Concrete Moisture Testing - Updated April 2020

 

Concrete Moisture Testing

 

An accurate Concrete Moisture Test is vital before installation of flooring or impermeable membranes to avoid the development of mould and eventual failure of finishes due to trapped moisture.  Most often reliance is on a single test which can lead to disastrous consequences as no single concrete moisture test reveals everything that should be considered in deciding when floor finishes can be installed or a coating applied.

 

EBS Ltd are independent specialists with more than 33 years of experience in carrying out a range of Non-destructive Testing, Environmental Monitoring for Damp, Moisture & Moulds in Concrete Floors and providing independent and Cost Effective Solutions.

 

Moisture trapped in concrete floors due to a failure in building services such as, plumbing, under floor heating, flooding, fire fighting, failure of or an inadequately installed damp proof membrane or design and construction issues, can lead to disastrous consequences both for the occupants of the building, the building fabric, services, finishes, contents and collections. Common symptoms and failures caused by trapped excess moisture are e.g. blistering and delamination of floor coverings, dampness at the base of walls and skirtings and mould infestation when an impermeable floor covering traps excess moisture in the slab.

 

EBS Ltd are independent consultants in advising and carrying out a Concrete Moisture Test for residual moisture, moisture mapping and moisture profiling with a range of non-destructive tests with the aid of a variety of state of the art electronic moisture meters. 

 

EBS Ltd will do a preliminary test on the exposed floor surfaces with capacitance moisture meters to get an initial appraisal of the moisture levels in the floor screed or concrete finish. If the meter gives readings which are dry no further readings will be required, and the floor can be signed of as dry.

 

However, if damp readings are given it is recommended to carry out further readings after a period of drying, as moisture meters can give false high readings with certain additives in concrete and screeds. 

 

A Concrete Moisture Test is advocated (particularly if no appreciable drop in moisture is found after further drying), using the Hygrometer probe method, in accordance with BS 8201:2011. 

 

This involves inserting a plug in the floor, allowing sufficient time for the entrapped air to reach moisture equilibrium with the screed (allow a period of at least 72h to elapse before taking the first reading). The relative humidity should be below 75% to be acceptable and dry.

 

 

EBS Ltd have successfully completed drying out, Concrete Moisture Test, environmental monitoring and risk assessment for moisture & moulds at the National Library of Scotland; Marlborough House, Hastings; Pier House, West London; Sark Hall and School, new apartments in Greenwich and Addlestone, Luxury Apartments in Mayfair and Shops in Guernsey.

 

Environmental Building Solutions Ltd is often asked to provide a second opinion, where extensive/excessive exposure work has been recommended by others to dry a building. Over 33 years of experience in this field has helped our Clients, Loss Adjusters and Insurers in saving considerable money and unnecessary large scale destruction of building fabric.

 

EBS Ltd are independent and the use of, non-destructive inspection techniques, risk assessment of damp, residual moisture and resulting mould infestation assessment is therefore very popular with insurance companies and private clients.

 

We use state of the art technologies, including thermal imaging, tracer dyes, endoscopy and a range of surface and depth measuring moisture meters, to determine the extent of moisture damage and moisture mapping throughout the affected areas and provide cost effective solutions.  

 

Our in house scientists can examine mould growth on the under floor insulation material to determine the type, extent, toxicity, pathogenicity and level of mould contamination due to the moisture ingress.

 

EBS Ltd, have no vested interest in hiring out drying equipment or carrying out building or remedial works which is why it is recommended you should only employ an independent company such as EBS.  We also have a proven track record of solving tricky building problems by avoiding destructive and exceptionally expensive solutions. 

 

EBS Ltd have been involved with a range of fire and flood damaged buildings, carrying out the concrete moisture test, environmental monitoring, hazardous material testing, moisture monitoring, mould risk assessment and forensic investigations.  

 

Copyright: Environmental Building Solutions Ltd April 2020