Page 5 - 2018-01-CFR Volume 112 - So You Don't Think You Need An Under Slab Vapor Retarder In The Desert - January 2018

In closing, even if you were not to believe a © 2018 Stego Industries, LLC. All Rights Reserved
word of this Myth Buster, please be ad-
vised that, today, the use of an ASTM
E1745-compliant vapor retarder material,
placed directly beneath the concrete, is not
optional. ASTM F710 and most floor cov-
ering manufacturers now require that a low
-permeance below-slab vapor retarder be
installed directly in contact with the under-
side of the slab when any type of resilient
floor covering material is being installed.
ACI 302.1R and ACI 302.2R now provide
similar guidance and go one step further,
recommending that, in addition to floors
that will receive moisture-sensitive flooring
materials, a low-permeance vapor retarder
be installed directly below bare concrete
slab surfaces, such as warehouse slabs,
where moisture-sensitive product is to be stored
in direct contact with the slab surface.

Don't need a vapor barrier in the desert?

Please think again. . .

And again we’ll add that regardless of where in the world a slab is placed on grade a vapor barrier must
be used. Not doing so is to play with fire. You may not think you’ll have a problem but if and when you
do, and there will be a when, you’ll more than wish you’d not cut that corner.

Remember, if you want to avoid flooring problems or failures or if you have one you need help with,
contact us at LGM. We can keep you out of trouble or let you know what happened, why and who or
what is to blame.

5 Commercial Flooring Report January 2018