ASTM E154-08

Standard Test Methods for Water Vapor Retarders Used in Contact with Earth Under Concrete Slabs, on Walls, or as Ground Cover

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
In service, vapor retarders may be exposed to a variety of conditions, so no one test will provide evaluations related to performance for all exposures (refer to Guide E 241 and Practice C 755). Neither will all test methods listed be necessary in all evaluations for specific exposures (see 16.2).  
Limitations—Prior to use and in service, vapor retarders may be exposed to a variety of conditions so no one test will provide evaluations related to performance for all exposures (refer to Guide E 241 and Practice C 755). Neither will all tests be necessary in all evaluations for specific exposures. Consequently, the tests and required test results shall be agreed upon by the purchaser and the supplier (see 16.2).
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of the properties of flexible membranes to be used as vapor retarders in contact with earth under concrete slabs, against walls, or as ground cover in crawl spaces. The test methods are applicable primarily to plastic films and other flexible sheets. The materials are not intended to be subjected to sustained hydrostatic pressure. The procedures simulate conditions to which vapor retarders may be subjected prior to and during installation, and in service.
1.2 The test methods included are:
Section Water-Vapor Transmission of Material as Received 7 Water-Vapor Transmission after Wetting and Drying and after Long-
Time Soaking 8 Tensile Strength  9 Resistance to Puncture 10 Resistance to Plastic Flow and Elevated Temperature 11 Effect of Low Temperatures on Flexibility 12 Resistance to Deterioration from Organisms and Substances in Con-
tacting Soil 13 Resistance to Deterioration from Petroleum Vehicles for Soil Poisons 14 Resistance to Deterioration from Exposure to Ultraviolet Light 15 Resistance to Flame Spread 16 Report 17
1.3 The values stated in acceptable metric units shall be considered standard. The values in parentheses are for information only.  
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: 14-Mar-2008
• ICS: 91.100.30 - Concrete and concrete products
• Technical Committee: E06 - Performance of Buildings
• Drafting Committee: E06.21 - Serviceability

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E154-99(2005) - Standard Test Methods for Water Vapor Retarders Used in Contact with Earth Under Concrete Slabs, on Walls, or as Ground Cover
• Effective Date: 15-Mar-2008
• Replaced By: ASTM E154-08a - Standard Test Methods for Water Vapor Retarders Used in Contact with Earth Under Concrete Slabs, on Walls, or as Ground Cover
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2008
• Referred By: ASTM C1916-21 - Standard Specification for Flexible Protective Jackets Made of Modified Asphalt/Butyl Rubber for Use over Thermal Insulation
• Effective Date: 15-Mar-2008

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:E154–08
Standard Test Methods for
Water Vapor Retarders Used in Contact with Earth Under
1
Concrete Slabs, on Walls, or as Ground Cover
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E154; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
2 3
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of the 2.1 ASTM Standards:
properties of flexible membranes to be used as vapor retarders C168 Terminology Relating to Thermal Insulation
in contact with earth under concrete slabs, against walls, or as C755 Practice for Selection of Water Vapor Retarders for
ground cover in crawl spaces. The test methods are applicable Thermal Insulation
primarily to plastic films and other flexible sheets. The mate- D828 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Paper and
rials are not intended to be subjected to sustained hydrostatic Paperboard Using Constant-Rate-of-ElongationApparatus
pressure. The procedures simulate conditions to which vapor D882 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic
retarders may be subjected prior to and during installation, and Sheeting
in service. D1709 Test Methods for Impact Resistance of Plastic Film
1.2 The test methods included are: by the Free-Falling Dart Method
D1985 Practice for Preparing Concrete Blocks for Testing
Section
Water-Vapor Transmission of Material as Received 7
Sealants, for Joints and Cracks
Water-Vapor Transmission after Wetting and Drying and after Long-
D2565 Practice for Xenon-Arc Exposure of Plastics In-
Time Soaking 8
Tensile Strength 9 tended for Outdoor Applications
Resistance to Puncture 10
D4397 Specification for Polyethylene Sheeting for Con-
Resistance to Plastic Flow and Elevated Temperature 11
struction, Industrial, and Agricultural Applications
Effect of Low Temperatures on Flexibility 12
E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of
Resistance to Deterioration from Organisms and Substances in Con-
tacting Soil 13
Building Materials
Resistance to Deterioration from Petroleum Vehicles for Soil Poisons 14
E96/E96M Test Methods forWaterVaporTransmission of
Resistance to Deterioration from Exposure to Ultraviolet Light 15
Materials
Resistance to Flame Spread 16
Report 17
E241 Guide for Limiting Water-Induced Damage to Build-
ings
1.3 The values stated in acceptable metric units shall be
E437 Specification for Industrial Wire Cloth and Screens
considered standard. The values in parentheses are for infor-
(SquareOpeningSeries)(Discontinued2000) Replaced by
mation only.
4
E 2016
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3. Terminology
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.1 Definitions: For definitions of terms used in these test
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
methods, see Terminologies C168 and E631.
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on
Performance of Buildings and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.21
on Serviceability.
Current edition approved March 15, 2008. Published April 2008. Originally
3
approved in 1959. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as E154–99(2005). For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
2
Some of these test methods were based originally on Report No. 2040, U.S. contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Forest Products Laboratory, and “Vapor Barrier Materials for Use with Slab-On- Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Ground Construction and as Ground Covers in Crawl Spaces,” Publication the ASTM website.
4
445-1956, Building Research Advisory Board (currently out-of-print). Withdrawn.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

