Wagner Meters Rapid RH 5.0 Moisture Test User manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Test Installation Steps

Step 1: Drill the Hole .................................................................. 4

Step 2: Clean the Hole ............................................................... 5

Step 3: Insert the Smart Sensor ............................................... 7

Step 4: Take Readings .............................................................. 9

Step 5: Remove the Smart Sensors .........................................17

EasyCare CalCheck™ ........................................................................18

Troubleshooting .................................................................................23

ASTM F2170 Best Practices .............................................................24

Use Conditions .................................................................................. 26

Wagner Meters Limited Warranty ...................................................... 27

T

he Rapid RH

®

moisture testing system should be used on any project where moisture-sensitive floor coverings or coatings are to be applied over concrete slabs. Owners, general contractors, flooring contractors/ installers and testing companies need to be sure the tests they perform are accurate, repeatable and available to all who need to know the current moisture condition of concrete slabs.

R

apid RH

®

significantly improves your project team’s ability to instantly test and/ or monitor the drying progress of a concrete slab without adding substantial cost to the project. The Rapid RH

®

enables you to take fast, accurate periodic readings that fully comply with industry standards. The Rapid

RH

®

Smart Sensors are factory-calibrated and use CMOSens

®

technology to ensure the sensor’s accuracy and fast equilibration.

2

Step 1: Drill the Hole Step 2: Clean the Hole

Correct hole depth and hole diameter are important in complying with the ASTM F2170 standard (see ASTM F2170 Best Practices section at the end of this manual). For easy installation of a Smart Sensor, a uniformly round hole is also important. Drill a hole in the concrete slab to the required depth using a rotary-hammer drill and a ¾”-diameter masonry drill bit. Per the ASTM F2170 standard, drill the hole to a depth equaling 40% of the slab’s thickness for slabs that are drying from one side, or 20% depth for a slab drying from two sides. For proper Rapid RH

®

5.0 installation, be sure to position the drill perpendicular (90˚) to the surface being tested.

TIP: If you do not have a depth-gauge for your drill, mark or tape-off your drill bit to the correct depth setting.

Attach the vacuum attachment to the straight extension of a shop vacuum cleaner hose* and thoroughly vacuum up the dust in and around the hole.

Next, insert the wire bristle brush into the hole. Turn the brush several times to loosen pulverized concrete from the walls of the hole. Vacuum again. Repeat this step twice to ensure no loose concrete particles remain in the hole.

IMPORTANT: Correct Diameter and Hole Uniformity: Use the ¾”-diameter section of a black insertion tool as a diameter and uniformity gauge to assure a correct and uniformly round hole. If the ¾”-diameter section of the tool will not go easily into the hole, the drill bit may be out-of-spec (worn out, etc.) or the hole may not have a uniform diameter from top to bottom. Not performing this step may cause damage to a Smart

Sensor when attempting insertion.

*The vacuum attachment may require an adapter depending on vacuum model.

Drill Vacuum

3

Brush Clean

4

Step 2: Clean the Hole (Cont.)

3/4” Diameter Section

TIP: You may want to drill all of the test holes required, inserting as many Smart

Sensors (with sensor brain modules inserted) as you have into holes. If you have more test holes than you have sensor brain modules, you will need to insert a blank base sleeve, with a finned base attached, into the additional holes and cap them off to allow ample equilibration before testing.

5

Step 3: Insert the Smart Sensor

Insert Smart Sensor

Using Insertion Tool

Directly out of the package, the Smart Sensor is 1.6” in length or 40% of a 4” thick slab. ASTM F2170-11, Section 10.2 states: “Slab drying from top only (Example: slab on ground with vapor retarder below, or slab on metal deck): 40% depth.

Slab drying from top and bottom (Example: elevated structural slab not in metal deck): 20% depth”. Each Smart Sensor pack includes a number of short (0.4”) extensions that can be inserted into the Smart Sensor barrel to enable use in thicker slabs. Adding one extension increases the Smart Sensor barrel length to 2” for testing 5”-thick slabs to the 40% depth.

Keep any unused extensions for future jobs. If needed, you can use additional extensions to increase the length of the sensor barrel for thicker slab applications.

