Nothing can be as frustrating for a building contractor as waiting for concrete to dry when the clock is ticking against a project’s deadline. Such was the situation faced by project manager Chris Bryant of R.J. Griffin, a construction firm based in Atlanta.
Bryant oversaw development of Johnston Memorial—a three-story, 90,000-square-foot physician’s office building in Abingdon, Va., featuring 15 medical suites for administrative and outpatient services. Moisture in the facility’s concrete floors nearly delayed the project’s completion.
With flooring materials scheduled for installation, Floorensics, an independent firm from Atlanta recognized as a leading company in concrete/flooring system interaction and failure, was asked to measure moisture levels in the building’s concrete floors. It was discovered that relative humidity levels in all of the three slabs were too high.
“Moisture requirements are typically 75% or below, but readings were in the high 80s and low 90s,” says Bryant. “Even though the slabs were installed six months earlier, they weren’t dry enough to proceed with flooring installation.”
The discovery had the potential to delay the project considerably. Unless specifications for moisture content in concrete are met, flooring subcontractors can’t proceed and manufacturers’ warrantees won’t be honored. Excessive moisture can wreak havoc on flooring materials. Potential problems include microbial growth leading to mold and mildew, poor indoor air quality, downtime for repair and replacement of floor coverings, adhesive breakdown, flooring and underlayment expansion, and lost time and productivity of building staff.
To prevent such issues and allow construction to proceed as planned, Floorensics recommended Bryant contact Polygon (formerly Munters Moisture Control Services), a leader in temporary climate control in construction and industrial applications, to employ an accelerated dehumidification drying system.
Dan Kaidel, business development specialist with Polygon, provided a cost estimate, and engineered it for fast-track drying. Kaidel recommended using desiccant dehumidification units with a high number of air exchanges.
“Desiccant dehumidification drying is an option available to contractors and owners to combat high moisture levels,” says Kaidel. “It is not a last-minute option to be employed a week before installation is scheduled, but one that should be used on a continuously monitored slab six to eight weeks before installation is desired.”
The dehumidification units were stationed next to the building. A flexible air distribution system provided dry air to the first floor and weaved through stairwells to reach higher floors requiring humidity control.
The concrete drying process
The process to remove the excess moisture from a concrete slab requires increasing the moisture vapor pressure differential between the slab and the air above it. Desiccant dehumidifiers provide the dry air capable of drawing moisture out of the concrete. Moisture travels from areas of high vapor pressure within the slab to the areas of lower vapor pressure that are created mechanically near the surface. The moisture vapor is desorbed from the concrete into the air and then removed from the air by the dessicant system. The relative humidity in the air above the concrete was maintained at between 10% and 30% during the drying operation, depending on the temperature.
Depending on the amount of moisture to be removed and other conditions, the number of hourly air changes needed can vary greatly. Air change rates can fluctuate depending on ceiling height, thickness of slab, tightness of envelope, type of vapor barrier, outside weather conditions, and a host of other variables. Note that without a vapor barrier beneath a slab on ground, no amount of drying can make the slab stay dry, since moisture will continue to move into the slab from beneath.
Strict deadlines, project completed
Once the equipment was operational, timing was critical. Floorensics was asked to monitor each floor on a weekly basis to ensure drying proceeded as planned. The target relative humidity in the concrete was 75% or lower.
“In order to maintain our flooring installation schedule, the first floor had to be dried in less than two weeks, the second floor in four weeks and the third floor in seven weeks,” says Bryant.
Due to aggressive drying, those deadlines were met. Polygon had the first floor dried in a week and a half, the second floor within three weeks and the third floor within five weeks, beating all estimated schedules. The final analysis from Floorensics showed the concrete on all floors testing at relative humidity levels that allowed flooring installation to proceed.
Bryant’s decision to use desiccant dehumidification also led to cost savings. The initiative eliminated the need for the application of an expensive moisture barrier between the concrete and the moisture-sensitive floor covering materials. “A sealant can cost anywhere from $2.50 to $7 per square foot while dehumidification typically ranges from $0.50 to a $1.50 per square foot,” says Kaidel. “This is a cost savings of as much as 75% in most cases.”
With Polygon’s assistance, the facility opened on time. “The Polygon team did exactly what they said they were going to do,” adds Bryant.
Dan Kaidel is business development specialist for Polygon.
