Extreme Humidity & Aspartech

High atmospheric humidity can influence the behaviour of some resin systems during application and cure. The effect depends upon the chemistry of the particular product, the temperature of the floor and surrounding air, ventilation and the amount of moisture already present within the substrate.

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In unusually hot and humid environments, potential effects can include:

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• Changes to working and curing times.

• Surface defects or variations in appearance.

• Condensation forming on a cooler substrate.

• Reduced adhesion if moisture is present at the interface between the coating and concrete.

• Increased risk of application problems where the substrate temperature approaches the dew point.

• Different curing behaviour compared with installations undertaken under normal controlled conditions.

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The combination of temperature, relative humidity and substrate temperature is therefore more important than considering relative humidity in isolation.

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Relative Humidity & Dew Point

One of the most important reasons for measuring atmospheric relative humidity is that it allows the installer to assess the dew point.

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Warm, humid air can contain significant quantities of water vapour. If that air comes into contact with a sufficiently cold concrete floor, the air immediately above the surface can cool below its dew point and microscopic condensation can form.

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The floor does not necessarily have to look wet.

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A very thin layer of moisture between the concrete and a resin coating may be sufficient to interfere with adhesion or the appearance of the finished system. This is why visual inspection alone cannot provide an adequate assessment of environmental conditions.

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As a general flooring industry precaution, the substrate is commonly required to remain at least 3°C above the calculated dew point during application. The requirements stated within the Technical Data Sheet for the individual Aspartech product should always take precedence.

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How to Measure Relative Humidity

Atmospheric relative humidity can be measured quickly using a digital thermo-hygrometer. Professional flooring environmental meters can simultaneously measure air temperature, relative humidity and surface temperature, with many instruments automatically calculating the dew point.

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Before and during an Aspartech installation:

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1. Measure the ambient air temperature and relative humidity within the installation area.

2. Measure the substrate temperature rather than assuming it will be the same as the surrounding air.

3. Calculate or measure the dew point and establish the temperature difference between the substrate and dew point.

4. Take measurements in several areas on large installations, particularly near external doors, loading bays, windows and areas subject to significant temperature changes.

5. Repeat measurements throughout the installation, especially where weather conditions, heating or ventilation are changing.

6. Record the readings as part of the project's installation documentation.

 

Measurements should always be made using suitable, correctly maintained equipment and in accordance with the instrument manufacturer's instructions.

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Don't Just Test at the Beginning

Environmental conditions can change considerably during a flooring installation.

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A floor that is suitable for coating at 8:00am may experience very different conditions several hours later. External temperatures can increase rapidly, doors may be opened, industrial heating can be switched on or off and thunderstorms or rainfall can produce substantial changes in atmospheric humidity.

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For this reason, Star Uretech recommends that temperature and relative humidity are checked before application and monitored periodically throughout the installation and initial curing period where conditions are potentially variable.

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This is particularly valuable on large projects where installation may continue for several hours or across multiple days.

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Recording Environmental Conditions

StarPolymers recommends recording environmental conditions on every Aspartech flooring installation.

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A simple installation record can include:

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• Date and time of measurement.

• Ambient temperature.

• Relative humidity (% RH).

• Substrate temperature.

• Calculated dew point.

• Difference between substrate temperature and dew point.

• Location of measurement.

• Meter make/model.

• Any significant weather, heating or ventilation conditions.

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Digital meters increasingly allow this information to be stored electronically, while data-logging instruments can continuously record environmental conditions throughout an installation.

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This creates a valuable record demonstrating the conditions under which the Aspartech system was installed and provides useful evidence for the installer, client and manufacturer should the floor subsequently require inspection.

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Climate Change & More Extreme Installation Conditions

Environmental monitoring is becoming increasingly relevant as the UK's climate changes.

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The Met Office states that human-induced climate change is already affecting the UK's climate, with the UK experiencing warmer conditions and changes in rainfall extremes. Warmer air can also hold more moisture, contributing to the potential for periods where high temperature and high atmospheric humidity occur simultaneously.

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For resin flooring installers, this means that historical assumptions about typical UK installation conditions may become less reliable. Industrial buildings can amplify these conditions. Warehouses and factories with limited ventilation, large areas of concrete, metal roofs or open loading doors can experience significant variations in temperature and humidity during a single working day.

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Environmental testing therefore provides a simple way of replacing assumptions with measured site conditions.

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The Benefits of Testing

Measuring relative humidity, temperature and dew point takes only minutes but provides important information before potentially thousands of pounds' worth of flooring materials and installation labour are committed to a project.

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Routine environmental monitoring can help to:

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• Identify unusually high humidity before application.

• Detect potential condensation and dew-point conditions.

• Confirm that conditions are appropriate for the selected Aspartech system.

• Identify changes in conditions during longer installations.

• Reduce the likelihood of preventable application defects.

• Provide documented evidence of conditions at the time of installation.

• Improve consistency and quality control between different installers and projects.

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As extreme weather conditions become more frequent, measuring rather than assuming environmental conditions represents an increasingly important part of professional resin flooring installation.

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Measure. Record. Apply.

Aspartech systems are engineered to provide outstanding performance in demanding industrial and commercial environments, but even advanced resin technology benefits from good installation practice.

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Combining substrate moisture testing, atmospheric relative humidity, ambient temperature, substrate temperature and dew-point monitoring gives the installer a much clearer understanding of the environment in which the system is being applied.

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A few minutes spent measuring and recording conditions before installation can help protect a resin floor designed to perform for many years.