When it comes to construction, determining the correct moisture content of wetted building materials and analyzing corresponding locations, orientations and patterns is of imminent value to forensic engineers and building scientists. As many building damages relate to insurance claims and construction defect/ subrogation lawsuits, legal challenges to the accuracy of measured moisture content (MC) have arisen.

Moisture in the built environment

Various types of leaks may expose the built environment to a range of potential MC. A common roof or window leak causes low-volume moisture intrusion that subjects the interior building components to an intermittent source and corresponding elevated MC, while a sudden plumbing leak may result in near saturated conditions.

Gypsum board drywall and wood building products are near universal in modern construction. Extended moisture exposure to interior building components causes fungal growth, deterioration, and eventual weakening and/or failure of the material.

A wide range of possible moisture contents within a building subjected to a leak prompts the question as to the precision of moisture meters at a range of contents, substrates, and which meter is more effective under which specific circumstance.

Study materials and methods

An independent study was conducted to establish the level of precision of common moisture meters used to quantify and measure moisture content in building components. The study tested four different brand moisture meters in gypsum and wood substrates at normal, high and saturated moisture contents. After specified periods of wetting, four different brands of moisture meter were utilized to determine the moisture content of specimens by manual pin type measurements. The results were compared against laboratory-obtained moisture content to assess the accuracy of meters in each substrate at a varying range of MC.

• Meter E had a retail price of $320.
• Meter G had a retail price of $35.
• Meter S had a retail price of $599.
• Meter T had a retail price of $342.

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