ASTM E547-00

Standard Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain Walls by Cyclic Static Air Pressure Difference

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This test method is a standard procedure for determining the resistance to water penetration under cyclic static air pressure differences. The air-pressure differences acting across a building envelope vary greatly. These factors should be fully considered prior to specifying the test pressure difference to be used.
Note 1—In applying the results of tests by this test method, note that the performance of a wall or its components, or both, may be a function of proper installation and adjustment. In service, the performance will also depend on the rigidity of supporting construction and on the resistance of components to deterioration by various causes, vibration, thermal expansion and contraction, etc. It is difficult to simulate the identical complex wetting conditions that can be encountered in service, with large wind-blown water drops, increasing water drop impact pressures with increasing wind velocity, and lateral or upward moving air and water. Some designs are more sensitive than others to this upward moving water.
Note 2—This test method does not identify unobservable liquid water which may penetrate into the test specimen.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the resistance of exterior windows, curtain walls, skylights, and doors to water penetration when water is applied to the outdoor face and exposed edges simultaneously with a cyclic static air pressure at the outdoor face higher than the pressure at the indoor face.
1.2 This test method is applicable to any curtain-wall area or to windows, skylights, or doors alone.
1.3 This test method addresses water penetration through a manufactured assembly. Water that penetrates the assembly, but does not result in a failure as defined herein, may have adverse effects on the performance of contained materials such as sealants and insulating or laminated glass. This test method does not address these issues.
1.4 The proper use of this test method requires a knowledge of the principles of pressure measurement.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The inch-pound equivalents of SI units may be approximate.
1.6 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  For specific hazard statements see 7.1.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Oct-2000
• ICS: 91.060.10 - Walls. Partitions. Facades
• ICS: 91.060.50 - Doors and windows
• Technical Committee: E06 - Performance of Buildings
• Drafting Committee: E06.51 - Performance of Windows, Doors, Skylights and Curtain Walls

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM E547-00(2009) - Standard Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain Walls by Cyclic Static Air Pressure Difference
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2009
• Referred By: ASTM E241-20 - Standard Guide for Limiting Water-Induced Damage to Buildings
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2000
• Referred By: ASTM E2128-20 - Standard Guide for Evaluating Water Leakage of Building Walls
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2000
• Referred By: ASTM E2264-23 - Standard Practice for Determining the Effects of Temperature Cycling on Fenestration Products
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2000
• Referred By: ASTM C1401-23 - Standard Guide for Structural Sealant Glazing
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2000
• Referred By: ASTM E2112-23 - Standard Practice for Installation of Exterior Windows, Doors and Skylights
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2000
• Referred By: ASTM D7338-14(2023) - Standard Guide for Assessment Of Fungal Growth in Buildings
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2000
• Referred By: ASTM E2266-22 - Standard Guide for Design and Construction of Low-Rise Frame Building Wall Systems to Resist Water Intrusion
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2000
• Referred By: ASTM E1105-15(2023) - 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
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2000
• Referred By: ASTM E2099-23 - Standard Practice for Specification and Evaluation of Pre-Construction Laboratory Mockups of Exterior Wall Systems
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2000

