Vapor barrier thickness is a key attribute of a below-slab vapor barrier but it does not tell the whole story. Tune into this Stego IQ episode where Stego Technical Director Dan Marks provides some insight on all the key attributes that make up a high-performing under-slab vapor barrier which is puncture resistance, tensile strength, and most importantly permeance and longevity.

Stego IQ returns with the latest episode dispelling the myth about vapor barriers and slab curl. Dan Marks, Stego's Technical Director, returns to the screen to explain the short term slab curl effects with a vapor barrier as well as the long term effects of slab curl if you do not install a below slab vapor barrier.

A Breakdown of the Four Sections Within ASTM E1643

ASTM International, formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), is a globally recognized leader in the development and delivery of international voluntary consensus standards. Today, some 12,000 ASTM standards are used around the world to improve product quality, enhance safety, facilitate market access and trade, and build consumer confidence.

ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) E1745 is the Standard Specification for Plastic Water Vapor Retarders Used in Contact with Soil or Granular Fill under Concrete Slabs. This standard requires products undergo conditioning testing designed to simulate in-service (under-slab and installation) conditions, and it classifies vapor retarders based on their tensile strength, puncture resistance, and water vapor permeance ratings.