ASTM D4444-13(2018)

Standard Test Method for Laboratory Standardization and Calibration of Hand-Held Moisture Meters

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Hand-held meters provide a rapid means of sampling MC of wood-based materials during and after processing to maintain quality assurance and compliance with standards. These measurements are influenced by actual MC, a number of other wood variables, environmental conditions, geometry of the measuring probe circuitry, and design of the meter. The maximum accuracy can only be obtained by an awareness of the effect of each parameter on the meter output and correction of readings as specified by this test method.  
4.1.1 This test method employs controlled conditions and straight-grain, clear wood specimens to provide measurements that are reproducible in a laboratory. The controlled conditions prevent moisture and temperature gradients in the test specimen.  
4.1.2 In laboratory calibration, the reference direct moisture measurements (for example, Test Methods D4442) shall be made only in the area of direct measurement of the meter. This minimizes error associated with sampling of differing areas of measurement between this test method and that of the reference (Test Methods D4442).  
4.2 Most uses of hand-held moisture meters employ correlative (predictive) relationships between the meter reading and wood areas or volumes that exceed that of the direct meter measurement (for example, larger specimens, pieces of lumber, or lots). These correlative relationships are beyond the scope of this test method. (See Practice D7438.)
SCOPE
1.1 This test method applies to the measurement of moisture content (MC) of solid wood products, including those containing additives (that is, chemicals or adhesives) for laboratory standardization and calibration of hand-held moisture meters  
1.2 This test method makes no distinction between meter measurement technologies for standardization and calibration requirements. Provision is made for test specimen size to accommodate specific meters. Appendix X1 provides an explanatory discussion and history corresponding to the mandatory sections. Fundamental measurement technologies are described in Appendix X2 when available.  
1.2.1 Meters employing differing technologies may not provide equivalent readings under the same conditions. When this test method has been applied, it is assumed that the referenced meter is acceptable unless otherwise specified. Meters shall be calibrated with respect to MC by direct measurement as determined by Test Methods D4442.  
1.3 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Jun-2018
• ICS: 79.080 - Semi-manufactures of timber
• ICS: 79.120.99 - Other woodworking equipment
• Technical Committee: D07 - Wood
• Drafting Committee: D07.01 - Fundamental Test Methods and Properties

