THE IMPORTANCE OF VAPOR MANAGEMENT IN

TILED STEAM ROOM INSTALLATIONS

Bastian Lohmann, wedi Corporation

Credit(s) earned on completion of

this course (1 LU) will be reported to
AIA CES for AIA members.
Certificates of Completion for both
AIA members and non-AIA members
are available upon request.

This course is registered with AIA

CES for continuing professional
education. As such, it does not
include content that may be deemed
or construed to be an approval or
endorsement by the AIA of any
material of construction or any
method or manner of
handling, using, distributing, or
dealing in any material or product.
___________________________________________
Questions related to specific materials, methods, and
services will be addressed at the conclusion of this
presentation.

SESSION DESCRIPTION
Steam room applications are a niche that is growing
and the physics and mechanics required when
designing and building these applications safely
cannot go overlooked. This session will address the
different environments, usage levels and technical
equipment a contractor needs to consider before
installation of a tiled steam room begins. Other
areas to be discussed include stone and tile
selection, command safe installation techniques,
and proper products employed in the process.

Learning Objectives

The tiled Steam Room as a wellness application

Structural design of the tiled steam room
Functional design of the tiled steam room
Protecting the installation : safe water and water
vapor management
Surface finish design of the tiled steam room
Maintenance: Preventive and corrective

Steam Rooms & Steam Showers : Well-Being Movement

Sat. humidity
100-120* F
Produced by
steam generator
Addition of
Shower, Chroma
or Music therapy/
functions
Tile & Stone as a
traditional finish:
well being for the
eyes

Structural design of the tiled steam room- General

Loadbearing structure(s)
Water & vapor tight envelope
Ceiling sloped at 2/ft. min.
Benches sloped at 1% min.
Floor sloped /ft. / Drainage
Insulation in wall/ceiling
No obstacles in path ways
Sealed door opens to outside;
no lock
All moisture ,temperature and
substance exposed construction
materials properly fitted
Area in front of steam room
is a wet area and must be
protected
Consider Local, State and
National Building codes

Structural design of the tiled steam room

Commercial / Residential environments possible substrates:
Framework wood/metal

Structural design of the steam room

Commercial / Residential environments possible substrates:
Masonry, concrete, solid walls

Structural design of the steam room

Commercial / Residential environments- possible substrates:
Self supporting walls made of foam based building panels

Structural design of the steam room

Commercial / Residential environments - possible substrates:
Wood floors

Structural design of the steam room

Commercial / Residential environments- possible substrates:
Concrete Floors

Structural design of the steam room

Special applications- special challenges added

Structural design of the steam room

Seating areas are a must but may present challenges

Structural design of the steam room

No matter the substrates:
The key to success is to place working
products in working combination and
at their right place using the right
workmanship

Interior & functional design of the steam room

Design that:
Provides relaxation
Speaks to your senses
Allows steam to open skin pores
and cleanse
Allows steam to help respiratory
system
And optionally adds color
or aroma therapy

Interior & functional design of the steam room

The Steam Generator
Creates water
vapor/ saturation of
98% RH
Heats the room to
100-120*F
Water vapor shall
be visible
regulate
temperature !

Interior & functional design of the steam room

The Steam Generator

Position generator within 25 ft

Use only brass/ copper piping
Piping with 212*F rated insulation
Install generator on even,
protected surface
Run pipes straight with /ft. pitch
Must have control unit inside the
room, temperature regulated
Position steam inlet 1 ft. above floor
Position steam inlet away from user
Equip steam inlet with shield
Inlet must be water/vapor proofed
Generator must be decalcified
Generator may need higher power
connections

Interior & functional design of the steam room

Lighting/ Chroma Therapy
Available as LED, regular
lighting, fiber optics
Safe illumination of room must
be installed
Only low voltage units should
be considered with rating for
underwater / heavy water and
vapor exposure areas
Installation must be vapor tight

Interior & functional design of the steam room

Aroma Therapy ( optional)
Aromas mixed into steam flow
Keep unit cable away from
(hot) steam generator parts
Certain substances may be
aggressive towards tile/ stone /
glass

Interior & functional design of the steam room

Plumbing and shower technology
More elaborate in residential
steam showers
Should include handheld shower
to clean
Material must be safe in vapor
environment
Fixtures must be safely sealed in /
vapor tight

