ICT - Moisture Vapor Protection

Moisture vapor protection product manufacturer Koester relies on ICT to serve as its exclusive distributor of the Koester Moisture Barrier Systems product line in the upper Midwest, including Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa .

With its corporate roots in Germany, Koester has made moisture barrier systems for more than 20 years, selling its products in the United States for the past 15 years. Known around the world for its moisture vapor seal products, the company offers:

  • Koester VAP 1 2000, which will solve moisture problems with levels up to 25lbs/1000ft/24hrs
  • Koester VAP 1 PH, which will fix moisture problems with levels up to 10lbs/1000ft/24hrs
  • A line of complementary products that work with the moisture barrier systems, including cementicious floor leveling products and oil removal system for contaminated floor slabs.

ICT has distributed Koester Moisture Barrier Systems products for more than 10 years as its exclusive distributor in the upper Midwest.

What is moisture vapor transmission in concrete?

Moisture transmitted through a concrete slab is the result of water vapor (in a gas phase) traveling up through voids, pores and capillaries, moving to a point of lesser humidity--specifically the surface of the concrete that's exposed to the lower humidity ambient room environment. This will be a recurring situation because the water vapor inside the concrete will always try to equalize itself to the humidity of the room.

Where does this moisture vapor come from?

There are many potential sources of moisture vapor. While each concrete slab is different, some of the more common sources include:

  • Ground water beneath existing slabs
  • Residual mix water in new concrete that has not fully hydrated
  • Broken plumbing pipes or improper roof drainage
  • Drainage problems due to improper exterior grading of parking lots or landscaping.

Solving these problems requires application of a topical moisture barrier system, such as those from Koester. Not only do Koester Moisture Barrier Systems seal the surface, thereby reducing moisture vapor transmission, they also protect floors from alkalinity that can attack flooring adhesives and coatings.

As Koester's upper Midwest distributor with warehouses in the Chicago and Detroit areas, ICT trains and certifies Koester applicators for a turnkey solution to moisture vapor problems. We also can help by testing sites and writing specifications for existing and newly constructed buildings throughout our territory. We certify installations and provide full Koester warranty documentation.

Koester's Product Warranties

Koester offers a 10-year warranty for materials and labor for its moisture barrier systems. That warranty covers the expense of materials and labor to repair or replace the finished flooring system if Koester fails to perform as advertised in its technical documentation.

Koester's pledge to deliver the utmost in customer satisfaction is backed by an insurance policy from an independent insurance company covering up to $5 million per occurrence.

ICT Testing and Consulting Services

ICT has attained a superior level of competency and performance in delivering effective moisture vapor barrier solutions due in no small part to the testing and consulting services we provide.

We test levels of moisture vapor transmission in slabs using Calcium Chloride methods as well as relative humidity testing using a protometer.

Concrete slab core analysis includes:

  • X Ray Diffraction
  • Ion Chromatography
  • Infrared Spectroscopy
  • Petrographic Thin Section Analysis

ICT will identify conditions, such as ASR in concrete, and complete Elcometer pull off tests to test the strength of concrete surfaces or bonds between the substrate surface and flooring finishes. We do forensic studies of flooring failures and write specifications for new and existing building conditions.

Real-world success

ICT has provided material and project management services for millions of square feet in applications across the country. For a look at a few of these real-world moisture vapor problems and how ICT delivered an effective solution with Koester products, browse our case studies and references below.

Case studies and references:

  • National Instruments
  • Millennium Electronics
  • St. Elizabeth's Hospitals
  • The Hotel Allegro