TRAMEX Moisture Encounter Plus User manual

1
Moisture Encounter Plus
User Guide
Table of Contents
Introduction............................................................................3
Instrument Features ..............................................................4
Operating Instructions ..........................................................5
Working with your Moisture Encounter Plus......................6
Scale 1................................................................................6
Testing wood and wood products................................6
Relative humidity and moisture content......................8
Wood Flooring ................................................................8
Notes on Specific Gravity (SG) ....................................9
How to use the Wood SG Tables ..................................9
Wood S.G. Table, 5% to 17% meter reading ..............10
Wood S.G. Table, 18% to 30% meter reading ............11
Scale 2..............................................................................12
Testing built-up-roofing ..............................................12
Testing Drywall. ............................................................12
Testing on ceramic tiles and other wall and floor
coverings.......................................................................13
Scale 3..............................................................................13
Testing plaster or brick................................................13
Limitations............................................................................14
Warranty................................................................................14
Warranty Claims ..................................................................15
Product Development..........................................................15
Wood Timber Drywall Tiling Floor Covering
Roofing Block Brick Coverings Plaster
®
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4
Moisture Encounter Plus
User Guide
Instrument Features
Your Moisture Encounter Plus employs advanced analogue and
digital technology to enable the incorporation of many new fea-
tures, which greatly extend the capability of the instrument.
•Three simple pushbutton controls, ON, SCALE and HOLD.
•Non-destructive moisture readings taken in wood from 5% to
30% are displayed on a moving coil meter with linear scale.
•Audio signal sounds when meter indicates high reading.
•Comparative readings between zero and 100 can be taken in
or through drywall, ceramic tile, carpet, floor coverings,
roofing, plaster, and other materials such as brick and cement
block. Meter scale is also color coded to assist in identifying
areas of wet and dry.
•Automatic supply timeout (2 minutes) conserves battery life.
•Supply timeout is automatically extended if a change in meter
reading is detected or if any button is pressed.
•10 second bleep warning on instrument sounder prior to end
of supply timeout period.
•Last used scale is memorized at supply timeout and
automatically selected next time ON button is pressed.
•Three LEDs (light emitting diodes) show selected scale,
indicate if HOLD selected and provide warning of battery
nearing end of useful life.
•HOLD button freezes moving coil meter, which facilitates
readings taken out-of-sight.
•If HOLD was selected prior to supply timeout, the frozen
meter reading is digitally memorized and restored next time
ON is selected.
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5
Moisture Encounter Plus
User Guide
Operating Instructions
The instrument face with brief notes on the push button controls
and LED indicators is shown below.
1. Press the ON button to power up. The LED for the last used
scale will light. [Note – If the battery voltage is getting low,
the three LEDs will flash sequentially for a short period. The
instrument will continue to operate for some time but it is
recommended that the PP3 (9 volt) battery be changed as
soon as convenient.]
2. To change scale, press/release the SCALE button until the
LED opposite the required scale lights.
3. Hold your Moisture Encounter Plus directly on the
material being tested ensuring both conductive rubber
electrodes are fully in contact with the surface.
4. For wood or wood products read the moisture content from
the upper line (Wood) of the meter dial which is marked from
5% to 30%. Audio signal will sound when meter indicates
high reading.
5. To turn audio signal on or off, press ON button twice in quick
succession.
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6
Moisture Encounter Plus
User Guide
6. For drywall, felt roofing, plaster or brick comparative
(Relative) readings are taken from the lower line on the
meter dial, which is marked from 0 to 100.
7. The instrument will automatically power-off after two
minutes if no button is pressed or if no change in meter
reading is detected. If a button is pressed or the meter
reading changes, the power-off will be extended for a further
two minutes.
8. To freeze readings press the HOLD button once. While on
Hold, the LED for the selected scale will flash slowly.This
facility is extremely useful if readings are being taken in
areas where it is difficult to see the instrument dial. To
remove freeze, press the HOLD button again.
Working with your Moisture Encounter Plus
Scale 1
Testing wood and wood products
a) When testing wood, power-on, select Scale 1 and press the
rubber electrodes directly to the surface. Read the moisture
percentage from the top line of the analog dial where
calibration is marked from 5% to 30%. If switched on, the
audio signal will sound when readings are above 18%.
b) If possible, always take readings with the length of the
instrument parallel to the direction of the wood grain.
c) Calibration tests were carried out by Forbairt, the Irish
Institute for Industrial Research and Standards, and are based
on Douglas fir, which has a published specific gravity (SG)
of 0.50. For wood having an SG other than 0.50 see “Notes
on Specific Gravity” and “How to use the Wood SG
Adjustment Tables” on page 9.
d) Acceptable levels of moisture content depend on climatic
conditions and we advise you check the levels acceptable in
your area. The table on page 8 shows the approximate rela-
tionship between the ambient relative humidity and equilib-
rium moisture content in woods.
