ASTM E2178-21

Standard Test Method for Determining Air Leakage Rate and Calculation of Air Permeance of Building Materials

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The purpose of this test is to calculate an assigned air permeance of flexible sheet or rigid panel-type materials at a reference air pressure differential of 75 Pa. The results of this test may be useful in determining suitability of that material as a component of an air retarder system.  
4.2 This method does not address the installed air leakage performance of building materials. The installed performance of air retarder materials and air retarder systems in low-rise framed wall construction is addressed in Specification E1677.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method is to determine the air leakage rate of building materials at various pressure differentials with the intent of calculating an assigned air permeance rate of the material at the reference pressure difference (ΔP) of 75 Pa.  
1.2 The method is intended to assess flexible sheet or rigid panel-type materials using a 1 m × 1 m specimen size.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurements are included in this standard.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Jan-2021
• ICS: 91.100.01 - Construction materials in general
• Technical Committee: E06 - Performance of Buildings
• Drafting Committee: E06.41 - Air Leakage and Ventilation Performance

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:E2178 −21
Standard Test Method for
Determining Air Leakage Rate and Calculation of Air
1
Permeance of Building Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2178; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 This test method is to determine the air leakage rate of 3.1 Definitions:
building materials at various pressure differentials with the 3.1.1 For definitions of general terms related to building
intent of calculating an assigned air permeance rate of the construction used in this test method, refer to Terminology
material at the reference pressure difference (∆P)of75Pa. E631.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.2 The method is intended to assess flexible sheet or rigid
2
3.2.1 air leakage rate (Q), L/(s·m )—theairleakageperunit
panel-type materials using a1m×1m specimen size.
specimen area (A).
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
3.2.2 air permeance, L/s—the rate of air flow per unit area
standard. No other units of measurements are included in this
2
(m ) and per unit static pressure differential (Pa).
standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4. Significance and Use
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.1 The purpose of this test is to calculate an assigned air
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
permeance of flexible sheet or rigid panel-type materials at a
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
reference air pressure differential of 75Pa. The results of this
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
test may be useful in determining suitability of that material as
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
a component of an air retarder system.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
4.2 This method does not address the installed air leakage
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
performance of building materials. The installed performance
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
of air retarder materials and air retarder systems in low-rise
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
framed wall construction is addressed in Specification E1677.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
5. Sampling
2. Referenced Documents
2
5.1 The number of specimens to be tested shall be suitable
2.1 ASTM Standards:
to establish an air leakage rate which is representative of the
E283/E283MTest Method for Determining Rate of Air
product. In no case shall less than five specimens be tested.
Leakage Through Exterior Windows, Skylights, Curtain
NOTE1—Becauseofthevariabilityinthemanufactureofaproduct,the
Walls, and Doors Under Specified Pressure Differences
number of specimens to be tested may vary from product to product.
Across the Specimen
Certain materials may have standard methods for sampling that shall be
E631Terminology of Building Constructions
used to sample these materials.
E1677SpecificationforAirBarrier(AB)MaterialorAssem-
6. Test Apparatus
blies for Low-Rise Framed Building Walls
6.1 A schematic of the air leakage rate test apparatus is
presented in Fig. 1.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on
6.1.1 Airtight Test Chamber—The airtight test chamber
Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.41
shall be at least 320 mm deep and capable of receivinga1m
on Air Leakage and Ventilation Performance.
by 1 m test specimen, anchored to the test chamber by means
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2021. Published February 2021. Originally
of a compression frame and clamping devices. The test
approved in 2001. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as E2178–13. DOI:
10.1520/E2178-21.
chamber and compression frame shall be stiff enough to limit
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
deflectionwithintheoperatingflexibilityofthegasketsusedto
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
seal the test specimen to the chamber. Two parallel ribbons of
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. self-adhesive gasket material shall be applied at all sealing
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E2178−21
FIG. 1General Configuration of Test Apparatus
points of the apparatus/test specimen assembly. The gasket stream of the flow mea
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E2178 − 13 E2178 − 21
Standard Test Method for
Air Determining Air Leakage Rate and Calculation of Air
1
Permeance of Building Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2178; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method is to determine the air permeance leakage rate of building materials at various pressure differentials with the
intent of determiningcalculating an assigned air permeance rate of the material at the reference pressure difference (ΔP) of 75 Pa.
1.2 The method is intended to assess flexible sheet or rigid panel-type materials using a 1 m × 1 m specimen size.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurements are included in this standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E283E283/E283M Test Method for Determining Rate of Air Leakage Through Exterior Windows, Skylights, Curtain Walls, and
Doors Under Specified Pressure Differences Across the Specimen
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
E1677 Specification for Air Barrier (AB) Material or Assemblies for Low-Rise Framed Building Walls
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of general terms related to building construction used in this test method, refer to Terminology E631.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
2
3.2.1 air leakage rate (Q), L/(s·m )—the air leakage per unit specimen area (A).
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.41 on Air Leakage
and Ventilation Performance.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2013Feb. 1, 2021. Published March 2013February 2021. Originally approved in 2001. Last previous edition approved in 20112013 as
E2178 – 11.E2178 – 13. DOI: 10.1520/E2178-13.10.1520/E2178-21.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’sstandard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E2178 − 21
2
3.2.2 air permeance—permeance, L/s—the rate of air flow (L/s), per unit area (m ) and per unit static pressure differential (Pa).
4. Significance and Use
4.1 The purpose of this test is to measure the calculate an assigned air permeance of flexible sheet or rigid panel-type materials.
materials at a reference air pressure differential of 75 Pa. The results of this test may be useful in determining suitability of that
material as a component of an air retarder system.
4.2 This method does not address the installed air leakage performance of building materials. The installed performance of air
retarder materials and air retarder systems in low-rise framed wall construction is addressed in Specification E1677.
5. Sampling
5.1 The number of specimens to be tested shall be suitable to establish an air leakage rate which is representative of the product.
In no case shall less than five specimens be tested.
NOTE 1—Because of the variability in the manufacture of a product, the number of specimens to be tested may vary from product to product. Certain
materials may have standard methods for sampling that shall be used to sample these materials.
6. Test Apparatus
6.1 A schematic of the air leakage rate test apparatus is presented in Fig. 1.
FIG. 1 General Configuration of Test Apparatus
2

---------------------- Page: 2 ----------------------
E2178 − 21
6.1.1 Air
...