In summary, add one extension insert to a Smart Sensor barrel for every 1” increase in slab thickness over 4” to meet the 40% depth requirement. The extension inserts make the Smart

Sensor’s usage flexible for varying thicknesses of concrete.

If this is the first time you will be using your 5.0 sensors, take a Smart Sensor directly out of the package, and with no extensions installed, insert the Smart Sensor into the hole using the insertion tool with red cap placed atop for ease in

6

Step 3: Insert the Smart Sensor (Cont.)

Step 4: Take Readings

pushing down on the insertion tool. Push down on the insertion tool with cap to insert the Smart Sensor into the hole, “seating” it at the bottom

(review the IMPORTANT

hole diameter and uniformity comment under Step 2). Under no circumstances should you tap or hammer the insertion tool to attempt to insert the sensor. Doing so may cause damage to the Smart Sensor and will void any warranty. At this point, for

1.6” depth holes (40% of 4”), insert a protective cap into the top of the Smart Sensor base sleeve, and push the cap down to the concrete surface. Or, if testing in thicker slabs, assemble the proper number of extensions, and with the protective cap inserted into the topmost extension, push down the extensions and cap into the hole to the concrete surface, until fully seated on the Smart Sensor, completing the installation.

Remember: Correct depth of the hole is critical to adhere to the ASTM F2170 test method. See the ASTM F2170 Best Practices section at the end of this manual.

Caution: NEVER use your reader device (either the Smart Reader or the Easy

Reader) to install the Smart Sensor.

The standard Rapid RH

®

Easy Reader (with LCD display), the Rapid RH

®

Bluetooth

®

Reader (in conjunction with the

Rapid RH

®

DataMaster™ handheld unit), or the Rapid RH

®

Bluetooth

®

Smart Reader (in conjunction with the CalMaster application available for Apple and Android devices) can be used.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Rapid RH

®

5.0 version allows for reuse of the 5.0 Smart Sensors from job to job. Using the standard Easy

Reader or the Bluetooth

®

Smart Reader (in conjunction with the

CalMaster application), you can obtain readings, move sensors from one test hole to another, and manually document and provide your own F2170-compliant reports (Rapid RH kits come with location grid documents and report templates to make it easy to manually document your testing. Additional copies can be obtained at rapidrh.com).

®

sensor packs and

Using the Bluetooth

®

Reader and DataMaster™ combination, you have the ability on a job to store each sensor’s readings in the

DataMaster™ for later uploading to Wagner’s f2170reports.com website for more automated and easier generating of compliant reports. If you are using the Bluetooth

®

Reader and DataMaster™ combination, you cannot use a Smart Sensor in two different

7

Insert Smart Sensor Using Red Cap

Easy Reader inserted into a

Smart Sensor

8

Step 4: Take Readings (Cont.)

locations (“leapfrogging”) for a particular job, but you can of course use the same sensor on a later job, after deleting any previous job that used that sensor.

“Leapfrogging” of a sensor from location to location on a job can be time-consuming, and you are encouraged to have enough 5.0 Smart Sensors to cover the quantity of test holes required for your largest jobs. If you have a very large project requiring far more 5.0 sensors than you have, consider using the Rapid RH

®

4.0 single-use sensors.

When ready to take readings, remove the protective cap from the Smart Sensor, and ensure no dust or debris are inside. NOTE: DO NOT vacuum out the Smart Sensor, as this may inadvertently extract the sensor brain module out of the base sleeve. It is preferred that you use a bulb-type suction device.

Regardless of the type of reader you are using, insert firmly until it comes fully into contact with the bottom of the Smart Sensor:

• If using the Easy Reader, hold it in place until the first relative humidity reading appears (about three seconds) on the LCD display, and then immediately remove the reader.

• Once the Easy Reader is removed from the Smart Sensor, the relative humidity and temperature values will continue to toggle back and forth on the display for approximately 5 minutes or until the Easy Reader is reinserted into another Smart

Sensor. NOTE: During the toggling of the readings, when the cursor is next to the

%RH symbol, the value shown is the in-hole relative humidity reading; when the

9

cursor is next to the °F or °C symbol*, the value shown is the in-hole temperature.

• After removing the Easy Reader from a Smart Sensor, wait at least 5 seconds before inserting the Easy Reader into another Smart Sensor. Replace the reader’s plastic end caps when not in use.

