Page 106 - History-of-flooringLR

Our heritage in moisture detection innovation began with our foundation in 1974. Inspired by
our experience and knowledge of building moisture inspection, and working closely with one of
the world’s leading research-intensive universities, Trinity College Dublin, Tramex invented,
patented and developed the first ever non-destructive moisture meter.
History of Tramex

Since then Tramex have been at the cutting edge in innovation Rapidly following on from the Dec Scanner for flat roofing came
in moisture detection, developing non-destructive and in-situ further innovative products for moisture detection specifically
moisture meters, hygrometers, data loggers and remote designed for flooring and building inspection, including moisture
monitoring systems for specific building materials, climatic meters calibrated for quantitative moisture measurement in
conditions within the entire building envelope, focusing on materials such as wood and concrete.
numerous industries including Flooring, Water Damage
Restoration, Roofing, Building & Home Inspection, Remote The Tramex Moisture Mouse was designed in the early 1980s for
Environmental Monitoring, Pest Control, as well pinless, non-destructive moisture detection in and behind
as the Marine Industry. multiple building materials such as drywall, plaster, ties, brick
and masonry. The Moisture Mouse has since evolved into what is
Tramex’s original non-destructive moisture meter, invented and probably the world’s most popular and most used moisture
patented in 1979, featured on the former British BBC television meter, the Moisture Encounter 5, ME5, complete with Wood %
series about contemporary developments in science and Moisture Content measurement, Bluetooth connectivity to the
technology, ‘Tomorrow’s World’. Tramex Meters App for geo-tagged moisture mapping, and a
dual-depth feature for comparing the moisture conditions of a
This was the Tramex Dec Scanner, designed for non-destructive floor or wall covering with the moisture condition of the
moisture detection in flat roofing systems. Until then, the only substrate behind those coverings.
way to test flat roofing systems for moisture without taking
multiple destructive samples, was to use a nuclear or radioactive
method which required an operator’s license from the Atomic
Energy Commission, the evacuation of the building during
testing, and included stringent regulatory requirements
including special storage when not in use, and restrictive
transportation rules. In addition to that, the actual testing was
extremely slow.

Moisture Mouse (featured on Tomorrow’s World)

The Tramex Concrete Moisture Encounters were once again a
‘world’s first’. The mid-1980’s saw the first handheld, non-
destructive, quantitative moisture meters specifically designed
by Tramex to measure the % moisture content of concrete and
cementitious materials using gravimetric testing as a baseline.
And once again, Tramex’s innovation revolutionized an industry.
Flooring installers and Inspectors, as well as Water Damage
Dec Scanner (featured on Tomorrow’s World)
Restoration professionals, could now instantly and quantitatively
Tramex’s non-destructive testing method innovation was measure the moisture content of concrete floors and slabs. Our
revolutionary, being safe, easy to operate, economical, instant flooring moisture meters are not generic meters, they are made
and exceptionally reliable. specifically for the flooring industry, and as always, we do our
best to understand the needs of the industry we are serving.

All Tramex instruments

106 The History of Flooring