Solutions for Floor Moisture Control - Home | American Sports

Brought to you by

Koster Waterproofing Systems

The original flooring moisture solution

Solutions for Floor Moisture Control


Koster Waterproofing Systems is a Registered Provider with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System (AIACES). Credit earned on completion of this program will be reported to AIA/CES Records for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for non-AIA members are available on request.

This program is registered with the AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.

This presentation is protected by US and International copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, display, or use of the presentation without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Copyright© 2009 Koester American Corporation.

Program development by SpecGuy.

2 Solutions for Floor Moisture Control

Learning Objectives


Participants in this education program will be able to:

• Incorporate concrete slab moisture control in an overall sustainable design strategy

• Specify moisture control meeting indoor environmental quality requirements

• Avoid moisture-related flooring failures by applying design best practices

• Specify contractor practices for concrete slab moisture control

• Select appropriate products for concrete slab moisture mitigation

Solutions for Floor Moisture Control 3


Concrete floor slabs: What they do

• Structure: Support floor loads

• Enclosure: Protect against water and water vapor infiltration

• Interior Design: Present largest and most visible component of interior space


Floor Moisture Control and Sustainable Design

Incorporate concrete slab moisture control in an overall sustainable design strategy

• Improve indoor environmental quality

• Extend material life and eliminate material failures from uncontrolled moisture

• Eliminate mold formation

• Eliminate sanitation and infection control problems

• Reduce latent dehumidification load on HVAC systems


Floor Moisture Control and Sustainable Design

Sustainable products for slab treatment and moisture mitigation

• Curing compounds

• Sealers

• Liquid densifier/hardeners

• Water vapor control treatments


Floor Moisture Control and LEED

Maintain indoor air quality and sanitation

• Sustainable products for slab treatment and moisture mitigation

• LEED IEQ Credit: Low-Emitting Materials



Maintain indoor air quality and sanitation

• Floor moisture control in contractor's IAQ plan

• LEED IEQ Credit: Construction IAQ Management During Construction



Reduce energy operating expenses

• Reduced latent dehumidification loads

• LEED EA Credit: Optimize Energy Performance


Design best practices

Avoid moisture-related flooring failures by applying design and construction best practices

• Waterproofing membranes

• Vapor retarder sheets


Design best practices


• Concrete mix design


Construction best practices


• Concrete placement

• Concrete curing

• Construction moisture management


Moisture: What, where, and how

Building slabs vulnerable to moisture problems

• Building sites with high water tables

• New and old concrete slabs

• On-grade and below-grade concrete slabs

• Above-grade concrete slabs on metal pans



Primary sources of moisture

• Water of Hydration

•Minimum mix water needed to cause chemical reaction in cement

• Expressed as a water/cement ratio

• Water of Convenience

• Additional mix water needed for concrete placement



Other sources of moisture

• Outside water: Ground water, surface water, precipitation

• Granular fill: Rain water absorbed in slab substrate

• ACI recommends against use of a "blotter" course under slab

• Plumbing failures



Moisture problems you may not see

• Water = Water under pressure (hydrostatic)

• Slab surface is wet

• Water Vapor = Water diffusing as a gas

• Slab surface is dry



Moisture moves in the form of water vapor – a gas

• From areas with high vapor pressure

• To areas of low vapor pressure

• Pathways for gas are capillaries in concrete

• Capillaries are formed during concrete hydration


Moisture, alkalinity, and flooring failure

Why floor slab moisture problems occur

• Lack of under-slab waterproofing or vapor retarder

• Concrete designed with excess mix water

• Concrete placed with site-added water

• Inadequate curing time allowed

• Lack of HVAC control



What do moisture problems look like?

• Invisible on un-sealed concrete floors

• Bubbling sheet goods

• Warping wood floors

• Blistering coatings

• Telegraphing concrete joints

• Curling and cracking VCT

• Re-emulsifying adhesive

• Failing adhesive bond

• Leaching adhesive through product joints

• Odor from mold and mildew



Vinyl tile and sheet flooring

• Adhesives intolerant of alkalinity

• Fail at levels above 10 (pH scale-ASTM 1308) causing adhesive failure and floor blistering

• Alkalinity is the true culprit in resilient flooring failures!



Rubber flooring

• Most sensitive of flooring systems

• Fails rapidly at moisture levels above 3 pounds and pH of 10



Wood flooring

• Reacts rapidly to moisture above 1 - 1½ pounds

• Warping and distorting

• Adhesive bond destroyed at +10 pH


Moisture and concrete slabs

What is happening under the flooring?

