used with permission by Wagner Meters

Video 15: How the Rapid RH Addresses Recalibration

Rapid RH Smart Sensors come from the factory calibrated and do not need to be recalibrated like reusable probes.

2009 Copyrighted material by Wagner Meters. All rights reserved.

Video 16: Best Locations to Place RH Tests

Kanare discusses strategic points for placing RH probes, both to meet ASTM F2170 and to monitor problem areas.

2009 Copyrighted material by CTLGroup. All rights reserved. Used with permission by Wagner Meters

Video 17: Why You Can Trust RH Probes

A floor covering system sees RH, not vapor emission, at the interface with the concrete slab. For that reason, testing a slab’s internal RH is the most useful method for determining its moisture condition as it relates to floor coverings and coatings.

2009 Copyrighted material by CTLGroup. All rights reserved. Used with permission by Wagner Meters

Video 18: Adhesive Moisture Tolerances Vary

Kanare discusses the effect of RH on adhesives and how that helps determine the best product for your slab.

2009 Copyrighted material by CTLGroup. All rights reserved. Used with permission by Wagner Meters

Video 19: In Situ RH Stability

Unlike CaCl testing, which is highly sensitive to changes in ambient room conditions, at-depth RH testing is minimally affected by them.

2009 Copyrighted material by CTLGroup. All rights reserved. Used with permission by Wagner Meters

Video 20: Kanare’s Summary

In situ RH testing is a scientifically valid tool for determining the moisture condition in a concrete slab that will receive a moisture-sensitive floor covering. With an estimated $2.4 billion a year spent on remediating flooring failures, understanding moisture in concrete is what may stand between you and the next one.

2009 Copyrighted material by CTLGroup. All rights reserved. Used with permission by Wagner Meters

Video 21: Real-World Issues in the Field

Preparing you for questions on the job site.

2009 Copyrighted material by Wagner Meters. All rights reserved.

Resources

Recommended resources for more about RH testing.