ASTM E1745-17(2023)

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: E1745 − 17 (Reapproved 2023)
Standard Specification for
Plastic Water Vapor Retarders Used in Contact with Soil or
Granular Fill under Concrete Slabs
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1745; 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 E154/E154M Test Methods for Water Vapor Retarders Used
in Contact with Earth Under Concrete Slabs, on Walls, or
1.1 This specification covers flexible, preformed sheet
as Ground Cover
membrane materials to be used as vapor retarders in contact
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
with soil or granular fill under concrete slabs.
E1643 Practice for Selection, Design, Installation, and In-
1.1.1 This specification does not cover bituminous vapor
spection of Water Vapor Retarders Used in Contact with
retarders. See Specification E1993/E1993M for information on
Earth or Granular Fill Under Concrete Slabs
bituminous vapor retarders.
E1993/E1993M Specification for Bituminous Water Vapor
1.2 The specified tests are conducted on new materials and
Retarders Used in Contact with Soil or Granular Fill
materials that have been conditioned or exposed to simulate
Under Concrete Slabs
potential service conditions.
F1249 Test Method for Water Vapor Transmission Rate
Through Plastic Film and Sheeting Using a Modulated
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical Infrared Sensor
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
3. Terminology
and are not considered standard.
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
specification, see Terminologies C168 and E631.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
3.2.1 perm, n—the time rate of water vapor migration
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
through a material or a construction of one grain per hour,
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
square foot, inch of mercury pressure difference.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
3.2.1.1 Discussion—If a specification states that a one perm
2. Referenced Documents
limit is required, the same flow rate will be obtained from the
following relationships:
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1 perm = 1 grain/h · ft in. · Hg (inch·pound)
C168 Terminology Relating to Thermal Insulation
;12 2
= 57.2 10 kg/(Pa · s · m ) (SI fundamental units)
D828 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Paper and
= 57.2 ng/(Pa · s · m ) (SI frequently used)
Paperboard Using Constant-Rate-of-Elongation Apparatus
= 0.66 g/24 h · m · mm Hg (SI has been used but is now
obsolete)
D882 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic
Sheeting 3.2.2 vapor retarder, n—(formerly vapor barrier) a material
D1709 Test Methods for Impact Resistance of Plastic Film or construction that impedes the transmission of water vapor
by the Free-Falling Dart Method under specified conditions.
E96/E96M Test Methods for Gravimetric Determination of
3.2.3 water vapor permeability, n—a property of material
Water Vapor Transmission Rate of Materials
which is water vapor permeance through unit thickness. Since
materials that provide resistance to vapor flow are never used
1 in unit thickness, the preferred evaluation of both materials and
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on
Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.21 constructions is the permeance.
on Serviceability.
3.2.4 water-vapor permeance, n—the time rate of water
Current edition approved May 1, 2023. Published May 2023. Originally
vapor flow through unit area of the known thickness of a flat
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as E1745 – 17. DOI:
10.1520/E1745-17R23.
material or a construction normal to two specific parallel
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
surfaces induced by unit vapor pressure difference between the
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
two surfaces under specific temperature and humidity condi-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. tions. See perm.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E1745 − 17 (2023)
4. Classification 7.3 Resistance to Puncture of New Material—Refer to Test
Methods D1709, Test Method B.
4.1 Materials shall be specified to conform to one of these
three classes: A, B, or C, or specific requirements shall be 7.4 Special Conditions—When specifically required by the
specified in one or more of the properties listed in Table 1. buyer, due to special conditions which dictate properties of fire
resistivity, prolonged exposure to sunlight, or resistance to
5. Specifying Information
deterioration from hydrocarbons, the material shall conform to
the following:
5.1 Specifications for materials shall include the following:
5.1.1 This specification
...