Measuring Moisture Vapor Emission Rate of Concrete Subfloor Using Anhydrous Calcium Chloride

Use this test method to obtain a quantitative value indicating the rate of moisture vapor emission from the surface of a concrete floor and whether or not that floor is acceptable to receive resilient floor covering. The moisture vapor emission rate only reflects the condition of the concrete floor at the time of the test. All concrete subfloors emit some amount of moisture in vapor form. Concrete moisture emission is a natural process driven by environmental conditions. All floor coverings are susceptible to failure from excessive moisture vapor emissions. The moisture vapor emitted from a concrete slab is measured in pounds. This measurement is the equivalent weight of water evaporating from 1000 square feet of concrete surface in a 24-hour period. The calcium chloride moisture test has been the industry standard for making this determination and is a practical, well-established and accepted test of dynamic moisture. It will produce quantified results directly applicable to flooring manufacturer's specifications. The results obtained reflect the condition of the concrete floor surface at the time of testing and may not indicate future conditions.