Rapid RH® Testing for Concrete Floors Webinar Video Excerpts

Last Updated 2009

Below are excerpts from a presentation by leading industry expert, Howard Kanare, called, “Measuring Relative Humidity in Concrete Slabs.” Kanare speaks on the breakthroughs in concrete moisture measurement methods and information that have developed within the last few years.

The complete presentation is available by invitation only to closed groups. To learn more, click here, contact Wagner Meters at RapidRH@wagnermeters.com, or call (800) 634-9961.

Also included are segments by Ron Smith from 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 one of the top experts in the world regarding concrete slab moisture and related floor covering failures. Kanare is also the chairman and author of ASTM F2170.

Ron Smith
Product Applications Specialist, 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, Product Application Specialist at Wagner Meters, introduces our main speaker and outlines this webinar. Moisture is always an issue in concrete slabs.
2009 Copyrighted material by Wagner Meters All rights reserved. www.rapidrh.com

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

As a result of over 20 years of field experience, and seeing the issues addressed in these segments, Kanare developed a stay-in-place RH probe to mitigate all these issues. Kanare starts out 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 slab is important and Howard will discuss the different considerations that must be taken into account. RH, measured in the middle of the floor system not only 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 will discuss the history of CaCl testing and the flaws of this test 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 that CaCl testing is very unreliable. Additionally, there is no strong correlation between CaCl test results and in situ RH test 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, handheld concrete moisture meters are designed to be used as survey tools. Since they cannot measure much more than .75-inch below the surface, and can be affected by other variables in the concrete, these meters 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 recently accepted in the USA. Its sensitivity to varying concrete conditions and amount of time needed to yield accurate results make this method impractical in many ways.
2009 Copyrighted material by CTLGroup. All rights reserved. Used with permission by Wagner Meters

Video 8: RH the Most Useful Test Method

Kanare will show why measuring the RH at the correct slab depth will reveal a true picture of 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: Rapid RH^® – Most Accurate Measurement Device

Smith discusses why depth-specific measurement is crucial, and why the Rapid RH® is the best method to obtain depth-specific RH readings.
2009 Copyrighted material by Wagner Meters All rights reserved. www.rapidrh.com

Video 10: RH: The Most Accurate Method

By using the most accurate and proven testing method, there is no need to use any other test method, such as CaCl.
2009 Copyrighted material by CTLGroup. All rights reserved. Used with permission by Wagner Meters

Video 11: RH Provides Results Faster Than Any Other Method

RH probes can give us an accurate answer in a relatively short amount of time. Although ASTM still requires 72 hours, decisions can be made much sooner.
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: The Rapid RH^® Solves Leapfrogging Problems

Patented, stay-in-place technology allows the Rapid RH^® Smart Sensor to equilibrate faster than any other test method.
2009 Copyrighted material by Wagner Meters All rights reserved. www.rapidrh.com

Video 14: Recalibration Issues with Reusable Probes

ASTM F2170-09 requires reusable probes to go through a tedious process of checking calibration on a regular basis. Kanare will demonstrate the necessity and process of checking calibration as well as what to do when recalibration is needed, something totally unnecessary for stay-in-place probes.
2009 Copyrighted material by CTLGroup. All rights reserved. Used with permission by Wagner Meters

Video 15: Rapid RH® Solves the Problem of Recalibration

The 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 to place RH probes not only to meet ASTM F2170-09 standard, but to help 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 this reason, testing a slab’s internal RH is the most useful method for determining a slab’s moisture condition as it relates to floor coverings/coatings.
2009 Copyrighted material by CTLGroup. All rights reserved. Used with permission by Wagner Meters

Video 18: Adhesives Moisture Tolerances Vary

Kanare discusses the effect of RH on adhesives and how that can help you determine the best product to put on your slab.
2009 Copyrighted material by CTLGroup. All rights reserved. Used with permission by Wagner Meters

Video 19: In Situ RH Stability

As opposed to CaCl testing’s extreme sensitivity to changes in ambient (room) conditions, at-depth RH testing is minimally affected by changes in ambient conditions.
2009 Copyrighted material by CTLGroup. All rights reserved. Used with permission by Wagner Meters

Video 20: Kanare’s Summary

In situ RH testing is clearly the most useful and scientifically valid tool for determining the moisture condition in a concrete slab that will receive a moisture-sensitive floor covering. With over $500 million spent on mitigating flooring failures each year, understanding moisture in concrete and being acquainted with the best tools in the industry is what may stand between you and the next flooring failure.
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 when on the job site.
2009 Copyrighted material by Wagner Meters All rights reserved.

Resources

Recommended resources for more about RH testing.

www.rapidrh.com

Copyrighted material by Wagner Meters © 2009 All rights reserved.