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7
Moisture Encounter Plus
User Guide
e) As a rule of thumb and depending on climatic conditions,
exterior wood is generally considered safe for painting when
the moisture content is 14% or below. Wood below 10% is
generally considered suitable for painting indoors. (Always
check coating manufacturers recommendations).
f) The following moisture content levels are given as a guide
•Furniture: 5% to 6% when used in locations of low
relative humidity and up to 10% to 11% may be
acceptable where the relative humidity is higher.
•Indoors wood: 6% in low humidity areas. Up to 12% in
higher humidity locations.
•Exterior wood: 10% to 15% depending on local
humidity levels.
•Generally, wood moisture content in excess of 23% -
25% is susceptible to rot.
•Wood moisture content in excess of 18% - 20% may
provide an environment for termite and wood-boring
insects to thrive and multiply. Wood at these high levels
can also support mold and biological growth.
•Wood at 28% moisture content is considered to have
reached fiber saturation point.
g) Avoid taking readings on wood from the top of a stack stored
outside as these may be affected by surface moisture from
recent rain.
h) When taking readings in chemically treated wood, it is
advisable to allow for possible effects that the treatment may
have on readings.
Depth of field penetration
Depending on the density of the material being tested, the
instrument field can penetrate approximately 30mm (11/4inches)
below the surface. When testing thin materials such as wood
veneers it is recommended that they are stacked to at least that
thickness.
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8
Moisture Encounter Plus
User Guide
Relative humidity and moisture content
The table below shows the approximate relationship between rel-
ative humidity and equilibrium moisture content of some woods.
(These figures are approximate values at a temperature of 70ºf,
and may vary for different species.)
Wood Flooring
a) Excess moisture in wood flooring or concrete sub-floors can
cause major problems.
b) For instance, if installed with excess moisture, the wood can
subsequently shrink leading to job failure.
c) If a wood floor (solid, laminated or engineered) is installed
above wet concrete the wood can absorb moisture emitting
from the concrete causing the wood to swell and buckle and
even cause structural damage to the building.
d) When vinyl or other impervious coverings are applied over
wet concrete, the result can be failure of the adhesive and
blistering of the surface.
Your Moisture Encounter Plus can be used to measure the
moisture content of the wood floor to ensure it meets
specification. Likewise it can be used to check, on a qualitative
basis, through the floor covering, to identify elevated moisture in
the substrate.
Relative Humidity
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Wood MC%
3 to 5
5 to 6
6 to 8
8 to 9
9 to 11
11 to 13
13 to 15
16 to 19
20 to 22
25 +
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9
Moisture Encounter Plus
User Guide
Adhesives
The presence of different species, treatments, adhesives, etc.,
within products such as plywood, particleboard, OSB (oriented
strand board), laminated and engineered woods will affect meas-
urements. If in doubt please contact us and, if you wish, we can
work with you in developing your own calibration for a specific
product. Concrete
Your Moisture Encounter Plus is not calibrated for concrete.
The Tramex Concrete Encounter instrument is specifically
designed for concrete flooring and is recommended where
quantitative measurements are required. However a useful
indication of the moisture condition of a concrete or sub floor
can be obtained with the Moisture Encounter Plus set on the
wall/brick mode. Comparative readings can also be obtained
through coverings such as vinyl, carpet and laminated wood
flooring by using the drywall scale.
