Testing

of
Glazed Exterior Wall
S t
Systems
Presented by:
Building Exterior Solutions, LLC
“Creating Better Building Envelopes”

Amy Peevey Brom, PE

Jerry Abendroth, RRC
 General Types of Testing
 Performance Testingg
 Quality Assurance/Quality Control
T ti
Testing
 Diagnostic Testing
Performance Testing
 Performance Testing
 Pre
Pre--construction mock
mock--up
• Purpose: testing is performed to attempt to simulate as-as-
built field conditions for the evaluation of the performance
and constructability of an exterior wall system
• Standards:
 ASTM E 283 “Standard Test Method for Determining Rate of
Air Leakage …”
…
 ASTM E 331: “Standard Test Method for Water
Penetration...” (Static Pressure)
 Structural Uniform Loading by Static Pressure (ASTM E330)
 AAMA 501.1: “Standard Test Method for Water
Penetration...” (Dynamic Pressure)
 AAMA 1503: “Voluntary Test Method for Thermal
Transmittance and Condensation Resistance…”
 Mock--Up Testing Process
Mock
 Mock
Mock--up scope and shop drawings
 Laboratory mock
mock--up construction &
observations of installation
 Mock--up testing
Mock
 Corrections / Modifications (as necessary)
 Retesting (as required)
 Reporting
 Incorporation
p of modifications into the field
erection shop drawings
 Mock--up Specimen
Mock
 Size:
• Typically at least 2 stories high by two
units wide
 Scope:
• Incorporate largest spans/openings
which exceed published test data
• Incorporate adjacent finishes/conditions
to ensure construction and configuration
• Include insets, corners, parapets,
sunshades, etc. where possible
 Mock--Up Construction and
Mock
Ob
Observations
i
 Mock
Mock--up Construction
• Contractor to provide same superintendent and/or
foreman at mock-
mock-up that will be in field
• Construction can be performance and aesthetic
 Mock
Mock--up
p Construction Observations
• Attendees should include Owner, General Contractor,
Subcontractor, Architect, etc.
• Opportunity to observe non-
non-visible portions of system
• Confirm construction in conformance with shop
drawings
 Mock--up Testing
Mock
 Contractor may perform pre-
pre-test
• Testing to be performed in presence of test lab (at a minimum)
so that any modifications made to obtain passing results are
documented
 Common Laboratory Tests
• Air Infiltration (ASTM E283)
• Static Water Penetration (ASTM E331)
• Dynamic Water Penetration (AAMA 501.1, ASTM E 547)
• Structural Uniform Loading by Static Pressure (ASTM E330)
• Maintenance Equipment Testing (100% of design load)
• Static Water Penetration (ASTM E331)
• Structural Uniform Proof Load Test (ASTM E330)
• Maintenance Equipment Proof Load Testing (150% of design
l d)
load)
• Other tests: sill dam testing, redundant sealant testing, etc.
 Mock-Up Corrections/
Mock-
M difi i
Modifications
 Corrections which do not affect the test
specimen are allowed
 Modifications to the specimen not reflected
on shop drawings require retest
 All corrections
ti and
d modifications
difi ti are tto b
be
reported by test lab
 All modifications are to be incorporated
into shop drawings and field construction
Mock--up
Mock p Testing
g
Static Water Testing
g
Dynamic Water Testing
Structural Uniform Testing
g
Structural Uniform Testing
g
 Quality Assurance/
Quality
Q y Control Testing
g
 QA/QC Testing
 Field Testing
• Purpose: Testing of installed assemblies to
evaluate the performance and quality of the
workk iinstalled.
ll d (I
(It iis d
desirable
i bl to perform
f
throughout construction so that quality at each
stage is evaluated
evaluated.))
• Standards:
 AAMA 502502--08: “Voluntary
Voluntary Specification for Field
Testing of Newly Installed Fenestration Products”.
 ASTM E1105: “Standard Test Method for Field
Determination of Water Penetration of Installed…”
(Static Pressure)
 Field QA/QC Testing Process
 Pre
Pre--installation meeting
 Selecting test location
 Performing of field testing
 Corrections / Modifications (as necessary)
 Retesting (as required)
 Reporting
 Incorporating modifications into the field
erection shop drawings
 Additional testing (many Architects require additional
testing if field tests fail)
 Field QA/QC Testing Scope
 Scope: Type of testing, test location, test size, and
test frequency dictated in specifications
• Type:
 Chamber:
• Water Penetration: ASTM E1105
• Air Infiltration: ASTM E 283
 Water nozzle: AAMA 501.2
• Location: Typically selected by A/E or Consultant
• Size: Typically one floor level by two units high
• Frequency:
 Recommended: 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 90%.
 Typical targets
targets:: 10%, 50%, and 75%
 Field QA/QC Testing
 Common Field Tests
• Air Infiltration (ASTM E 783)
• Static Water Penetration (ASTM E 1105)
• Water Nozzle Testing (AAMA 501.2)
• Other tests: sill dam testing
g ((AAMA 502),
),
redundant sealant testing, etc.
 Field Testing Corrections/
M difi i
Modifications
 Modifications to the specimen not reflected
on shop drawings require all previous
installations to be remediated and all
future work to incorporate modifications
performed to test specimen
 All corrections and modifications are to be
reported by test lab
 All modifications are to be incorporated
i t shop
into h d drawings
i and
d fifield
ld construction
t ti
Field Air Infiltration
Field Static Water Penetration
T i
Testing
Field Water Nozzle Testing
Sill Dam Testing
Water Level

Plugged
Weep at
Exterior
Diagnostic Testing
 Diagnostic Testing
 Purpose: Testing of installed assemblies to determine
the source of known water infiltration.
infiltration
 Standard Guidelines:
• AAMA 511: “Voluntary
y Guideline for Forensic Water Penetration
Testing”
• ASTM E 2128: “Standard Guide for Evaluating Water Leakage of
Building
g Walls”
 Standards:
• AAMA 501.2 “QA and Diagnostic Water Leakage Field Check of
Installed ”
Installed…
• AAMA 502502--08: “Voluntary Specification for Field Testing of
Newly Installed Fenestration Products”.
• ASTM E1105:
E1105 “Standard
“St d d Test
T t Method
M th d for
f Field
Fi ld Determination
D t i ti off
Water Penetration of Installed…”
(Static Pressure)
 Diagnostic Evaluation
Process
 Review of Project Documents
 Evaluation of Design Concept
 Determination
D t i ti off S
Service
i Hi
History
t
 Inspection
 Investigative Testing
 Analysis
 Report Preparation
Diagnostic vs
vs. Performance
 Water nozzle test used to isolate
approximate leak location
 Standard field testing performed to further
isolate source
• Test to actual conditions
 Determine actual wind velocities and rate of rainfall
for testing
g
• Variations to testing
 Isolate specimen
p so p
perimeter excluded
 Then test specimen including perimeter condition
Diagnostic Testing
Summary
 Summary
 Pre
Pre--Construction Performance Testing
• Air: ASTM E 783
• Static Water: ASTM E 1105
• Structural: ASTM E 331
• Nozzle: AAMA 501.2 (field check, not performance)
 Construction Qualityy Assurance/Qualityy Control
Testing
• Air: ASTM E 783
• Static
St ti WWater:
t ASTM E 1105
• Nozzle: AAMA 501.2 (field check, not performance)
 Diagnostic Testing
• AAMA 501.2 supplemented with ASTM E 1105
 Questions?

Thank you
o for your
o r time and interest
interest.

B ildi
Building E
Exterior
t i S Solutions,
l ti LLC
“Creating Better Building Envelopes”