Curtain Wall Testing Procedure

Testing representative segments of curtain wall or windows for example comprises three basic tests plus three others.

Curtain wall testing procedure.

The astm e 1105 standard test method for field determination of water penetration of installed exterior windows skylights doors and curtain walls is used for water penetration testing and the astm e 783 standard test method for field measurement of air leakage through installed exterior windows and doors is used for air infiltration. Water penetration testing consists of utilizing a portable wind generator and installing a spray rack system at the exterior of the specimen. Aama 501 1 standard test method for water penetration of windows curtain walls and doors using dynamic pressure dynamic water penetration testing hawg. Premature failure is likely to dramatically reduce building life because replacement or repair is a massive undertaking requiring a vacant building extensive exterior access and replacement of all interior finishes in perimeter rooms.

The height of the test area should include at least one expansion or stack joint at least one spandrel section and one vision section. The chosen area is soaked from the lowest horizontal brace to any adjacent vertical framing. For these tests an airtight chamber is constructed on one side of the specimen. During testing the interior face of the test area is inspected for water leakage.

Typically the height of the test area should be at least one full floor storey high. Window washer anchorage load tests supplemental water resistance following sealant removal negative load sealant bonding tests are performed when specified. Curtain walls have to keep the weather out and the people in. The air pressure differences acting across a building envelope vary greatly.

Astm e1105 procedure a water penetration testing is conducted at the specified air pressure differential while simultaneously spraying water on to the exterior face of the assembly at the required rate of 5 gph ft2. Pull this flap at approximately 90oangle. During the test a member of the testing team will be inside to monitor the wallsand check for any leakage. We provide design review and full scale testing to make sure that these systems do this reliably for the life of the building.

The curtain wall mock up is subjected to alternating hot and cold cycles maintained for two hours per cycle. Significance and use 5 1 this test method is a standard procedure for determining the resistance to water penetration under uniform or cyclic static air pressure differences of installed exterior windows skylights curtain walls and doors. The nozzle is held 1 foot away from the glass and slowly moved back and forth for the duration of the 5 minute test. The tab sample consists of a single 3 8 9 mm diameter bead of sealant that is tooled to a thickness of 1 4 6 mm.

In the case of a unitized curtain wall system a vertical module joint should also be included within the test area.