ASTM E1643-11

Standard Practice for Selection, Design, Installation, and Inspection of Water Vapor Retarders Used in Contact with Earth or Granular Fill Under Concrete Slabs

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Vapor retarders provide a method of limiting water vapor transmission and capillary transport of water upward through concrete slabs on grade, which can adversely affect floor finishes and interior humidity levels.
Adverse impacts include adhesion loss, warping, peeling, and unacceptable appearance of resilient flooring; deterioration of adhesives, ripping or separation of seams, and air bubbles or efflorescence beneath seamed, continuous flooring; damage to flat electrical cable systems, buckling of carpet and carpet tiles, offensive odors, growth of fungi, and undesired increases to interior humidity levels.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers procedures for selecting, designing, installing, and inspecting flexible, prefabricated sheet membranes in contact with earth or granular fill used as vapor retarders under concrete slabs.  
1.2 Conditions subject to frost and either heave or hydrostatic pressure, or both, are beyond the scope of this practice. Vapor retarders are not intended to provide a waterproofing function.
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2011
• ICS: 91.120.30 - Waterproofing
• Technical Committee: E06 - Performance of Buildings
• Drafting Committee: E06.21 - Serviceability

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E1643-10 - Standard Practice for Selection, Design, Installation, and Inspection of Water Vapor Retarders Used in Contact with Earth or Granular Fill Under Concrete Slabs
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2011
• Replaced By: ASTM E1643-11(2017) - Standard Practice for Selection, Design, Installation, and Inspection of Water Vapor Retarders Used in Contact with Earth or Granular Fill Under Concrete Slabs
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2017
• Referred By: ASTM E1745-17(2023) - Standard Specification for Plastic Water Vapor Retarders Used in Contact with Soil or Granular Fill under Concrete Slabs
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2011
• Referred By: ASTM E241-20 - Standard Guide for Limiting Water-Induced Damage to Buildings
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2011