*Rapid RH

®

Easy Readers that display temperature in Celsius can be identified by their blue labels and blue plastic protective caps.

Record readings on report form included with Smart Sensors

10

Step 4: Take Readings (Cont.)

DataMaster™

Bluetooth

®

Smart Reader

• If using the Bluetooth

®

Reader with the

Rapid RH

®

DataMaster

™

handheld device, hold the Bluetooth

®

Reader in place for approximately 3 seconds, or until the readingacquired screen appears, then immediately remove the reader.

• If using the Bluetooth

®

Smart Reader with the CalMaster app, the in-hole and ambient relative humidity and temperature readings will appear on the screen of your

Apple or Android device within approximately two seconds when running the CalMaster application. Immediately remove the Bluetooth

®

Smart Reader.

NOTE: The CalMaster app can be downloaded

from Google Play or iTunes.

The Rapid RH

®

Smart Sensor’s patented design equilibrates (acclimates) faster than any other concrete relative humidity sensing device. Project scheduling decisions regarding the slab can usually be made one hour after installation. Just remember to follow the

ASTM F2170 procedures pertaining to minimum equilibration time for correct and required reporting of the test results.

After the initial test hole equilibration time has been reached per ASTM F2170 requirements, subsequent readings from a Smart Sensor in the same test hole can be taken immediately, assuming the sensor has remained in that test hole. On a job, if a Smart Sensor is moved and inserted into another fully-equilibrated (72 hours minimum) test hole with the base sleeve and finned-base section already installed with protective cap, after one hour you can begin to periodically (every 15 minutes or so) take readings, until you have assurance that the Smart Sensor has fully equilibrated, and is providing stable relative humidity and temperature values.

If future additional testing is needed on any test hole, place the protective cap back into the Smart Sensor sleeve.

NOTE: The inexpensive, short finned-base section remains in the hole, and therefore is not

recovered for future testing of other holes. Additional finned-base sections are included with every 5.0 sensor pack, and can be purchased separately from Wagner.

11 12

Step 4: Take Readings (Cont.)

If using the standard Easy Reader, or the Bluetooth

®

Smart Reader with the CalMaster app, manually record readings on the enclosed report form in the spaces provided for information required by ASTM F2170, including the date, time, %RH and temperature.

The grid at the bottom of the report form can be used to record test-hole locations.

Extra copies of the report form and an ASTM F2170 checklist can be downloaded at rapidrh.com. You can also visit rhspec.com to visit links to various finished flooring manufacturers’ installation guides and their RH thresholds. For any additional questions related to what RH levels are appropriate, please contact the manufacturer of the product to be applied to the concrete slab.

13

CalMaster App &

Bluetooth

®

Smart

If using the Bluetooth

®

Reader with the Rapid RH

®

DataMaster

™

handheld device, as mentioned earlier, sensors’ readings will be stored in the DataMaster

™

for later uploading to the f2170reports.com website.

REMINDER: You cannot use the same serial number sensor on different test holes on the same job, or for different jobs simultaneously when using the DataMaster

™

(refer to the

IMPORTANT NOTE early in the

Step 4: Taking Readings section above).

AN IMPORTANT COMMENT ON SENSOR SERIAL NUMBERS:

Whether it is a 5.0 (reusable) or 4.0 (single-use) device, every Rapid RH

®

Smart Sensor has a barcode serial number label on the outside of the Smart Sensor base sleeve when you first pull it out of the factory packaging. ASTM F2170 documentation has stipulations for documenting sensor serial numbers for moisture testing on your jobs, so keeping track of sensor serial numbers is important for report documentation and verification of calibration. With your 5.0 reusable sensor packages, additional blank serial number labels are included if an original barcode serial number label or original base sleeve gets damaged.

NOTE: Fresh out of the factory packaging, a 5.0 Smart Sensor consists of three discrete parts: 1. base sleeve (with barcode serial number); 2. a finned-base section, and; 3. the actual sensor brain module that has already been inserted at the factory into the base sleeve, and therefore associated with that serial number label on its original base sleeve. It is recommended that you keep the brain module with its original

14

Step 4: Take Readings (Cont.)

