ASTM_E_2178_-_13.pdf

Designation:E217813Standard Test Method forAir Permeance of Building Materials1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2178;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This test method is to determine the air permeance ofbuilding materials at various pressure differentials with theintent of determining an assigned air permeance rate of thematerial at the reference pressure difference(P)of 75 Pa.1.2 The method is intended to assess flexible sheet or rigidpanel-type materials using a 1 m 1 m specimen size.1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard.No other units of measurements are included in thisstandard.1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2E283 Test Method for Determining Rate of Air LeakageThrough Exterior Windows,Curtain Walls,and DoorsUnder Specified Pressure Differences Across the Speci-menE631 Terminology of Building ConstructionsE1677 Specification forAir Barrier(AB)Material or Systemfor Low-Rise Framed Building Walls3.Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 For definitions of general terms related to buildingconstruction used in this test method,refer to TerminologyE631.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 air permeancethe rate of air flow(L/s),per unit area(m2)and per unit static pressure differential(Pa).4.Significance and Use4.1 The purpose of this test is to measure the air permeanceof flexible sheet or rigid panel-type materials.The results ofthis test may be useful in determining suitability of thatmaterial as a component of an air retarder system.4.2 This method does not address the installed air leakageperformance of building materials.The installed performanceof air retarder materials and air retarder systems in low-riseframed wall construction is addressed in Specification E1677.5.Sampling5.1 The number of specimens to be tested shall be suitableto establish an air leakage rate which is representative of theproduct.In no case shall less than five specimens be tested.NOTE1Because of the variability in the manufacture of a product,thenumber of specimens to be tested may vary from product to product.Certain materials may have standard methods for sampling that shall beused to sample these materials.6.Test Apparatus6.1 A schematic of the air leakage test apparatus is pre-sented in Fig.1.6.1.1 Airtight Test ChamberThe airtight test chambershall be at least 320 mm deep and capable of receiving a 1 mby 1 m test specimen,anchored to the test chamber by meansof a compression frame and clamping devices.The testchamber and compression frame shall be stiff enough to limitdeflection within the operating flexibility of the gaskets used toseal the test specimen to the chamber.Two parallel ribbons ofself-adhesive gasket material shall be applied at all sealingpoints of the apparatus/test specimen assembly.The gasketribbons shall be made of medium-density gasket material thatcan be fused or glued at joints.The test apparatus shall containan over-pressure control device and windows to verify thespecimen installation.6.1.2 Flow Measuring DevicesThe flow measuring de-vices used to gage the air flow through the test specimen shallbe capable of measuring air flow rate from 1 10-6m3/s(.001L/s)up to 1.88 10-2m3/s(18.8 L/s),with an accuracy of 63%of the reading.6.1.3 Pressure Measuring DevicesThe static pressure dif-ferential across the test specimen shall be measured by pressure1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 onPerformance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.41on Air Leakage and Ventilation Performance.Current edition approved Feb.1,2013.Published March 2013.Originallyapproved in 2001.Last previous edition approved in 2011 as E2178 11.DOI:10.1520/E2178-13.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 measuring devices with an accuracy of 6 0.5%of the pressurereading.The laboratory barometric pressure shall be measuredwith a device capable of measuring barometric pressure within6 3%of the reading.6.1.4 PipingThe piping connecting the flow measuringdevices and the vacuum blower shall be airtight and containflow control devices to regulate the static pressure across thetest spec