Water exists in three different states in the atmosphere : viz, vapour state (steam), in liquid (rain, fog) and

in solid (snow, ice, hail). When water is in vapor state, it is not visible and the maximum quantity of water vapor that air can contain depends on temperature and pressure. For example 1 liter of air at atmospheric pressure can contain water vapor up to 2.4 g at -10 C, 4.83 g at 0C and 9.36 g at 10C. Relative Humidity is the ratio between the real quantity of water vapor that a sample of air contains and the maximum quantity of water vapor that this air is able to contain at the pressure and temperature of the sample. At 100 % of Relative Humidity the edge of saturation is reached. All increase of water vapor is transformed into liquid or ice.

Most commercial humidity sensors perform an indirect measurement of Relative Humidity. The sensitive element is a capacitor whose dielectric is a hygroscopic (polymeric) material which absorbs the water molecules of the ambient air until being in balance with it. This modification of H2O concentration in the polymer, reversible, involves a variation of the capacitor's capacity, immediately measured by the humidity indicator / controller. The sensors structure and the materials used confer to them metrological qualities and reliability. Moreover the technology used and the very low sensors mass do not disturb the measured environment. The life time of a Relative Humidity sensor is very dependent on the environment in which it is fitted. If the sensor is installed in a "domestic" environment and connected to a Polymer Humidity transmitter then its life time can be of the order of years. One will however note a slight drift of long-term sensitivity of a few % of Relative Humidity. If the sensor in an aggressive environment (presenting acid compounds, bases or solvents), its life time can be brought back to a few months, even a few days in extremes cases.

It is then necessary to add filters to protect the sensitive element. It results from all of it that the only way of defining the life time of a Relative Humidity sensor is to know the environmental characteristics (composition of gases and concentration, temperature, average moisture, electronic used, operating time....) and to test the sensor under these specific conditions. When all these parameters are difficult to define, it is necessary to test a prototype or a reference sensor in real conditions and then to check the drift and to analyze the sensor after use. This operation can be expensive and long to implement. It is often more profitable to choose the sensor and to change it regularly, with intervals depending on the use.