ASTM Field Quality Control Testing
Sovell Investigative Testing and Consulting (SITC) has conducted ASTM International water penetration testing on residential, light commercial, commercial and architectural grade projects throughout the United States and Canada for over twenty years.
For examples of the projects that Sovell Investigative Testing and Consulting has conducted in the past see our projects page.
Sovell Investigative Testing and Consulting utilizes a variety of ASTM International specifications to conduct water penetration testing.
The ASTM standards listed below are the most commonly utilized by Sovell Investigative Testing and Consulting when performing water penetration testing.
ASTM International E1105-15 Standard Test Method for Field Determination of Water Penetration of Installed Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors and Curtain Walls, by Uniform or Cyclic Static Air Pressure Difference
ASTM E1105 is the most popular test method for field determination of water penetration.
Why is ASTM E1105 the most popular test method for field determination of water penetration?
Because it is a combination standard. It combines the following two laboratory standards into one field standard:
ASTM E331 Standard Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain Walls by Uniform Static Air Pressure Difference
ASTM E547 Standard Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain Walls by Cyclic Static Air Pressure Difference
Specifiers utilized ASTM E1105 because it can cover them on their project specifications whether the product was certified utilizing ASTM E547, ASTM E331 or both.
This allows the specifier to write the project specifications utilizing ASTM E1105 whether it’s a residential, light commercial, commercial, heavy commercial or architectural performance class product.
See our ASTM E1105 page for more information.
ASTM International E783-02 Standard Test Method for Field Measurement of Air Leakage Through Installed Exterior Windows and Doors.
This test method provides a field testing procedure for determining the air leakage rates of installed exterior windows and doors.
This test method is for testing window and doors only. This test method is not intended for testing the leakage through wall systems.
ASTM E783 is one of the most misunderstood test method conducted in the field for multiple reasons:
- The testing agency must know the laboratory testing results related to Hallmark certification. ASTM E783 does not have allowable rates within the document.
- There are multiple test pressures differences that the specimen can be tested to depending on its performance class. ASTM E783 does not discuss this within the document.
- There are various ways of measurement to determine the air leakage rate.
- There is no 1.5 times the applicable AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S./A440 rate for product type and performance class in ASTM E783.
These are just a few items that need to be addressed prior to conducting a field air infiltration test.
See our ASTM E783 page for more information