Protecting the installation :

safe water and water vapor management
Hot Air, High
Humidity

Cool Air,
Low
Humidity

Safe water and water vapor management

Goal: Protect substrate(s) and assembly against corrosion and
decay thus allowing the entire installation to function and survive
Strategy: Water and Water Vapor sealing and protection of the
entire envelope, doors and all installation fixtures
Tools & Applications:
a. Waterproofing installation
b. Water &vapor proofing/retarding as needed and correctly placed

a. Waterproofing installation

Over all inside surfaces wall, ceiling, benches, objects tiled

Over or within shower floor ( bonding flange or liner method)
All fixtures and installations must be waterproofed
Waterproofing is needed due to use of unit as shower or in order to
manage condensation and aggressive cleaning
Waterproofing is needed in all residential and commercial steam
room applications.
Topically applied waterproofing membranes are available in liquid,
sheet or backer board form. All products should meet ANSI 118.10
Waterproofing applied within floors should meet ANSI 118.10/ ASTM
D4068 or ASTM D4551
The safest methods describe a water out approach and locate the
waterproofing layer directly beneath the surface finish installation
thus avoiding water migration into structures which may form
possible petri dishes for mold & mildew.
Ideally, in a steam room a waterproofing will function as a sufficient
vapor retarding membrane all in one.

b. Vapor proofing installation

Over all inside surfaces wall, ceiling, benches, objects tiled
All fixtures and installations must be vapor proof and proofed
Vapor proofing/retarding must be correctly placed to manage migration of
vapor and condensation
If topical waterproofing membrane is not capable of retarding vapor, an
additional vapor retarder must be installed behind the tile backing surface
and overlap into the floor waterproofing membrane ( i.e. polyethylene
sheeting with permeability rating of 0.1 or less as per TCNA Handbook)
The Tile Council of North America also recommends that topical
waterproofing membranes (sheet/liquid/backer board based) in
continuous use steam rooms must have a permeability rating of 0.5
when measured using ASTM E96 Method E ( saturated humidity/100*F,
desiccant or water method) . The Tile Council does not differentiate
between residential and commercial use in its details. The rating is not
based on testing but on cautionary industry consensus. Will it be enough?

b. Water & Vapor proofing installationPractical issues and questions to ask

How strong will a vapor retarding membrane have to be in

non- continuous (residential or commercial) applications?
What to do in commercial steam rooms where an additional vapor
retarder is needed but cannot overlap into a floor liner ?
Is it safe to use additional vapor retarders that are stapled or anchored to
framework or solid substrates? Safe behind benches/multiple sheets?
If a sheet, liquid or backer board applied membrane is used for
waterproofing and it can provide a sufficient vapor retarding as well:
Is the installation technique safe ( i.e. overlapping thinset bonded sheet
membranes )
Please ensure proper thickness of liquid membrane installations:
A permeability rating is the arithmetic result of a materials permeance
and thickness. Please ask the manufacturer for the needed application
thickness , number of coating applications needed
Please make sure the product was tested under ASTME96 Method E
( 90% RH) -There are five methods

b. Water & Vapor proofing installationNeed for new and clear definitions:
Waterproof Membrane: Permeability rating possibly high
Vapor Retarder: Traditionally 1 going against zero
Vapor Barrier : zero to acceptable low permeability fitting
a certain steam room environment/design ( size/usage)
Three categories but two actively refer to vapor protection.
Is it not time to uncouple the waterproofing membrane
term from this application and stop possible confusion?

b. Vapor proofing installationAdditional helpful design components

Insulation Strength/ R-Value:
High R Value

Lower
Temperature
Differential

Lower Vapor
Pressure
( + added
efficiency)

Setting Materials/ added vapor resistance :

Solid Epoxy thinset/grout combination ( 100% coverage)
Impervious tile

Surface finish design of the steam room

Ceramics, Glass, Stone

Porcelain/
Ceramic
Glass
Natural
Stone

Suitable
with varying
degrees
Partially suitable,
except translucent
tile
Partially suitable, except
moisture sensitive stone

! Considerations:
Slip resistance on floors
Potential for color
changes/ physical
reactions?
Oily surface possible?
Porosity supporting
efflorescence?
Expansion/contraction

Surface finish design of the steam room

Appropriate Setting/ Grout materials
Epoxy based
ANSI 118.3

Suitable and
perfect choice

Fortified
Mortars/Grout
ANSI 118.4; 118.7

Suitable with
limitations

Unfortified
Portland Cement
mortars/Grout
ANSI 118.1 ; 118.6

Suitable except
with most
steam room
appropriate tile

Surface finish design of the steam room

Protecting the tile work

Expansion&
Slip Joints
Tile & Stone
Sealers

Proper material, where planes

change, every 8-12 ft
See TCNA Detail EJ 171
With caution
where
applicable

YOUR PARTNER

IN

STEAM ROOM PROJECTS:

www.wedicorp.com
info@wedicorp.com
Tel. 877.933.WEDI

WE

LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR

SUPPORT :

THANK YOU
Any Questions?
Bastian Lohmann; wedi Corporation
Tel. 877-933-WEDI; info@wedicorp.com