Step 5: Remove the Smart Sensors

base sleeve. The actual sensor brain modules can be removed from their original base sleeves (sleeve gets damaged from use, etc.), but attempt to keep the original base sleeve number with its original sensor brain module; whether it’s a replacement base sleeve or not. The key point is keeping track of your serial numbers. If you do happen to lose this serial number connection between a sensor brain module and the original base sleeve, contact Wagner for assistance.

Base sleeve with sensor brain module (not shown) inserted

Sleeve Extension

NOTE: You can remove a sensor brain module out of its base sleeve by gently pushing on the

sensor brain module from the bottom, which will loosen it from the base sleeve, allowing you to drop it through the base sleeve into your hand.

15

Finned-base Protective Cap

The Rapid RH

®

5.0 system was primarily and intelligently designed to allow the re-use of the Smart Sensors. Special PolyTetraFluoroEthylene (PTFE) filtering of the sensors and EasyCare CalCheck™ salt solution chambers are two of the key points that allow for re-use (checking calibration and caring for these sensors is discussed later in the manual). This particular section is dedicated to correct procedures for extracting a

Smart Sensor for later re-use, on the same job, or on another job.

Using the convenient hooked extraction tool, you will be extracting the base sleeve and sensor brain module (as mentioned earlier, the lower finned-base is used once, and stays in the hole). To extract the base sleeve with sensor brain module, put the hooked extraction tool down into the base sleeve, seat the hook into the inside of the sleeve and pull up quickly and firmly.

If you will be doing future testing of this hole, insert a blank base sleeve and any extensions you may have used into the hole and cap it off with one of the protective caps.

On the other hand, if future readings are no longer needed, skim-coat the hole with a cementitious patching compound compatible with the flooring manufacturer’s installation instructions.

Once you have extracted the base sleeve with the attached sensor brain module, you can move it to another test hole (refer to Step 4: Taking Readings in the previous section).

16

EasyCare CalCheck™

The revolutionary and patent-pending EasyCare CalCheck™ saturated salt solution calibration references were designed to make it easy to meet the ASTM F2170 requirement for verifying calibration of your Rapid RH

®

5.0 Smart Sensors. Additionally, because each Smart Sensor comes with its own EasyCare CalCheck™, each sensor can be attached to its own EasyCare CalCheck™ for storage in the optimum relative humidity environment for this type of RH sensor technology.

17

EasyCare CalCheck™

™

Lower Chamber Upper Chamber

Each EasyCare CalCheck™ is comprised of a top and bottom chamber, and a rubber cap. The top chamber is the actual saturated salt solution chamber with a white

PTFE filter on top; you will see traces of a sodium bromide salt tablet in this upper chamber. The bottom chamber is refillable.* When a Smart Sensor - with inserted sensor brain module - is attached to the top section of the EasyCare CalCheck™ , a tightly-sealed, 60% relative humidity environment is created between the top of the

EasyCare CalCheck™ and the bottom of the actual Smart sensor. The patent-pending

EasyCare CalCheck™ is designed specifically for easy, convenient and safe storage of the Smart Sensor brain module to protect it from possible damage from a high humidity environment or from chemical contaminants, etc.).This helps ensure that the

Smart Sensor will stay within the calibration tolerance of +/- 2% as required by ASTM

F2170.

IMPORTANT: Always keep the red rubber caps on the top sections of the EasyCare

CalChecks™ when they are not being used for checking sensor calibration or when a

Smart Sensor is not being stored on top.

STORING YOUR SENSORS: To correctly store a sensor on its EasyCare CalCheck™, first make sure there is water in the upper chamber of the EasyCare CalCheck™; if not, you will need to recharge it (refer to the

Rapid RH

®

5.0 Best Practices and Charging

of EasyCare CalCheck™ document that came with your 5.0 kit). Next, remove the red

*An EasyCare CalCheck™ chamber can be recharged when necessary with ordinary potable water, rather than having to use distilled water. Filling/recharging is detailed in

Rapid RH

Charging of EasyCare CalChecks™ document that came with your 5.0 kit.

® 5.0 Best Practices and

18

EasyCare CalCheck™ (Cont.)

