Updates to AS 1884 and AS 2455
Are you moisture testing your concrete subfloors to the current Australian Standards?
With so many things currently happening in the world, you may have missed the recent 2021 update to AS 1884 Floor coverings—Resilient sheet and tiles—Installation practices.
ATTAR have outlined the significant changes relating to moisture testing below:
- The Relative Humidity (RH) in-situ probe test (in accordance with ASTM F2170) is now the only normative test. The hood test (ASTM F2420) which was previously accepted has been withdrawn and is no longer an accepted test method.
- ASTM F2170 now only requires 24 hours from the time the sensors/sleeves are placed in the test holes, whereas the previous standard required 72 hours for equilibration in the holes.
- ASTM F1869 Anhydrous Calcium Chloride test has been included as an informative test when you cannot drill into the slab, or the floor covering manufacturer requests this test method.
It’s worth highlighting the 2019 updates relating to the moisture testing of concrete subfloors for textile floor coverings as prescribed in Australian Standards, AS 2455.1 textile floor coverings – installation practice Part 1: General and AS 2455.2 textile floor coverings – installation practice Part 2: Carpet tiles.
- The two informative moisture test methods are now the RH invasive hygrometer test and the RH surface mounted hygrometer (hood test). The testing requirements for the RH surface mounted hygrometer may have also changed depending on the type of hygrometer being used.
- This is the first time the RH invasive hygrometer test has been included.
- Testing is to be done in accordance with the test instrument, textile floor covering, or other floor materials manufacturer’s written instructions, or an International Standard.
- The capacitance test is no longer accepted and has been removed.
Contact Us
For further information on moisture testing subfloors, please contact ATTAR at info@attar.com.au or call 1300 139 155.
Moisture Testing of Concrete Subfloors – 15 Most Common Q&As
Concrete Moisture Testing 15 Q&As Please note for floor coverings, moisture is measured in Relative Humidity (RH), so throughout this Q&A, we will note moisture