PermeaTORR AC+ · Cover concrete air permeability
ASTM C1963-26 air-permeability testing for hardened cover concrete.
PermeaTORR AC+ is a specialized non-destructive instrument for measuring the air-permeability coefficient kT of cover concrete in the laboratory or at the jobsite. It provides repeatable results in minutes for civil engineers, materials laboratories and construction QA/QC teams.
2-6 mintypical test duration
kTair-permeability coefficient
24 VDCsafe operation
Standards and compliance
ASTM C1963-26 air-permeability testing for North American concrete projects.
PermeaTORR AC+ measures the air-permeability coefficient of hardened cover concrete using the double-chamber vacuum cell method described in ASTM C1963-26. It gives civil engineers, materials laboratories and construction QA/QC teams a non-destructive way to evaluate the quality of the concrete protecting a structure.
United States standard
ASTM C1963-26 establishes the test method for determining the air-permeability coefficient of hardened concrete by the double-chamber vacuum cell method.
International standards
The test method is also referenced by national standards used in Europe, Asia and Latin America.
- Swiss Standard SIA 262/1:2019
- Japanese Standard NDIS 3436-2:2020
- Argentine Standard IRAM 1892:2022
- Peruvian Standard NTP 239.714:2024
Manufacturing standards
PermeaTORR AC+ is manufactured by EXO S.A. in facilities operating in conformity with internationally recognized management standards.
- ISO 9001 — Quality management
- ISO 14001 — Environmental management
- ISO 45001 — Occupational health and safety
Measurement and durability
Evaluate the concrete that protects the structure.
What PermeaTORR AC+ measures
The instrument measures the coefficient of air permeability, kT, of the cover concrete. Parallel kT and Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry measurements have shown that kT reflects the openness of the concrete pore structure.
Why air permeability matters
Cover concrete is the first barrier against the penetration of aggressive species. Its permeability is strongly influenced by concrete composition, placement, consolidation, formwork and especially curing, making measurement on the finished structure valuable for durability assessment.
How the double-chamber vacuum cell method works
01
Seal and create vacuum
The cell is sealed to the concrete surface by concentric soft rubber rings, creating separate inner and outer chambers.
02
Isolate the inner chamber
When the vacuum reaches 30 mbar, the inner chamber pneumatic system is isolated from the pump.
03
Monitor pressure rise
Air in the concrete pores flows into the inner chamber. The rate of pressure increase is directly linked to air permeability.
04
Calculate kT
Balanced pressure between both chambers creates controlled unidirectional flow, allowing the instrument to calculate kT.
Technical system
Designed for repeatable testing in field and laboratory conditions.
Automatic operation
Automatic testing and calibration through a clear color touchscreen.
Active cell
Integrated valves and sensors for improved pressure monitoring and control.
Stable calibration
Lower and more stable calibration pressure for reliable operation.
Field-ready hardware
Oil-less mini-pump, 5 m hose and compact 10 kg system weight.
Remote workflow
Smartphone remote control, typed, spoken or pictorial data input and USB Excel export.
Moisture compensation
Optional moisture compensation for improved interpretation in practical conditions.
Applications
From durability control to condition assessment and service-life evaluation.
- Durability control of new concrete structures and finished work.
- Condition assessment of existing structures.
- Realistic service-life evaluation.
- Research, product development and long-term permeability monitoring.
- Assessment of curing, sealing methods and fire-related explosive spalling behavior.
Panama
New Panama Canal
United States of America
Port of Miami Tunnel
Argentina
Antarctic Carlini Base
Japan
Tokyo’s National Museum of Western Art
China
Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Sea-link
Italy
Industrial Building
Global reach
Proven PermeaTORR technology across international markets.
More than 250 PermeaTORR family instruments have been sold in 21 countries since 2008.
250+instruments sold
21countries
Since 2008international field experience
Technical library
Technical resources for confident testing and interpretation.
Access the product literature, test-method documentation, application papers and research references used by engineers and laboratories to plan tests, operate PermeaTORR AC+ and interpret kT results.
Presentations and method science
Moisture Measurement and its Compensation.
Applications and case papers
Application of Air-Permeability Measurements to New Panama Canal.
Evaluation of Port of Miami Tunnel Segments.
Permeability and condition of concrete in the Argentine Antarctic ‘Carlini’ Base.
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Sea-link.
Application of Air-Permeability Measurements to Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Link.
Research papers
Non destructive air permeability tests to assess the performance of the concrete cover.
Nondestructive quality evaluation of surface concrete with various curing conditions.
Technical-economical consequences of the use of controlled permeable formwork.
Service Life Prediction: Theorecrete, Labcrete and Realcrete Approaches.
Service life assessment of concrete structures based on site testing.
Real Case: Assessing Sulfate Resistance of Coastal Protection Precast Elements.
Carbonation rate in old structures assessed with airpermeability site NDT.
Concrete permeability and explosive spalling in fire.
Long-term permeability measurements on site-cast concrete box culverts.
In Situ Durability Characteristics of New and Old Concrete Structures.
Operation videos
Follow the complete operating workflow in English, or open a subtitled version in Chinese, German, Japanese or Spanish.
Concrete Permeability and Durability Performance
From Theory to Field Applications. All you need to know to perform kT tests and correctly interpret the results.
A reference book by Roberto J. Torrent, Rui D. Neves and Kei-ichi Imamoto.
Frequently asked questions
Practical information for technical teams.
What does PermeaTORR AC+ measure?
It measures the coefficient of air permeability, kT, of hardened cover concrete using a double-chamber vacuum cell.
Is the test destructive?
No. The measurement is entirely non-destructive and can be performed on finished structures.
How long does a typical test take?
A typical test takes approximately 2 to 6 minutes.
Can it be used in the laboratory and at the jobsite?
Yes. PermeaTORR AC+ is designed for both laboratory measurements and testing on concrete structures in the field.
How are test data handled?
Data can be entered through the touchscreen or remote smartphone workflow and downloaded through the USB port as an Excel file.
Which standards reference the method?
The method is referenced by ASTM C1963-26, SIA 262/1:2019, NDIS 3436-2:2020, IRAM 1892:2022 and NTP 239.714:2024.
Need specifications, pricing or technical support?
Contact EXO Innovations, Inc. for product specifications, purchasing information, application guidance or technical assistance.