ASTM E3026-23

Standard Guide for Readily Observable Moisture Affected Materials and Conditions Conducive to Elevated Moisture in Commercial Buildings: Visual Moisture Assessment Process

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Use—This guide is intended for use on a voluntary basis by parties who wish to obtain a limited survey of commercial real estate to assess for readily observable moisture affected materials and physical deficiencies conducive to elevated moisture as part of a commercial real estate transaction or commercial property management. This guide is intended to constitute a limited inquiry using representative observations for the purposes of conducting due diligence regarding the actual and potential presence of readily observable moisture affected materials and physical deficiencies conducive to elevated moisture in connection with the subject property. Inquiries that are more and less comprehensive than this guide (including, in some instances, no inquiry) may be appropriate in some circumstances in the opinion of the user (for example, when the presence of moisture affected materials is known to the user). Furthermore, no implication is intended that a person must use this guide in order to be deemed to have conducted appropriate inquiry in a commercially prudent or reasonable manner in a particular transaction. Nevertheless, this guide is intended to reflect a commercially prudent and reasonable inquiry. However, a LMA is not intended to serve as a comprehensive survey for the presence of readily observable moisture affected materials and physical deficiencies conducive to elevated moisture in all or most of the building systems throughout a commercial building.  
4.2 Clarification of Use:  
4.2.1 Specific Point in Time—Because conditions conducive to elevated moisture in a building can vary greatly over time due to changes in weather, interior air handling and conditioning, occupancy, and so forth, a user should only rely on the results presented in the report for the point in time at which the LMA was conducted.  
4.2.2 Site-Specific—This guide is site-specific in that it relates to assessment of readily observable moisture affected materials and physical def...
SCOPE
1.1 Purpose—The purpose of this guide2 is to define good commercial practice for conducting a limited survey for readily observable moisture affected materials and conditions conducive to elevated moisture in a commercial building related to commercial real estate transaction or commercial real estate management by conducting: a walk-through survey, document reviews, and interviews as outlined within this guide. This guide is intended to provide a practical means for the limited identification of moisture affected materials and physical deficiencies conducive to elevated moisture caused by water infiltration through the building envelope or substructure or generated within the subject building as a result of processes or mechanical systems, excluding de minimis conditions. This guide is to allow a user to assess general moisture concerns, as well as the potential need for further assessment or other actions that may be appropriate that are beyond the scope of this guide. For purposes of this guide, the initialism “LMA” or “Limited Moisture Assessment” is used interchangeably with this guide’s full title.  
1.2 Purpose Limitations—While a LMA may be used to survey for readily identifiable moisture affected materials and physical deficiencies conducive to elevated moisture, the LMA is not designed to serve as comprehensive survey for the presence of moisture affected materials and physical deficiencies conducive to elevated moisture in all or most areas in a commercial building. It is not intended to reduce or eliminate the risks that elevated moisture may pose to the subject building or its occupants.  
1.3 Considerations Beyond This Scope—The use of this guide is limited to the scope set forth in this section. Section 12 of this guide identifies, for informational purposes, certain physical conditions (not an all-inclusive list) that may exist at a subject property and certain activities or procedures (not an all-inclu...

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 14-Mar-2023
• ICS: 91.040.01 - Buildings in general
• ICS: 91.120.10 - Thermal insulation of buildings
• Technical Committee: E50 - Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action
• Drafting Committee: E50.02 - Real Estate Assessment and Management

