Standard Specification Sor Moist Cabinets, Moist Rooms, and Water Storage Tanks Used in the Testing of Hydraulic Cements and Concretes 1. SCOPE 1.1 This specification covers require- ‘ments for moist cabinets, moist rooms and water storage tanks used for storage of paste, mortar and concrete test specimens. 2. DEFINITIONS 2.1 Moist cabinet—a compartmented storage facility of moderate dimensions controlled temperature and relative bumidity. 2.2 Moist room—a walk-in” type storage facility with controlled tempera- ture and relative humidity. Commonly called a fog room when the prescribed telative humidity is achieved by the atomi- zation of fresh water. 3. REQUIREMENTS 3.1 General —The atmosphere in a ‘moist cabinet or room shall have a temper- ature of 23 + 1.7 Cand a relative humid- ity of not less than 95 percent. The mois- ture in the atmosphere shall be saturated to the degree needed to ensure the exposed surfaces of all specimens in storage will both look moist and feel moist at all times. All storage units shall be equipped with recording thermometers. The use of humidity recording devices is optional Shelves on which fresh specimens are placed shall be level 3.1.1 The air in a moist storage unit ‘must be nearly saturated with moisture in AASHTO DESIGNATION: M 201-88 (ASTM DESIGNATION: C 511-85) ‘order to provide specified storage condi- tions. In many cases, saturation is below ‘optimum during periods when specimens are being placed in or removed from stor- age. Measurements of relative humidity should not be made at such obviously inopportune times. 3.1.2 The recordings from the record- ing thermometers can be audited in order (o ascertain the adequacy of the mecha- nisms used to control the moist room air temperature. 3.2 Moist Cabinets—A moist cabinet shall be constructed of durable materials ‘and the doors shall be tight-fitting. The specified relative humidity shall be main- tained by the use of one or more fog sprays, water sprays, or “curtains” of water on the inner walls that are so directed thatthe discharge will collect in a poor at or near the bottom of the moist storage section. Provision for automatic ‘control of air temperature shall be made where a cabinet is located in a noacon- ditioned work room and in aay other instance where difficulty in maintaining temperatures within the specified range is ‘encountered, 3.3. Moist Rooms: 3.3.1 General—The walls of a moist room shall be constructed of durable ‘materials, and all openings shall be pro- vided with tight-fitting doors o¢ windows, ‘The temperature of the air in the room shall be thermostatically controlled, with provisions being made for heating or cool- ing, or both, as may be necessary. The sensing element shall be located in the moist room. The specified relative humid- ity may be maintained in any convenient and suitable manner; however, air-water type sprays with abrasion-resistant orifices shall be employed in all instances where satisfactory results have not been obtained with other devices. 3.3.2 Moist Rooms Used in Cement Testing —Durable shelving that is properly shielded to prevent droplets of water from falling on the surfaces of freshly molded specimens shall be available within each 3.3.3 Moist Rooms Used in Concrete Testing — Atmospheric conditions within each room shall be such that test speci- ‘mens in storage shall have free water maintained on the entire surface area at all times. Specimens shall not be exposed to dripping or running water. 3.4 Water Storage Tanks: 3.4.1 General—Tanks shall be con- structed of noncorroding materials. Provi sions for automatic control of water tem- perature shall be made where a tank is located in 2 nonconditioned work room and in any other instance where difficulty in maintaining temperatures within the specified range is encountered. Each tank located in a space not controlled to 23 = 1.7°C shall be equipped with a recording thermometer with its sensing clement in the storage water. Continuous running water, of demineralized water, may affect test results due to excessive leaching and should not be used in storage tanks. When located in a moist storage unit oc a similar special facility, a tank rnced not be provided with an individual temperature recording device. 379