Storage tray for

EasyCare CalCheck™ rubber cap from the EasyCare CalCheck™, then firmly push a base sleeve (with the actual sensor brain module already inserted) bottom-side to the EasyCare CalCheck™, onto the top of the EasyCare CalCheck™, making sure the base sleeve is fully seated

(NOTE: insert the black plastic insertion tool into the Smart Sensor to assure

correct seating of sensor brain module).

Keep your sensors on their EasyCare

CalChecks™ when the sensors are not in use. A convenient storage tray for the Smart

Sensors with EasyCare CalChecks™ comes with 5.0 version kits. Be sure to keep your EasyCare CalChecks™ upright in a vertical position.

CHECKING THE CALIBRATION OF YOUR SENSORS: The EasyCare CalCheck™ is also used to verify calibration of your Rapid RH

®

5.0 Smart Sensors. The ASTM

F2170 test standard calls for checking sensor (probe) calibration 30 days before use.

It is recommended that you plan your routine calibration checks such that you always have verified sensors before you go on a job to do testing.

NOTE: For best precision in this calibration-check process, it is highly recommended that you use the Bluetooth

®

Smart Reader/CalMaster app combination to check calibration. Manual checks can be done with the Easy Reader or Bluetooth

®

Reader/

DataMaster™ combination, but some manual correction may be necessary (refer to

Rapid RH

®

5.0 Best Practices and Charging of EasyCare CalChecks™ document).

Regardless of what particular reader device you use, with a base sleeve and sensor brain module combination already installed on top of the EasyCare CalCheck™

(see

STORING YOUR SENSORS section above), having been on the EasyCare

CalCheck™ for at least a few hours, insert the reader firmly into the Smart Sensor.

If using the Bluetooth

®

Smart Reader/CalMaster app combination, the Smart Sensor

CalMaster app

19 20

EasyCare CalCheck™ (Cont.)

data will show on your Apple or Android device while running the CalMaster app.

If a message comes up on the CalMaster app indicating that a Smart Sensor is not within calibration, or a manual check against ASTM

E104 tables indicates the sensor is not within calibration, do not be immediately alarmed, as it is probably, in most cases, that the sensor is

OK, but that the EasyCare CalChecks™ and/or sensor is just not currently equilibrated and so a few more hours of time should be allowed to pass to allow for this. As a reminder, it is highly recommended that you review the

Rapid RH

®

5.0 Best Practices and Charging of EasyCare

CalChecks™ document.

Calibration check data for your Smart Sensors is stored in the CalMaster app.

Additionally, to ensure compliance with ASTM

F2170, send Smart Sensors to Wagner after one year of use for recertification. Recertification vouchers can be purchased at rapidrh.com.

21

Troubleshooting

Easy Reader LCD display shows “ER”: The

Rapid RH

®

Easy Reader may not be properly communicating with the Smart Sensor for the following reasons:

1. The Easy Reader was not in contact with the Smart Sensor long enough. Hold the

Easy Reader in the Smart Sensor until the first relative humidity reading appears on the screen, then remove.

2. Debris is blocking proper contact. Check the Smart Sensor housing for any debris.

Replace the batteries: The Easy Reader comes with two AAAA alkaline batteries. If batteries are low, the display will read “LO”.

Replace batteries immediately. To replace the batteries, open up the battery cover by removing the one battery cover screw with a jeweler’s Phillips screwdriver.

DO NOT OPEN

UP THE FULL BODY OF THE EASY READER

AT ANY TIME.

22

ASTM F2170 Best Practices

23

New concrete slabs should be allowed to cure and dry for as long as possible before performing any type of moisture testing. Even though some methods state to wait at least 28 days after a concrete pour before setting up test instruments, it is often prudent to wait much longer.* Minimizing the amount of time between initiating any moisture testing on a slab and obtaining the final results per testing standards increases the chance that the test results will more accurately indicate the condition of the concrete around the test location.

standards, then it is good practice to set a few new tests to confirm and validate what the older test locations are currently indicating.

Additionally, it is good practice to let the sensors lie on the slab for about 10 minutes or so prior to installation, until they reach temperature equilibrium with the slab to prevent any dew point issues that might cause condensation on or around the sensor (

NOTE:

Wagner has not heard of any reports where this has actually been an issue, but it is still a best use practice). For more information on relative humidity in concrete floors and moisture testing, go to www.cement.org to order the book “Concrete Floors and

Moisture” by Howard Kanare.