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: E3026 − 23
Standard Guide for
Readily Observable Moisture Affected Materials and
Conditions Conducive to Elevated Moisture in Commercial
1
Buildings: Visual Moisture Assessment Process
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3026; 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 physical conditions (not an all-inclusive list) that may exist at
2 a subject property and certain activities or procedures (not an
1.1 Purpose—The purpose of this guide is to define good
all-inclusive list) that are beyond the scope of this guide but
commercial practice for conducting a limited survey for readily
may warrant consideration by users. The need to investigate
observable moisture affected materials and conditions condu-
any such conditions in the provider’s scope of services should
cive to elevated moisture in a commercial building related to
be evaluated based upon, among other factors, the nature of the
commercial real estate transaction or commercial real estate
subject property and the reason for conducting the LMA. The
management by conducting: a walk-through survey, document
scope of such further investigation or testing services should be
reviews, and interviews as outlined within this guide. This
agreed upon between the user and the provider as additional
guide is intended to provide a practical means for the limited
services, which are beyond the scope of this guide, prior to
identification of moisture affected materials and physical
initiation of the LMA process. The responsibility to initiate
deficiencies conducive to elevated moisture caused by water
work beyond the scope of this guide lies with the user.
infiltration through the building envelope or substructure or
generated within the subject building as a result of processes or 1.3.1 Sampling for suspect fungi and other forms of biologi-
mechanical systems, excluding de minimis conditions. This cal growth is a non-scope consideration under this guide.
guide is to allow a user to assess general moisture concerns, as
1.3.2 Sampling or otherwise measuring for moisture is a
well as the potential need for further assessment or other
non-scope consideration under this guide.
actions that may be appropriate that are beyond the scope of
1.4 Organization of the Guide—This guide has 13 sections
this guide. For purposes of this guide, the initialism “LMA” or
and two appendices. Section 1 defines the Scope. Section 2 is
“Limited Moisture Assessment” is used interchangeably with
Referenced Documents. Section 3 is Terminology. Section 4
this guide’s full title.
defines the Significance and Use of this guide. Section 5
1.2 Purpose Limitations—While a LMA may be used to
describes User Responsibilities. Sections 6 through 11 provide
survey for readily identifiable moisture affected materials and
guidelines for the main body of the report, including the scope
physical deficiencies conducive to elevated moisture, the LMA
of the walk-through survey and preparation of the report.
is not designed to serve as comprehensivesurvey for the
Section 12 identifies Out of Scope Considerations. Section 13
presence of moisture affected materials and physical deficien-
lists keywords for Internet reference. Appendix X1 provides
cies conducive to elevated moisture in all or most areas in a
the user with a suggested Interview Checklist, and Appendix
commercial building. It is not intended to reduce or eliminate
X2 provides the user with a suggested Field Checklist.
the risks that elevated moisture may pose to the subject
building or its occupants.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.3 Considerations Beyond This Scope—The use of this
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
guide is limited to the scope set forth in this section. Section 12
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
of this guide identifies, for informational purposes, certain
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E50 on Environmental
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action and is the direct responsibil-
ity of Subcommittee E50.02 on Real Estate Assessment and Management.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Current edition approved March 15, 2023. Published April 2023. Originally
Development of International Standards, Guides and
...

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: E3026 − 15 E3026 − 23
Standard Guide for
Readily Observable Moisture Affected Materials and
Conditions Conducive to Elevated Moisture in Commercial
1
Buildings: Visual Moisture Assessment Process
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3026; 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
2
1.1 Purpose—The purpose of this guide is to define good commercial practice for conducting a baselinelimited survey for readily
observable moisture affected materials and conditions conducive to elevated moisture in a commercial building related to a
commercial real estate transaction or commercial real estate asset management by conducting: a walk-through survey, document
reviews, and interviews as outlined within this guide. This guide is intended to provide a practical means for the visuallimited
identification of moisture affected materials and physical deficiencies conducive to elevated moisture as a result of caused by water
infiltration through the building envelope or substructure,substructure or generated within the subject building as a result of
processes or mechanical systems, excluding de minimis conditions. This guide is to allow a user to assess general moisture
concerns, as well as the potential need for further assessment or other actions that may be appropriate that are beyond the scope
of this guide. For purposes of this guide, the initialism “VMALMA” or “VisualLimited Moisture Assessment” is used
interchangeably with this guide’s full title.
1.2 Purpose Limitations—While a VMALMA may be used to survey for readily identifiable moisture affected materials and
physical deficiencies conducive to elevated moisture, the VMALMA is not designed to serve as comprehensivesurvey for the
presence of moisture affected materials and physical deficiencies conducive to elevated moisture in all or most areas in a
commercial building. It is not intended to reduce or eliminate the risks that elevated moisture may pose to the subject building or
its occupants.
1.3 Considerations Beyond This Scope—The use of this guide is strictly limited to the scope set forth in this section. Section 12
of this guide identifies, for informational purposes, certain physical conditions (not an all-inclusive list) that may exist at a subject
property and certain activities or procedures (not an all-inclusive list) that are beyond the scope of this guide but may warrant
consideration by users. The need to investigate any such conditions in the provider’s scope of services should be evaluated based
upon, among other factors, the nature of the subject property and the reason for conducting the VMA.LMA. The scope of such
further investigation or testing services should be agreed upon between the user and the provider as additional services, which are
beyond the scope of this guide, prior to initiation of the VMALMA process. The responsibility to initiate work beyond the scope
of this guide lies with the user.
1.3.1 Sampling for suspect fungi and other forms of biological growth is a non-scope consideration under this guide.
1.3.2 Sampling or otherwise measuring for moisture is a non-scope consideration under this guide.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E50 on Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action and is the direct responsibility
of Subcommittee E50.02 on Real Estate Assessment and Management.
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2015March 15, 2023. Published August 2015April 2023. Originally approved in 2015. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as
E3026–15. DOI: 10.1520/E3026–1510.1520/E3026–23
2
Whenever terms defined in Section 3 are used in this guide, they are in italics.
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E3026 − 23
1.4 Organization of the Guide—This guide has 13 sections and threetwo appendices. Section 1 defines the Scope. Section 2 is
Referenced Documents. Section 3 is Terminology. Section 4 defines the Significance and Use of this guide. Section 5 describes
User Responsibilities. Sections 6 through 11 provide guidelines for the main body of the report, including the scope of the
walk-through survey and preparation of the report. Section 12 and
...