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E1643 − 11
Standard Practice for
Selection, Design, Installation, and Inspection of Water
Vapor Retarders Used in Contact with Earth or Granular Fill
1
Under Concrete Slabs
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1643; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
3
1. Scope 2.2 Other Standard:
ACI 302.2R–06 Guide for Concrete Slabs that Receive
1.1 This practice covers procedures for selecting, designing,
Moisture-Sensitive Flooring Materials
installing, and inspecting flexible, prefabricated sheet mem-
branes in contact with earth or granular fill used as vapor 3. Significance and Use
retarders under concrete slabs.
3.1 Vapor retarders provide a method of limiting water
vapor transmission and capillary transport of water upward
1.2 Conditions subject to frost and either heave or hydro-
through concrete slabs on grade, which can adversely affect
static pressure, or both, are beyond the scope of this practice.
floor finishes and interior humidity levels.
Vapor retarders are not intended to provide a waterproofing
function. 3.2 Adverse impacts include adhesion loss, warping,
peeling, and unacceptable appearance of resilient flooring;
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
deterioration of adhesives, ripping or separation of seams, and
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
air bubbles or efflorescence beneath seamed, continuous floor-
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
ing; damage to flat electrical cable systems, buckling of carpet
and are not considered standard.
and carpet tiles, offensive odors, growth of fungi, and unde-
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the sired increases to interior humidity levels.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4. Manufacturer’s Recommendations
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
4.1 Where inconsistencies occur between this practice and
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
the manufacturer’s instructions, conform to the manufacturer’s
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
instructions for installation of vapor retarder.
2. Referenced Documents
5. Material, Design, and Construction
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
5.1 See ACI 302.2R–06 for material, design, and construc-
E1745 Specification for Plastic Water Vapor Retarders Used
tion recommendations.
in Contact with Soil or Granular Fill under Concrete Slabs
5.2 See Specifications E1745 and E1993 for vapor retarder
E1993 Specification for Bituminous Water Vapor Retarders
specifications.
UsedinContactwithSoilorGranularFillUnderConcrete
5.3 Vapor Retarder Material Selection—The following cri-
Slabs
teria should be considered when selecting a vapor retarder
F710 Practice for Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive
material.
Resilient Flooring
5.3.1 Local building code and regulatory requirements.
5.3.1.1 Comply with local building code and regulatory
requirements as a minimum consideration.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Perfor-
5.3.2 The water-vapor permeance of the vapor retarder
mance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.21 on
material.
Serviceability.
5.3.2.1 The water vapor permeance of the vapor retarder
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2011. Published October 2011. Originally
approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as E1643 – 10. DOI:
material shall be at such a rate so that adverse impacts to floor
10.1520/E1643-11.
finishes and coatings do not occur
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available fromAmerican Concrete Institute (ACI), P.O. Box 9094, Farmington
the ASTM website. Hills, MI 48333-9094, http://www.concrete.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E1643 − 11
5.3.2.2 Refer to X1.6 for discussion on water vapor trans- 7. Protection
mission rate of vapor retarder.
7.1 Take precautions to protect vapor retarder from damage
5.3.2.3 The perm rating determined under these criteria
during installation of reinforcing steel, utilities and concrete.
shall supersede that in references 5.2 should this value be less
than required under references in 5.2.
7.2 Use reinforcing bar supports with base sections that
5.3.3 The types and amoun
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:E1643–10 Designation:E1643–11
Standard Practice for
Selection, Design, Installation, and Inspection of Water
Vapor Retarders Used in Contact with Earth or Granular Fill
1
Under Concrete Slabs
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1643; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice covers procedures for selecting, designing, installing, and inspecting flexible, prefabricated sheet membranes
in contact with earth or granular fill used as vapor retarders under concrete slabs.
1.2 Conditions subject to frost and either heave or hydrostatic pressure, or both, are beyond the scope of this practice. Vapor
retarders are not intended to provide a waterproofing function.
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E1745 Specification for Plastic Water Vapor Retarders Used in Contact with Soil or Granular Fill under Concrete Slabs
E1993 Specification for Bituminous Water Vapor Retarders Used in Contact with Soil or Granular Fill Under Concrete Slabs
F710 Practice for Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring
3
2.2 Other Standard:
ACI 302.2R–06 Guide for Concrete Slabs that Receive Moisture-Sensitive Flooring Materials
3. Significance and Use
3.1 Vapor retarders provide a method of limiting water vapor transmission and capillary transport of water upward through
concrete slabs on grade, which can adversely affect floor finishes and interior humidity levels.
3.2 Adverse impacts include adhesion loss, warping, peeling, and unacceptable appearance of resilient flooring; deterioration
of adhesives, ripping or separation of seams, and air bubbles or efflorescence beneath seamed, continuous flooring; damage to flat
electrical cable systems, buckling of carpet and carpet tiles, offensive odors, growth of fungi, and undesired increases to interior
humidity levels.
4. Manufacturer’s Recommendations
4.1 Where inconsistencies occur between this practice and the manufacturer’s instructions, conform to the manufacturer’s
instructions for installation of vapor retarder.
5. Material, Design, and Construction
5.1 See ACI 302.2R–06 for material, design, and construction recommendations.
5.2 See Specifications E1745 and E1993 for vapor retarder specifications.
5.3 Vapor Retarder Material Selection—The following criteria should be considered when selecting a vapor retarder material.
5.3.1 Local building code and regulatory requirements.
5.3.1.1 Comply with local building code and regulatory requirements as a minimum consideration.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E06 on Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.21 on Serviceability.
Current edition approved AprilOct. 1, 2010.2011. Published August 2010.October 2011. Originally approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 20092010 as
E1643 – 109. DOI: 10.1520/E1643-101.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. ForAnnualBookofASTMStandards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from American Concrete Institute (ACI), P.O. Box 9094, Farmington Hills, MI 48333-9094, http://www.concrete.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E1643–11
5.3.2 The water-vapor permeance of the vapor retarder material.
5.3.2.1 The water vapor permeance of the vapor retarder material shall be at such a rate so that adverse impacts to floor finishes
and coatings do not occur
5.3.2.2Refer to X1.1
5.3.2.2 Refer to X1.6 for discussion on water vapor transmission rate of vapor retarder.
5.3.2.3 The perm rating determined under these criteria
...