Installation Guide
Table Of Contents
- Table of Contents
- Foreword
- Acknowledgements
- General Requirements
- Broadloom Carpet
- Residential Carpet Tile
- Definition of Terms
- Table I – Tools & Materials
- Table II – Trowel Size Minimum Guidelines
- Table III – Tack Strip
- Table IV – Adhesive Types / Definitions
- Table V – Dew Point
- CRI Members Contact Information
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CRI 105 - STANDARD For INSTALLATION of RESIDENTIAL CARPET Copyright © 2015 by The Carpet and Rug Institute, Inc.
General Requirements
6.0
Testing
Most residential stretch-in installations do not require moisture testing.
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 F-2170, not to exceed manufacturer’s requirements (ASTM
F2170 - Standard Test Method for Determining Relative Humidity in Concrete Floor Slabs
Using In-Situ Probes).