ASTM D4444-13

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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2013
• 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

• Replaces: ASTM D4444-08 - Standard Test Method for Laboratory Standardization and Calibration of Hand-Held Moisture Meters
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Replaced By: ASTM D4444-13(2018) - Standard Test Method for Laboratory Standardization and Calibration of Hand-Held Moisture Meters
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018
• Referred By: ASTM D6254/D6254M-20 - Standard Specification for Wirebound Pallet-Type Wood Boxes
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Referred By: ASTM C1789-14(2018) - Standard Test Method for Calibration of Hand-Held Moisture Meters on Gypsum Panels
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• 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-Apr-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E2957-17 - Standard Test Method for Resistance to Wildfire Penetration of Eaves, Soffits and Other Projections
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• 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-Apr-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E2632/E2632M-20 - Standard Test Method for Evaluating the Under-Deck Fire Test Response of Deck Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• 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-Apr-2013
• Referred By: ASTM D6782-19 - Standard Test Methods for Standardization and Calibration of In-Line Dry Lumber Moisture Meters
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Referred By: ASTM D6573/D6573M-13(2020) - Standard Specification for General Purpose Wirebound Shipping Boxes
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E108-20a - Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Roof Coverings
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Referred By: ASTM D1185-98a(2017) - Standard Test Methods for Pallets and Related Structures Employed in Materials Handling and Shipping
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Referred By: ASTM D6199-18a - Standard Practice for Quality of Wood Members of Containers and Pallets
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E2579-23a - Standard Practice for Specimen Preparation and Mounting of Wood Products to Assess Surface Burning Characteristics
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013

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: D4444 − 13
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 D4442 Test Methods for Direct Moisture Content Measure-
ment of Wood and Wood-Based Materials
1.1 Thistestmethodappliestothemeasurementofmoisture
D4933 Guide for Moisture Conditioning of Wood and
content (MC) of solid wood products, including those contain-
Wood-Based Materials
ing additives (that is, chemicals or adhesives) for laboratory
D5536 Practice for Sampling ForestTrees for Determination
standardization and calibration of hand-held moisture meters
of Clear Wood Properties
1.2 This test method makes no distinction between meter
D7438 Practice for Field Calibration and Application of
measurement technologies for standardization and calibration
Hand-Held Moisture Meters
requirements. Provision is made for test specimen size to
2.2 Other ASTM Sources:
accommodate specific meters. Appendix X1 provides an ex-
ASTM Standards on Precision and Bias for Various
planatory discussion and history corresponding to the manda-
Applications, 1992
tory sections. Fundamental measurement technologies are
described in Appendix X2 when available.
3. Terminology
1.2.1 Meters employing differing technologies may not
provide equivalent readings under the same conditions. When
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
this test method has been applied, it is assumed that the
3.1.1 conductance meters—Conductance meters are those
referenced meter is acceptable unless otherwise specified.
that measure predominantly ionic conductance between points
Meters shall be calibrated with respect to MC by direct
of applied voltage, usually direct current. Direct-current con-
measurement as determined by Test Methods D4442.
ductance meters are commonly referred to as “resistance”
meters. Most commercial conductance meters are high-input
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
12 4 12
impedance (about 10 Ω), wide-range (10 to 10 Ω) ohm-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
meters.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.1.2 capacitive-admittance meters—Capacitive-admittance
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
meters transmit electromagnetic wave energy into the wood to
detect the influence of moisture in the wood on these waves as
2. Referenced Documents
an estimate of MC. Wave energy is most often in the radiof-
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
requency range; hand-held meters commonly are placed di-
D1990 Practice for Establishing Allowable Properties for
rectly on the wood surface.
Visually-Graded Dimension Lumber from In-Grade Tests
of Full-Size Specimens
4. Significance and Use
D2915 Practice for Sampling and Data-Analysis for Struc-
4.1 Hand-held meters provide a rapid means of sampling
tural Wood and Wood-Based Products
MC of wood-based materials during and after processing to
maintain quality assurance and compliance with standards.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D07 on Wood These measurements are influenced by actual MC, a number of
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D07.01 on Fundamental Test
other wood variables, environmental conditions, geometry of
Methods and Properties.
the measuring probe circuitry, and design of the meter. The
Current edition approved April 1, 2013. Published May 2013. Originally
maximum accuracy can only be obtained by an awareness of
approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as D4444–08. DOI:
10.1520/D4444-13.
the effect of each parameter on the meter output and correction
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
of readings as specified by this test method.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
4.1.1 This test method employs controlled conditions and
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. straight-grain, clear wood specimens to provide measurements
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4444 − 13
that are reproducible in a laboratory. The controlled conditions 6.2.1 Area of Measurement—Calibration shall be based,
prevent mois
...

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: D4444 − 08 D4444 − 13
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 Department of Defense.
1. 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1990 Practice for Establishing Allowable Properties for Visually-Graded Dimension Lumber from In-Grade Tests of Full-Size
Specimens
D2915 Practice for Sampling and Data-Analysis for Structural Wood and Wood-Based Products
D4442 Test Methods for Direct Moisture Content Measurement of Wood and Wood-Base Materials
D4933 Guide for Moisture Conditioning of Wood and Wood-Based Materials
D5536 Practice for Sampling Forest Trees for Determination of Clear Wood Properties
D7438 Practice for Field Calibration and Application of Hand-Held Moisture Meters
2.2 Other ASTM Sources:
ASTM Standards on Precision and Bias for Various Applications, 1992
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.1.1 conductance meters—Conductance meters are those that measure predominantly ionic conductance between points of
applied voltage, usually direct current. Direct-current conductance meters are commonly referred to as “resistance” meters. Most
12 4 12
commercial conductance meters are high-input impedance (about 10 Ω), wide-range (10 to 10 Ω) ohmmeters.
3.1.2 dielectriccapacitive-admittance meters—DielectricCapacitive-admittance meters transmit electromagnetic wave energy
into the wood to detect the influence of moisture in the wood on these waves as an estimate of MC. Wave energy is most often
in the radiofrequency range; hand-held meters commonly are placed directly on the wood surface.
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 Methods
and Properties.
Current edition approved April 1, 2008April 1, 2013. Published May 2008May 2013. Originally approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 20032008 as
D4444 – 92 (2003).D4444–08. DOI: 10.1520/D4444-08.10.1520/D4444-13.
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 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 ----------------------
D4444 − 13
4. 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 eff
...