Notes on Specific Gravity (SG)
The SG of wood varies between species and this has an effect on
moisture meter readings. The Moisture Encounter Plus calibra-
tion is based on wood having an SG of 0.50. Wood is normally
categorised as follows: -
How to use the Wood SG Tables
When testing wood, which does not have an SG of 0.50, the
meter reading can be adjusted by referring to the tables shown on
pages 10 and 11. For example, if the wood being tested has an
SG of 0.70 and the meter reading is 17% (top row of table) then
the adjusted moisture content reading can be found where the
0.70 SG row intersects with 17% meter reading column. For this
example the adjusted moisture content would be 13%
SG at 12% MC
0.30 or less
0.30 to 0.45
0.45 to 0.65
0.65 to 0.90
0.90 or more
Density
Exceptionally Light
Light
Medium
Heavy
Exceptionally Heavy
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10
Moisture Encounter Plus
User Guide
Wood S.G. Table, 5% to 17% meter reading
0.30
0.32
0.34
0.36
0.38
0.40
0.42
0.44
0.46
0.48
0.50
0.52
0.54
0.56
0.58
0.60
0.62
0.64
0.66
0.68
0.70
0.72
0.74
0.76
0.78
0.80
0.82
0.84
0.86
0.88
0.90
891012 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 21 22
8
789111213 14 15 16 17 19 20 21
789111213 14 15 16 17 18 19 21
789111212 13 14 16 16 18 19 20
6789111213141516171820
6789111112131515171819
6789101112131415161719
5678101112131415161718
567891011121314151617
567891011121314151617
56789911111213141517
45778910111213141516
45678810111213131516
4567889101112131415
4567889101112131415
4567889101112131415
4467889101112131415
4456789101111121314
445677891011121314
345677891011111213
335677891011111213
335677891011111213
334566781011111112
334566781011111112
33456678910101112
33456678910101011
33456678910101011
33456678910101011
33456678910101011
33445567999910
91012131415161718202122
Meter
Reading
Specific
Gravity
WOOD SPECIFIC GRAVITY ADJUSTMENT TABLE (5 to 17%)
567891011121314151617
ADJUSTED/CORRECTED MOISTURE CONTENT
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11
Moisture Encounter Plus
User Guide
Wood S.G. Table, 18% to 30% meter reading
0.30
0.32
0.34
0.36
0.38
0.40
0.42
0.44
0.46
0.48
0.50
0.52
0.54
0.56
0.58
0.60
0.62
0.64
0.66
0.68
0.70
0.72
0.74
0.76
0.78
0.80
0.82
0.84
0.86
0.88
0.90
23 25 26 27 28 29 31 32 33 34 35 37 38
23
22 24 24 26 27 28 29 31 31 32 33 35 36
22 23 24 25 27 28 29 30 30 31 32 34 35
21 23 23 24 26 27 29 30 30 30 32 34 35
21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 29 30 31 33 34
20 21 22 23 25 26 27 28 28 29 31 32 33
20 20 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 28 30 31 32
19 20 21 22 23 24 24 26 27 28 29 30 31
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 27 27 28 29 30
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
17 18 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
16 17 17 18 19 20 21 22 22 23 25 26 27
16 17 17 18 18 19 20 21 21 22 24 24 25
15 16 16 17 18 19 19 20 20 21 23 23 24
15 16 16 17 18 19 19 20 20 21 22 23 23
15 15 15 16 17 18 18 19 20 20 21 22 23
14 15 15 16 17 18 18 19 19 19 20 21 22
14 14 14 15 16 16 17 18 18 19 20 21 21
14 14 14 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 20 20
14 14 14 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 20 20
13 14 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 18 19 19 20
13 13 13 14 15 15 16 16 17 18 18 19 19
13 13 13 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 18
13 13 13 13 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18
12 12 12 13 14 14 14 15 16 16 17 17 18
12 12 12 13 14 14 14 15 16 16 17 17 17
12 12 12 13 14 14 14 14 15 16 16 17 17
12 12 12 13 14 14 14 14 15 15 16 17 17
12 12 12 12 12 13 14 14 15 15 16 16 17
24 25 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 36 37
Meter
Reading
Specific
Gravity
WOOD SPECIFIC GRAVITY ADJUSTMENT TABLE (18 to 30%)
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
ADJUSTED/CORRECTED MOISTURE CONTENT
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12
Moisture Encounter Plus
User Guide
Scale 2.
Testing built-up-roofing
a) The presence of moisture in built-up roofs covered with
multi-ply roofing felt, PVC, modified bitumen (torch-on) or
other membranes, can cause blistering and splitting of the
roof surfacing. In addition moisture can cause considerable
damage to the contents and fabric of the building as well as
heat loss through wet insulation. Your Moisture Encounter
Plus can be used to confirm a new roof has been installed
dry.
b) When the waterproofing membrane develops a leak, the
water can travel within the built-up-roof structure and enter
the building some distance away. Testing the membrane
surface and comparing the dry areas with areas where
moisture is present below the surface can assist in tracing
such a leak to its source.
c) As there are many different types and thickness sizes of
roofing membranes, it is not possible to give a calibrated
percentage measurement. Instead, the comparative scale,
marked 0 to 100, is used for checking the difference between
wet and dry.
d) If gravel surfacing is present, this should be removed to
ensure your Moisture Encounter Plus comes into direct
contact with the surface of the membrane.
e) It is recommended that a core be cut to determine the depth
and density of the moisture before carrying out roof repairs.
