Environmental & Analytical Services :: Bell Building Sciences Group :: Consulting · Failure/Forensics Investigation & Analysis

The Bell Building Sciences Group provides various services in the pre- or post-installation of floor covering and coating systems. Our services go beyond what is typical provided by flooring inspection companies. Some of our environmental and analytical services are listed below.

ENVIRONMENTAL & ANALYTICAL SERVICES

In the process of evaluating concrete slabs and other cementitious substrates prior to the installation of flooring systems or in the forensic investigation into the failure of a flooring or coating product, subfloor system, or other substrates we utilize various industry standards including test methods, practices, and guidelines. These standards are also utilized in other types of diagnostic investigations such as with determination into the cause of a sweating slab, also known as "Sweating Slab Syndrome."

Our experts utilize a combination of analytical techniques and experience during the investigation to determine the possible cause of a product failure. During this process, we typically conduct a set of environmental and/or analytical tests then analyze the results and their conclusions which may revel a potential otherwise unseen cause of failure. We then rely on this data combined with industry standards, product specifications, our industry knowledge, and other information collected to identify the possible failure hypothesis(es).

Some of the standards used are listed below. Please inquire about any field or lab service not listed.

CONCRETE SLAB MOISTURE & ALKALINITY TESTING

Concrete Moisture Vapor Emission Rate (MVER)

ASTM F1869-04 Standard Test Method for Measuring Moisture Vapor Emission Rate of Concrete Subfloors Using Anhydrous Calcium Chloride.

Relative Humidity in Concrete Floor Slabs

ASTM F2170-02 Test Method for Determining Relative Humidity in Concrete Floor Slabs Using In-Situ Probes.

Relative Humidity on the Surface of Concrete Floor Slabs

ASTM F2420-05 Standard Test Method for Determining Relative Humidity on the Surface of Concrete Floor Slabs Using Relative Humidity Probe Measurement and Insulated Hood.

Alkalinity/pH Level on the Surface of Concrete Floor Slabs

ASTM F710-08 Standard Practice for Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring specifies that the surface of concrete slabs be tested for alkalinity before installing a floor covering. Our agency uses both pH meters and pH indicator paper to perform this test.

ASTM D4262-05 Standard Test Method for pH of Chemically Cleaned or Etched Concrete Surfaces

DATA LOGGING OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

We are the first testing agency in Georgia and one of the few in the country that has the hi-tech equipment able to provide automated data logging for in-situ concrete slab relative humidity (RH) and temperature recording during a given monitoring time table. This provides valuable tracking data of moisture and temperature trends in a slab.

We are also able to provide data logging documentation for the ambient conditions (relative humidity, temperature, dew point, air movement, and more) during the testing process, flooring installation, or other given times.

REMOTE MONITORING & DATA LOGGING

Keeping with our reputation of being one of the first agencies with cutting-edge technology, we are the first in the country to offer remote monitoring of in-situ concrete slab relative humidity (RH) and temperature recordings utilizing wireless transmitters. Our clients and other selected parties involved with a project are able to log into a secure server to remotely monitor in real time the drying process of a concrete slab and other construction materials along with the ambient environmental conditions. This system can also be used to monitor heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

Email alerts can be sent when conditions meet chosen minimum or maximum thresholds. This system also data logs all recordings and provides for the creation of various reports and graphs.

TESTING OF COATINGS ON CONCRETE & OTHER SUBSTRATES

Tensile Adhesion / Bond Testing of Coatings on Cementitious and other Substrates

ASTM C1583/C1583M-04e1 Standard Test Method for Tensile Strength of Concrete Surfaces and the Bond Strength or Tensile Strength of Concrete Repair and Overlay Materials by Direct Tension (Pull-off Method)

ASTM D3359-08 Standard Test Methods for Measuring Adhesion by Tape Test

ASTM D4541–09 Standard Test Method for Pull-Off Strength of Coatings Using Portable Adhesion Testers

ASTM D7234-05 Standard Test Method for Pull-Off Adhesion Strength of Coatings on Concrete Using Portable Pull-Off Adhesion Testers

ICRI 03739 Guide to Using In-Situ Tensile Pull-Off Tests to Evaluate Bond of Concrete Surface Materials

Thickness Testing of Coatings on Cementitious and other Substrates

ASTM D4138-07a Practices for Measurement of Dry Film Thickness of Protective Coating Systems by Destructive, Cross-Sectioning Means

ASTM D6132-04 Standard Test Method for Nondestructive Measurement of Dry Film Thickness of Applied Organic Coatings Using an Ultrasonic Gage

Relative Humidity on the Surface of Concrete Floor Coatings

Modified test method of ASTM F2420-05 Standard Test Method for Determining Relative Humidity on the Surface of Concrete Floor Slabs Using Relative Humidity Probe Measurement and Insulated Hood.

LABORATORY ANALYSIS

Concrete Cores

Sample Drilling

X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) Analysis

Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) Analysis evaluation of the concrete solids

Infra-red (IR) Spectroscopy organic chemical analysis

Ion Chromatography (IC) Analysis (water-soluble Cl, SO4, K, and Na)

ASTM C42/C42M-04 Standard Test Method for Obtaining and Testing Drilled Cores and Sawed Beams of Concrete

ASTM C823–00 Standard Practice for Examination and Sampling of Hardened Concrete in Constructions

Petrographic & Microscopic Examination of Concrete Cores

ASTM C295–03 Standard Guide for Petrographic Examination of Aggregates for Concrete

ASTM C457-08a Standard Test Method for Microscopical Determination of Parameters of the Air-Void System in Hardened Concrete

ASTM C642-06 Standard Test Method for Density, Absorption, and Voids in Hardened Concrete

ASTM C856-04 Standard Practice for Petrographic Examination of Hardened Concrete

ASTM C1324-04 Standard Test Method for Examination and Analysis of Hardened Masonry Mortar

Flooring Materials Testing

As part of our evaluation of flooring problems, various test methods from ASTM International, AATCC (American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists), DIN (Deutsches Institut fur Normung), ISO (International Organization for Standardization), NALFA (North American Laminate Flooring Association) and other industry testing standards can be performed and utilized in analyzing issues with flooring products.