Barrier-1 is Economical Insurance Against Moisture
The Problem = Moisture-Related Flooring Failures
Each year, North American commercial property owners spend an estimated $1.2 billion dollars on remediation of structures and interior furnishings as a result of moisture-related flooring failures due to these factors (click or scroll down for more information on each):
The Solution = Barrier-1 Concrete Admixture or Topical System
The Barrier-1 family of products were developed by individuals in the floor covering industry to solve the problem of flooring failures due to moisture migration. Our products include both an admixture, which is integral to the concrete in new construction, and topically applied systems for existing slabs.
Take Proactive Action
We advocate a proactive approach to preventing moisture-related flooring issues. Our innovative products interact with the water already present in the concrete slab and form compounds that shut down the capillary system and eliminate the main source of concrete vapor emission.
Barrier-1 Admixture is backed by a zero percent failure rate, with an average cost that is 93 % lower than topical moisture treatments. It’s clear that we provide an economical solution to stop the overwhelming problem of moisture and vapor emission in concrete slabs. The benefits to the owners and end users, in eliminating business disruptions for the replacement of failed flooring and the added expense of applying a costly topical moisture treatment, will far outweigh the small investment of adding Barrier-1 at the beginning of the project.
Our Innovation Continues
Barrier-1 is committed to quality and reliability in producing admixtures for high performance concrete. With increasing concerns for aseptic environments in the healthcare sector, Barrier-1 has formulated a biocide additive for our admixtures that will be integral to the concrete. This biocide inhibits microbial growth under damaged resilient sheet vinyl in hospital operating rooms and behind drywall walls in pre-cast and tilt-wall applications.
Get More Information
Please feel free to browse our site and learn more about our products and their capabilities. Our sales representatives are located in Florida, North Carolina, and Arizona and are always available to answer questions. Click here to find the sales representative for your area.
In addition, Barrier-1 sales representatives are active members of CSI, ACI and AIA. We are a registered CSI CEN provider and can easily set up an educational presentation for your organization.
Call us today at (407) 484-2604 or email rakoon@att.net for more information.Learn More About the Causes of Flooring Failure
Although there are many sources for the moisture that affects the slab, the two main sources are the “free water” in the concrete itself (17 gallons per cubic yard) and the moisture rising from below the slab. Moisture is released from the slab through its capillary system and the resulting vapor emission causes re-emulsified adhesive, slab curl, surface dusting, spider cracks, installation delays, added costs… and ultimately, failed flooring.
Under ideal conditions, concrete requires 40 days of drying time per inch of thickness. And under unfavorable conditions like high humidity, inclement weather and non-operational HVAC systems that are typical on job-sites, the drying time increases significantly.
With today’s fast track construction protocols and production schedules that often require the installation of flooring 30 - 40 days after the placement of the concrete slab, spending due to moisture-related flooring failures can only increase.
Inadequate Vapor Retarders or Barriers
Vapor retarders and barriers are designed to protect the concrete slab from the harmful effect of moisture. However, the success of these components is often compromised by improper installation, the omission of below-slab protection, damage during construction activities or even the use of an inadequate material. The ASTM E 1745 Specification for Water Vapor Retarders specifies retarders with a maximum permeability of 0.3 Perms and barriers at a maximum of 0.01 Perms.
Unfortunately, even properly installed and ASTM-compliant vapor protection is not fully capable of protecting the slab from moisture. Regardless of the water table depth or project region, substrate moisture beneath the slab will increase over time to 100% relative humidity. Even in arid climates, a low permeability sheet will collect condensation droplets when placed in contact with the ground.