Alternatively, the area can be checked with a Tramex
Compact or Professional resistance type moisture meter with
insulated pins.
Testing Drywall.
Because of its deep signal penetration, your Moisture Encounter
Plus can identify excess moisture behind drywall, ceramic tile
and other wall coverings when used on Scale 2. As calibration is
not practical on this type of construction, readings should be
taken from the comparative scale (0 to 100) on the meter dial.
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Moisture Encounter Plus
User Guide
Testing on ceramic tiles and other wall and floor coverings.
Excess moisture trapped behind covering materials such as
ceramic tiles, carpet, wall coverings etc can cause major prob-
lems. For instance, excess moisture behind ceramic tiles on
drywall or other substrates can cause decay, delamination and
mold growth, the longer these problems go undetected the worst
the problem can get eventually leading to system failure.
Your Moisture Encounter Plus can be used to detect and
identify elevated moisture within or behind most types of wall
and floor coverings. For example the Moisture Encounter Plus
can detect elevated moisture behind most types of ceramic tiles.
As calibration is not practical because of the variation in
composition of these types of construction, tests should be
carried out on a comparative basis selecting the most appropriate
scale, and readings should be taken from the 0 to 100 compara-
tive scale on the meter dial.
Scale 3.
Testing plaster or brick
a) Your Moisture Encounter Plus gives qualitative (relative)
reading on walls, plaster, brick, drywall and block. Make
sure the appropriate wall scale is used i.e. Scale 2 for drywall
and Scale 3 for plaster or brick. Always press the electrodes
firmly against the surface.
b) The moisture profile of a wall can be determined by sliding
your Moisture Encounter Plus across the surface where it
will read through most paints, vinyl, wall coverings and even
ceramic tiles.
c) The Moisture Encounter Plus will help identify the different
levels of moisture even if not apparent on the surface.
Moisture can often be trapped behind drywall and wall
covering.
d) Rising damp and moisture migration from leaks and
defective, or non-existent, vapor barriers can be identified
and profiled and often its source identified by sliding the
instrument across the wall surface.
e) Water damage following flooding or fire fighting can be
checked and the drying out and de-humidification process
can be monitored.
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14
Moisture Encounter Plus
User Guide
‘Acceptably Dry’
Your Moisture Encounter Plus will give low readings when the
plaster or brick is acceptably dry. Due to the hygroscopic nature
of these materials, moisture values are affected by ambient
humidity and thus can vary according to climatic conditions. We
recommend you satisfy yourself as to what is ‘acceptably dry’in
your area, and use the instrument to compare these with areas
that are unacceptable.
Limitations
The Moisture Encounter Plus will not detect or measure
moisture through any electrically conductive materials including
metal sheeting or cladding, black EPDM roofing, butyl roofing,
aluminum siding or wet surfaces.
Warranty
Tramex warrants that this instrument will be free from defects
and faulty workmanship for a period of one year from date of
first purchase.
If a fault develops during the warranty period, Tramex, at its
option, will either repair the defective product without charge for
the parts and labour, or will provide a replacement in exchange
for the defective product returned to Tramex Ltd.
This warranty shall not apply to any defect, failure or damage
caused by improper use or improper or inadequate maintenance
and care.
In no event shall Tramex, its agents or distributors be liable to the
customer for any special, indirect, or consequential loss or dam-
age of any type whatsoever (including, without limitation, loss of
business, revenue, profits, data, savings or goodwill), whether
occasioned by the act, breach, omission, default, or negligence of
Tramex Ltd., whether or not foreseeable, arising howsoever out
of or in connection with the sale of this product including arising
out of breach of contract, tort, misrepresentation or arising from
statute or indemnity.
Without prejudice to the above, all other warranties, representa-
tions and conditions whether made orally or implied by circum-
stances, custom, contract, equity, statute or common law are
hereby excluded, including all terms implied by Section 13, 14
and 15 of the Sale of Goods Act 1893.
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Moisture Encounter Plus
User Guide
Warranty claims
Adefective product should be returned shipping pre-paid, with
full description of the defect to your supplier or Tramex at
address shown below.
Product development
It is the policy of Tramex to continually improve and update all
its products.
We therefore reserve the right to alter the specification or design
of this instrument without prior notice.
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