On all slabs (new and old), it is recommended to do test sampling, prior to complete testing, according to the

ASTM F2170 standard’s requirement, in regards to the number of test sites. It is good practice to initially only set up a portion of the test locations ultimately required and use those few locations as a means to indicate when the rest of the tests should be performed. If extended periods of time have elapsed between initially setting up test locations and obtaining the final results per testing

*The drying rate of standard Portland cement-based concrete slabs has been studied extensively. For slabs drying from one side, a very general rule-of-thumb as a drying rate is approximately 30 days of drying time for each inch of thickness of the slab for the relative humidity level to reach somewhere in the 85%-

90% range.

This is only a very rough approximate guideline, and drying times can, and often are,

much longer if good drying conditions (closed-in space, environmental controls on, etc.) are not present.

Additionally, other factors such as the densifying of a slab surface from heavy power-troweling, additional water added to the concrete at time of pour, rain or construction water sitting on a slab, etc., can drastically affect the drying time of a concrete slab.

24

Use Conditions Wagner Meters Limited Warranty

The Rapid RH

®

5.0 is intended for interior use only. It is imperative that the interior application area be protected from weather elements such as rain and snow to prevent water intrusion. The Rapid RH

®

5.0 is not to be used in concrete less than 28 days old (see ASTM F2170 Best Practices section at the end of this manual). Follow ASTM

F2170, Standard Test Method for Determining Relative Humidity in Concrete Floor

Slabs using in situ Probes

1

.

NIST

2

traceable accuracy:

Readings at +/- 1.8% RH from 10% to 90%

Readings at +/- 3% RH from 90% to 95%

Avoid severe cold or hot storage environments (i.e. vehicles)

1

Available from ASTM International, P.O. Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, www.astm.org

2

National Institute of Standards and Technology

25

Wagner Meters warrants the Rapid RH and conditions:

®

5.0 Smart Sensor and Rapid RH

®

Easy Reader products against defects in material and workmanship for one (1) year from the date of purchase, subject to the following terms

Wagner Meters’ liability under this warranty shall be limited, at Wagner Meters’ option, to the repair or replacement of products or any part thereof, which are demonstrated to be defective. To exercise this warranty, customer must send product back with a copy of the proof of purchase date, the reason for return and, if

Wagner determines it is under warranty, Wagner will replace your product. This limited warranty does not apply if the product has been damaged by accident, negligent handling, misuse, alteration, damage during shipment or improper service. Wagner Meters shall in no event be liable for any breach of warranty or defect in this product, which exceeds the amount of purchase price of the product.

Relative humidity is one of many factors necessary for construction decisions. Wagner Meters does not assume responsibility for any particular construction decision based on the readings of this instrument and does not guarantee any specific construction results.

The method of use of this instrument and the interpretation of the readings are beyond the control of the manufacturer. Wagner Meters cannot accept responsibility for any loss, consequential or otherwise, resulting from the use of the Rapid RH

®

5.0 and its accessories.

The Rapid RH

®

5.0 Smart Sensor should be used before the specified expiration date included in the certificate of calibration. If the Smart Reader/Easy Reader does not appear to function properly for any reason, contact

Wagner Meters for remedy.

This warranty is in lieu of all other warranties, whether oral or written, express or implied. Any implied warranties, including implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, are

excluded. If this product is not in good working order as warranted above, the customer’s sole remedy shall be repair or replacement as provided above.

This warranty is personal to the customer purchasing the product from Wagner Meters or from its authorized distributors and is not transferable.

The agents and employees of Wagner Meters are not authorized to make modifications of this warranty or additional warranties binding on Wagner Meters. Accordingly, additional statements, whether oral or written, except written statements from an officer of Wagner Meters do not constitute warranties and should not be relied upon by the customer.

26

The Moisture Measurement Leader

For more information on relative humidity testing and to order online go to

www.RapidRH.com

Wagner Meters

326 Pine Grove Road

Rogue River, OR 97537

(800) 634-9961

The RAPID RH

®

5.0 is registered under U.S. Patent 7231815 & 8047056. Additional patents pending.

©Wagner Meters. 2015

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. The information in this document is subject to change without notice.

501502MMP 500-RRP50-001 rev A