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E154–08
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: areofnonsymmetricalconstruction,designatethetwofacesby
3.2.1 perm, n—the time rate of water vapor migration distinguishing marks and report which side was exposed to a
2
throughamaterialoraconstructionof1grain/h·ft ·in.mercury specific condition.
(Hg) of vapor pressure difference.
6. Test Specimen
3.2.1.1 Discussion—There are no SI units that can be
6.1 The number and size of test specimens of each material
combined to give the sam
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM 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:E154–99 (Reapproved 2005) Designation:E154–08
Standard Test Methods for
Water Vapor Retarders Used in Contact with Earth Under
1
Concrete Slabs, on Walls, or as Ground Cover
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E154; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope
2
1.1 Thesetestmethods coverthedeterminationofthepropertiesofflexiblemembranestobeusedasvaporretardersincontact
with earth under concrete slabs, against walls, or as ground cover in crawl spaces. The test methods are applicable primarily to
plastic films,films and other flexible sheets. The materials are not intended to be subjected to sustained hydrostatic pressure. The
procedures simulate conditions to which vapor retarders may be subjected prior to and during installation, and in service.
1.2 The test methods included are:
Section
Water-Vapor Transmission of Material as Received 7
Water-Vapor Transmission after Wetting and Drying and after Long-
Time Soaking 8
Tensile Strength 9
Resistance to Puncture 10
Resistance to Plastic Flow and Elevated Temperature 11
Effect of Low Temperatures on Flexibility 12
Resistance to Deterioration from Organisms and Substances in Con-
tacting Soil 13
Resistance to Deterioration from Petroleum Vehicles for Soil Poisons 14
Resistance to Deterioration from Exposure to Ultraviolet Light 15
Resistance to Flame Spread 16
Report 17
1.3 Thevaluesstatedinacceptablemetricunitsshallbeconsideredstandard.Thevaluesinparenthesesareforinformationonly.
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
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C168 Terminology Relating to Thermal Insulation
C755 Practice for Selection of Water Vapor Retarders for Thermal Insulation
D828 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Paper and Paperboard Using Constant-Rate-of-Elongation Apparatus
D882 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic Sheeting
D1709 Test Methods for Impact Resistance of Plastic Film by the Free-Falling Dart Method
D1985 Practice for Preparing Concrete Blocks for Testing Sealants, for Joints and Cracks
D2565Practice for Operating Xenon Arc Exposure of Plastics Intended for Outside Applications
Practice for Xenon-Arc Exposure of Plastics Intended for Outdoor Applications
D4397 Specification for Polyethylene Sheeting for Construction, Industrial, and Agricultural Applications
E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
E9696/E96M Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Materials
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Performance of Buildings and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.21 on
Serviceability.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2005. Published December 2005. Originally approved in 1959. Last previous edition approved in 1999 as E154–99.
Current edition approved March 15, 2008. Published April 2008. Originally approved in 1959. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as E154–99(2005).
2
Some of these test methods were based originally on Report No. 2040, U.S. Forest Products Laboratory, and “Vapor Barrier Materials for Use with Slab-On-Ground
Construction and as Ground Covers in Crawl Spaces,” Publication 445-1956, Building Research Advisory Board (currently out-of-print).
3
ForreferencedASTMstandards,visittheASTMwebsite,www.astm.org,[e-mail] Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E154–08
E241 Guide for Limiting Water-Induced Damage to Buildings
E437Specification for Industrial Wire Cloth and Screens (Square Opening Series)
Specification for Industrial Wire Cloth and Screens (Square Opening Series) (Discontinued 2000) Replaced by E 2016
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions: For definitions o
...