ASTM E154/E154M-08a(2019)
(Test Method)Standard Test Methods for Water Vapor Retarders Used in Contact with Earth Under Concrete Slabs, on Walls, or as Ground Cover
Standard Test Methods for Water Vapor Retarders Used in Contact with Earth Under Concrete Slabs, on Walls, or as Ground Cover
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 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 E241 and Practice C755). Neither will all test methods listed be necessary in all evaluations for specific exposures (see 16.2).
4.2 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 E241 and Practice C755). 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 methods2 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 either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 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
Relations
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: E154/E154M − 08a (Reapproved 2019)
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/E154M; 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 (´) 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 priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
2 mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of the
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
properties of flexible membranes to be used as vapor retarders
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
in contact with earth under concrete slabs, against walls, or as
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
ground cover in crawl spaces. The test methods are applicable
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
primarily to plastic films and other flexible sheets. The mate-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
rials are not intended to be subjected to sustained hydrostatic
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
pressure. The procedures simulate conditions to which vapor
retarders may be subjected prior to and during installation, and
2. Referenced Documents
in service.
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.2 The test methods included are:
C168Terminology Relating to Thermal Insulation
Section
C755Practice for Selection of Water Vapor Retarders for
Water-Vapor Transmission of Material as Received 7
Thermal Insulation
Water-Vapor Transmission after Wetting and Drying and after Long-
Time Soaking 8 D828Test Method for Tensile Properties of Paper and
Tensile Strength 9
PaperboardUsingConstant-Rate-of-ElongationApparatus
Resistance to Puncture 10
D882Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic
Resistance to Plastic Flow and Elevated Temperature 11
Effect of Low Temperatures on Flexibility 12 Sheeting
Resistance to Deterioration from Organisms and Substances in Con-
D1709Test Methods for Impact Resistance of Plastic Film
tacting Soil 13
by the Free-Falling Dart Method
Resistance to Deterioration from Petroleum Vehicles for Soil Poisons 14
Resistance to Deterioration from Exposure to Ultraviolet Light 15
D1985Practice for Preparing Concrete Blocks for Testing
Resistance to Flame Spread 16
Sealants, for Joints and Cracks
Report 17
D2565Practice for Xenon-Arc Exposure of Plastics In-
1.3 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
tended for Outdoor Applications
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
D4397 Specification for Polyethylene Sheeting for
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
Construction, Industrial, and Agricultural Applications
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
E84Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance
Building Materials
with the standard.
E96/E96MTest Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Materials
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
E241Guide for Limiting Water-Induced Damage to Build-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
ings
E437Specification for Industrial Wire Cloth and Screens
(Square Opening Series) (Discontinued 2000) Replaced
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on
4
by E 2016 (Withdrawn 2000)
Performance of Buildings and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.21
on Serviceability.
CurrenteditionapprovedJuly1,2019.PublishedJuly2019.Originallyapproved
ɛ1
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in 1959. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as E154/E154M–08a (2013) . For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
DOI: 10.1520/E0154_E0154M–08AR19. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
2
Some of these test methods were based originally on Report No. 2040, U.S. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Forest Products Laboratory, and “Vapor Barrier Materials for Use with Slab-On- the ASTM website.
4
Ground Construction and as Ground Covers in Crawl Spaces,” Publication The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
445-1956, Building Research Advisory Board (currently out-of-print)
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