Application of ROTRONIC products in Concrete

1. Application of ROTRONIC products in Concrete

2. Why measure ERH in Concrete? • Checking concrete has dried (set) enough • Determine the condition of old concrete • Establish condition recovery after flooding • Material performance research • Diagnosis of damp problems in buildings • Many materials that are in contact with damp concrete will degrade in some way.

3. High Moisture/ERH Effects • Adhesion between concrete and coverings • Movement in floor coverings • Emissions of harmful substances from materials in contact with concrete • Mould growth in timber • Staining of natural materials • Corrosion of metals

4. ERH Measurement Technique Seal • Insertion probe • Hole drilled, cleaned (vacuum) and sealed • Long period to equilibrate • Temperature • Humidity • 24…48 hours typical • Measurement sleeves best solution (more later) Seal Probe

5. Concrete floors • After concrete floors are laid, they must be allowed to dry below a certain level before floor covering can be fitted • Testing is carried out using ERH measurement • Standards are in place that define acceptable ERH values before coverings are applied • Critical ERH values 80…90% • Depends on the material covering • Example: Wood – 80%

6. Bridges and structures • Concrete condition key to structural integrity • Measurement values vary according to concrete type and the materials application • Impact on materials, e.g. corrosion of iron reinforcements • Active humidity control now used • Example: Oresund Bridge (Humidity News 1-2000)

7. Building conservation and maintenance • Similar requirement as for bridges • Building longevity • Impact on other materials of construction • More and more structures built from concrete are being preserved instead of being knocked down • Recovery from flood

8. Materials research • Concrete testing specialists • Highly aware of application difficulties • Require the best possible instrument performance • Recommend products to industrial user • Set the standards for industry and hence drive demand • Other building materials research organisations! • Concrete condition and performance can impact on other materials of construction or finishes • Examples include; timber, metal, paint, floor coverings

9. Damp diagnosis • If a building has a damp problem, %rh measurement can be useful in determining conditions inside structures or voids • Surface only moisture measurements can lead to wrong conclusions because of surface absorption/condensation • Insertion probes for concrete walls and floors • Cable mounted probe useful for cavities or voids

10. Key organisation • Lund Institute of Technology (LTH) • Göran Hedenblad • Swedish Council for Building Research • Excellent reference • ISBN 91-540-5785-X

11. ROTRONIC key benefits • %rh sensor which performs well at high ERH values • Stable %rh sensor • Fast response • Small probe dimensions • Wide range of options • Interchangeable probes • Direct calibration method

12. ROTRONIC products • HygroPalm • HygroLog • HygroLab • M Series • HygroClip probe series

13. HygroPalm and probes • Handheld solution for spot checks • Range of display options with different features • Small probe dimensions mean smaller holes • Probes can be interchanged without system calibration • RS232 interface could be useful for data acquisition

14. HygroClip SP05 • 5mm diameter insertion probe • Robust stainless steel probe • Laser cut measurement slots in the probe • Fast response • No filter means sample preparation must eliminate dust • Otherwise the probe will clog

15. HygroClip HP28 • 10mm diameter insertion probe • Highly robust • Replaceable sensor protection filter • Larger dimension means slower response to temperature changes

16. HygroClip SC04/05 • Small 4 or 5mm diameter probe on a cable • Flexible and compact • Multiple probes can be inserted in a test sample in a more convenient way • Used more for research • Teflon filter available (which increases diameter to 7mm) SP-T05 for SC05 only

17. Measurement sleeves • Available for probes with diameter 4…15mm • Developed by our Finnish expert in this field Vittorio Vitale • Must be used correctly

18. HygroLog and probes • For unattended logging using the HygroClip probes • Compact and robust IP65 housing • Impact protection option • Local display option • No site power necessary • Cost effective

19. M Series and probes • For direct connection of HygroClip probes to monitoring or control systems • Permanent installation • Live information of concrete condition • Display option • Interchangeable probes • Enables continuous management of concrete condition

20. HygroLab and probes • Multiple HygroClip probe inputs • Used more in research applications • RS232/RS485 interfaces for PC connection or multiple instrument networking • Direct calibration function • Analogue inputs can be used with older ROTRONIC probes

21. Accessories & spares • Carry case • Protects equipment in harsh site conditions and during transportation • Replaceable filters • Protect sensors • Ongoing revenue • Measurement sleeves • Optimises measurement performance • Developed by Vittorio Vitale (use the Sales Forum for more information exchange)

22. Calibration • Our SCS calibration standards give the customer useful benefits • Probes can be calibrated anywhere, anytime • This can resolve disagreements between different instruments • You should always recommend that a customer defines a calibration procedure and keeps a record so that equipment performance can be analysed over time • The sale or standards, or calibration service provides additional and ongoing revenue

23. Other measurement techniques • Moisture measurement • ‘Pin’ hygrometers • Infra red • Capacitance • More often used than ERH • Concept is easier to understand • Equipment can give a more instantaneous reading • Does not require holes to be drilled • Measurement of moisture content is less dependable when used inserted into concrete samples • Measurement only at the surface may not give an indication of moisture levels within the sample

24. Rotronic position • Rotronic benefits, range of instruments, probes and options provide an opportunity for sales to this market • To compete with Vaisala we must emphasize our advantages • Wider range of probe and instrument options • Datalogging capability • To compete with Protimeter • Better quality %rh measurement • Wider range of options • Datalogging capability

25. Market forces • Building programmes in developing countries • Demand for better quality of construction and finish • Increased focus on building preservation • Increased incidences of flooding worldwide

26. Strategy and focus • Develop an understanding of the application • Research • Hint, search Google ‘moisture in concrete’) • Identify key organisations in your local market • Research organisations • Building standards authorities • Trade associations • Promote the product by direct contact with test engineers • Consider promotion to the trade journals (PR is good)

27. Conclusions • Industry and commerce demands drive the need for measurement • Measurement demand is at high ERH levels where we are strong • ROTRONIC offer a high quality range of solutions and features to satisfy most application scenarios • Sales success depends significantly on your preparation for this specialist field

28. Questions?