Relations

• Refers: ASTM D5536-15 - Standard Practice for Sampling Forest Trees for Determination of Clear Wood Properties
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2015
• Refers: ASTM D4442-15 - Standard Test Methods for Direct Moisture Content Measurement of Wood and Wood-Based Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2015
• Refers: ASTM D1990-16 - Standard Practice for Establishing Allowable Properties for Visually-Graded Dimension Lumber from In-Grade Tests of Full-Size Specimens
• Effective Date: 01-May-2016
• Refers: ASTM D4442-16 - Standard Test Methods for Direct Moisture Content Measurement of Wood and Wood-Based Materials
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2016
• Refers: ASTM D4442-20 - Standard Test Methods for Direct Moisture Content Measurement of Wood and Wood-Based Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2020
• Referred By: ASTM B900-16(2022) - Standard Practice for Packaging of Copper and Copper Alloy Mill Products for U.S. Government Agencies
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018
• Referred By: ASTM E2579-23a - Standard Practice for Specimen Preparation and Mounting of Wood Products to Assess Surface Burning Characteristics
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018
• Referred By: ASTM E2957-17 - Standard Test Method for Resistance to Wildfire Penetration of Eaves, Soffits and Other Projections
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018
• Referred By: ASTM D7446-09(2017) - Standard Specification for Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) Adhesives for Laminating Oriented Strand Board (OSB) to Rigid Cellular Polystryene Thermal Insulation Core Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018
• Referred By: ASTM D6254/D6254M-20 - Standard Specification for Wirebound Pallet-Type Wood Boxes
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018
• Referred By: ASTM E603-23 - Standard Guide for Room Fire Experiments
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018
• Referred By: ASTM D7438-20 - Standard Practice for Field Calibration and Application of Hand-Held Moisture Meters
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018
• Referred By: ASTM E2632/E2632M-20 - Standard Test Method for Evaluating the Under-Deck Fire Test Response of Deck Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018
• Referred By: ASTM D1990-19 - Standard Practice for Establishing Allowable Properties for Visually-Graded Dimension Lumber from In-Grade Tests of Full-Size Specimens
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018
• Referred By: ASTM E2707-22 - Standard Test Method for Determining Fire Penetration of Exterior Wall Assemblies Using a Direct Flame Impingement Exposure
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018
• Referred By: ASTM E108-20a - Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Roof Coverings
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018
• Referred By: ASTM E84-23b - Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018
• Referred By: ASTM D6573/D6573M-13(2020) - Standard Specification for General Purpose Wirebound Shipping Boxes
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018
• Referred By: ASTM D6782-19 - Standard Test Methods for Standardization and Calibration of In-Line Dry Lumber Moisture Meters
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018
• Referred By: ASTM D1185-98a(2017) - Standard Test Methods for Pallets and Related Structures Employed in Materials Handling and Shipping
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018
• Referred By: ASTM C1789-14(2018) - Standard Test Method for Calibration of Hand-Held Moisture Meters on Gypsum Panels
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018
• Referred By: ASTM G198-17 - Standard Test Method for Determining the Relative Corrosion Performance of Driven Fasteners in Contact with Treated Wood
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018
• Referred By: ASTM D6199-18a - Standard Practice for Quality of Wood Members of Containers and Pallets
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018
• Referred By: ASTM D6874-22a - Standard Test Methods for Nondestructive Evaluation of the Stiffness of Wood and Wood-Based Materials Using Transverse Vibration or Stress Wave Propagation
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D4444 − 13 (Reapproved 2018)
Standard Test Method for
Laboratory Standardization and Calibration of Hand-Held
1
Moisture Meters
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4444; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
2
1.1 Thistestmethodappliestothemeasurementofmoisture 2.1 ASTM Standards:
content (MC) of solid wood products, including those contain- D1990 Practice for Establishing Allowable Properties for
ing additives (that is, chemicals or adhesives) for laboratory Visually-Graded Dimension Lumber from In-Grade Tests
standardization and calibration of hand-held moisture meters of Full-Size Specimens
D2915 Practice for Sampling and Data-Analysis for Struc-
1.2 This test method makes no distinction between meter
tural Wood and Wood-Based Products
measurement technologies for standardization and calibration
D4442 Test Methods for Direct Moisture Content Measure-
requirements. Provision is made for test specimen size to
ment of Wood and Wood-Based Materials
accommodate specific meters. Appendix X1 provides an ex-
D4933 Guide for Moisture Conditioning of Wood and
planatory discussion and history corresponding to the manda-
Wood-Based Materials
tory sections. Fundamental measurement technologies are
D5536 Practice for Sampling ForestTrees for Determination
described in Appendix X2 when available.
of Clear Wood Properties
1.2.1 Meters employing differing technologies may not
D7438 Practice for Field Calibration and Application of
provide equivalent readings under the same conditions. When
Hand-Held Moisture Meters
this test method has been applied, it is assumed that the
2.2 Other ASTM Sources:
referenced meter is acceptable unless otherwise specified.
ASTM Standards on Precision and Bias for Various
Meters shall be calibrated with respect to MC by direct
Applications, 1992
measurement as determined by Test Methods D4442.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3. Terminology
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1.1 conductance meters—Conductance meters are those
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
that measure predominantly ionic conductance between points
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
of applied voltage, usually direct current. Direct-current con-
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
ductance meters are commonly referred to as “resistance”
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
meters. Most commercial conductance meters are high-input
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
12 4 12
impedance (about 10 Ω), wide-range (10 to 10 Ω) ohm-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
meters.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
3.1.2 capacitive-admittance meters—Capacitive-admittance
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
meters transmit electromagnetic wave energy into the wood to
detect the influence of moisture in the wood on these waves as
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D07 on Wood
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D07.01 on Fundamental Test
2
Methods and Properties. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved July 1, 2018. Published August 2018. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as D4444–13. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D4444-13R18. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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D4444 − 13 (2018)
an estimate of MC. Wave energy is most often in the radiof- 5.2.3 Report—The report shall indicate (in the meter
requency range; hand-held meters commonly are placed di- manual, on the meter or meter scale, or on the supplied
rectly on the wood surface. reference standard) the meter model, and the electrodes for
which the standardization is valid. The sensitivity of the meter,
4. Significance and Us
...