Installation Instructions

CRI 105 - STANDARD For INSTALLATION of RESIDENTIAL CARPET

General Requirements

Before direct glue-down, double-glue down and free floating carpet tile systems, the owner

or general contractor, or their designated testing agent, is required to submit to the flooring

contractor a written report on the moisture and alkalinity conditions of the concrete

substrates.

Refer to the manufacturer’s written instructions for guidelines regarding allowable moisture

and pH limits for their products. The Moisture Vapor Emission Rate, Relative Humidity &

Alkalinity testing must be performed to give an accurate assessment of the concrete

condition and the test results/data of each test shall be within acceptable limits.

Proper testing is essential for a successful installation and any deviation from these

industry accepted test methods often results in an installation failure and may void

manufacturers’ warranties.

NOTE: It is recommended that qualified independent third-party testing agencies be used for

determining moisture and alkalinity conditions of a concrete slab. Testing by an independent

third party specialist to determine installation suitability is a prudent and necessary safeguard

for general contractors, owners, architects, flooring product providers and installation

contractors to reduce the risk of concrete slab moisture related flooring problems. As a

minimum, testing agencies or individuals are required to demonstrate verifiable experience in

concrete moisture testing or be certified by a recognized organization.

6.1

Moisture Vapor Emission Rate (MVER) Testing

MVER tests must be conducted in accordance with the current version of ASTM F 1869, not

to exceed manufacturer’s requirements (ASTM F1869 - Standard Test Method for Measuring

Vapor Emission Rate of Concrete Subfloor Using Anhydrous Calcium Chloride).

6.2

Relative Humidity (RH) Testing

Testing for internal relative humidity of concrete slabs must be conducted in accordance with

the current version of ASTM F2170, not to exceed manufacturer’s requirements (ASTM F2170

- Standard Test Method for Determining Relative Humidity in Concrete Floor Slabs Using In-

Situ Probes).

6.3

Testing for Alkalinity

Testing the pH at the surface of a concrete slab must be conducted in accordance with the

current version of ASTM F710, not to exceed manufacturer’s requirements (ASTM F710 -

Standard Practice for Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring).

NOTE: Preparing the surface of a concrete slab for pH testing can be problematical. Make

sure the concrete surface is adequately cleaned of adhesives, curing compounds etc. When

pH readings are less than 7, it may be an indication of a residue remaining on the concrete