• Moisture from ground and concrete moves via capillary action and vapor pressure

• Powerful chemical agents dissolved from concrete

• Degrade adhesive and applied finishes


What is happening under the flooring? Sodium Hydroxide

Potassium Hydroxide

Calcium Hydroxide

Vapor Barrier

Cement Cap

Concrete

Water/H2O Gas

Water/H2O Gas

Moisture and concrete slabs Sodium Hydroxide

Potassium Hydroxide

Calcium Hydroxide

Adhesive

Vapor Barrier

Cement Cap

Concrete

Water/H2O Gas

Water/H2O Gas


Moisture and concrete slabs Sodium Hydroxide

Potassium Hydroxide

Calcium Hydroxide

Adhesive

Vapor Barrier

Cement Cap

Concrete

Water + dissolved metal ions

Water/H2O Gas

Flooring




• Osmotic action increases alkalinity

• Alkaline chemicals attack adhesives

Sodium Hydroxide

Potassium Hydroxide

Calcium Hydroxide



• Osmotic action increases alkalinity

• Alkaline chemicals attack adhesives

• Chemical attack + physical pressure >500 psi damage flooring

Sodium Hydroxide

Potassium Hydroxide

Calcium Hydroxide

Testing for moisture and alkalinity

What to do about moisture: Specifying testing



What to do about moisture: Specifying testing



Testing for moisture: ASTM F 1869

• Vapor barrier under slab

• Take test over clean, prepped floor

• No curing compounds

• Temperature and humidity = normal building operation



Some manufacturers: 5 pound vapor threshold

Most manufacturers: 3 pound vapor threshold

• Old "cutback" adhesives and asbestos tiles were "breathable" and not effected by moisture

• General standards in place since 1960s

• Established failure mode baseline for moisture-intolerant resilient flooring

• Lower VOC adhesives and asbestos-free flooring more sensitive

• Alkalinity not then a consideration



Testing for moisture: ASTM F 2170

• Drill specified hole to 40% of slab depth



Testing for alkalinity


Solving excess moisture problems

We've got a fast-track job and we've got high moisture in the slab and can't install the flooring! Now what?



Sometimes temporary dehumidification is enough.


Selecting moisture mitigation products

Easier solutions: Moisture mitigation products

• Polymer / Cement Mix

• Penetrating Silicates

• Latex / Water Based Polymer

• Multi-Level Systems

• Epoxy Coatings



Considerations in selecting mitigation products

• Adhesion to concrete

• Resistance to vapor pressure

• Resistance to alkalinity

• Resistance to hydrostatic pressure

• Reliability

• Safety of materials

• Time required for installation and cure



Polymer / Cement Mix

• Multiple coats

• Labor intensive application

• Maximum vapor levels around 8 pounds

• Performance good on floors below 6 pounds



Penetrating Silicates

• Sodium; Potassium Sodium-Potassium and Lithium

• No ASTM E 96 or D 1308 testing

• Membrane is breathable

• Can be used as a bond breaker for tilt-up construction

• Performance: Marginal at best



Latex / Water Based Polymer

• Low cost primer-type adhesion enhancer

• No ASTM E-96 or ASTM D-1308 testing

• Alkaline sensitive: pH 10 maximum

• Vapor reduction capabilities are poor

• Performance: Not suitable for mitigation



Multi-Level Systems

• Labor intensive

• Expensive at higher vapor levels

• Warranty varies with selected system

• Some testing data available

• Maximum application pH 12.5

• Performance: Good relative to vapor and pH



Epoxy Coatings

• Single-coat or two-coat systems

• Established testing data

• Excellent vapor reduction characteristics

• Warranty coverage varies with material and number of coats

• Systems vary: Some require sand casting

• Some systems have high odor levels


Applying moisture mitigation products

Proper preparation is essential for mitigation success



Proper preparation is essential for mitigation success


The goal: Beautiful spaces with beautiful floors


Summary slide

Design: Moisture protection elements and mix design

Construction: Protect from water and contaminants

Testing: Know the condition of the slab

Mitigation: Select the proper method for conditions

Success: Floors that meet owner's requirements


Learning Objectives


You will now be able to:

• Avoid concrete slab flooring failures by applying design and construction best practices

• Incorporate concrete slab moisture control into an overall sustainable design strategy

• Specify contractor practices for concrete slab moisture control and related IAQ requirements

• Select appropriate products for concrete slab moisture and alkalinity remediation


Brought to you by




This concludes this continuing education program. Thank you for

participating with us today.

Brought to you by




Solutions for Floor Moisture Control - Home | American Sports

Documents

Transcript of Solutions for Floor Moisture Control - Home | American Sports