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:E547–00
Standard Test Method for
Water Penetration of Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors,
and Curtain Walls by Cyclic Static Air Pressure Difference
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 547; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 specimen, n—the entire assembled unit submitted for
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the resis-
test as described in Section 8.
tance of exterior windows, curtain walls, skylights, and doors
3.2.2 test pressure difference, n—the specified difference in
to water penetration when water is applied to the outdoor face
static air pressure across the closed and locked or fixed
and exposed edges simultaneously with a cyclic static air
specimen expressed as pascals (lbf/ft ).
pressure at the outdoor face higher than the pressure at the
3.2.3 water penetration, n—penetration of water beyond a
indoor face.
plane parallel to the glazing (the vertical plane) intersecting the
1.2 Thistestmethodisapplicabletoanycurtain-wallareaor
innermost projection of the test specimen, not including
to windows, skylights, or doors alone.
interiortrimandhardware,underthespecifiedconditionsofair
1.3 This test method addresses water penetration through a
pressure difference across the specimen. For products with
manufactured assembly. Water that penetrates the assembly,
non-planer glazing surfaces (domes, vaults, pyramids, etc.) the
but does not result in a failure as defined herein, may have
plane defining water penetration is the plane defined by the
adverse effects on the performance of contained materials such
innermost edges of the unit frame.
as sealants and insulating or laminated glass. This test method
does not address these issues.
4. Summary of Test Method
1.4 The proper use of this test method requires a knowledge
4.1 This test method consists of sealing the test specimen
of the principles of pressure measurement.
into or against one face of a test chamber, and supplying air to
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
or exhausting air from the chamber at the rate required to
standard. The inch-pound equivalents of SI units may be
maintain the test pressure difference across the specimen for
approximate.
the time cycle specified, while spraying water onto the outdoor
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
face of the specimen at the required rate and observing any
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
water penetration.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
5. Significance and Use
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard
5.1 Thistestmethodisastandardprocedurefordetermining
statements see 7.1.
the resistance to water penetration under cyclic static air
2. Referenced Documents pressure differences. The air-pressure differences acting across
a building envelope vary greatly. These factors should be fully
2.1 ASTM Standards:
2 considered prior to specifying the test pressure difference to be
E 631 Terminology of Building Constructions
used.
3. Terminology
NOTE 1—In applying the results of tests by this test method, note that
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of general terms relating to
the performance of a wall or its components, or both, may be a function
ofproperinstallationandadjustment.Inservice,theperformancewillalso
buildingconstructionusedinthistestmethod,seeTerminology
depend on the rigidity of supporting construction and on the resistance of
E 631.
components to deterioration by various causes, vibration, thermal expan-
sion and contraction, etc. It is difficult to simulate the identical complex
wetting conditions that can be encountered in service, with large wind-
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on
Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.51 blown water drops, increasing water drop impact pressures with increas-
on Component Performance of Windows, Curtain Walls, and Doors.
ing wind velocity, and lateral or upward moving air and water. Some
Current edition approved Oct. 10, 2000. Published December 2000. Originally
designs are more sensitive than others to this upward moving water.
published as E 547 – 75. Last previous edition E 547 – 96.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.11.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E547–00
NOTE 2—This test method does not identify unobservable liquid water
6.2.2 Air System—A controllable blower, compressed air
which may penetrate into the test specimen.
supply, exhaust system, or reversible blower designed to
provide the required maximum air-pressure difference across
6. Apparatus
the specimen. The system must provide essentially constant air
6.1 The description of apparatus in this section is general in
flow at a fixed pressure for the required test period.
nature, and any arrangement of equipment capable of perform-
6.2.3 Pressure-Measuring Apparatus—Adevice to measure
ing the test procedure within the allowable tolerances is
the test pressure difference within a tolerance of 62%or 62.5
permitted.
Pa (60.01 in. of water column), whichever is greater.
6.2 Major Components (Fig. 1):
6.2.1 Test Chamber or box with an opening, a removable 6.2.4 Water-Spray System:
mounting panel, or one open side in which or against which the
6.2.4.1 The water-spray system shall deliver water uni-
specimenisinstalledandsealed.Atleastonestaticpressuretap
formly against the exterior surface of the test specimen at a
2 2
shall be provided to measure the chamber pressure, and shall
minimum rate of 3.4 L/m · min (5.0 U.S. gal/ft · h).
be so located that the reading is unaffected by the velocity of
6.2.4.2 The water-spray system shall have nozzles spaced
the air supply to or from the chamber. The air supply opening
on a uniform grid, located at a uniform distance from the test
into the chamber shall be arranged so that the air does not
specimen, and shall be adjustable to provide the specified
impinge directly on the test specimen with any significant
quantity of water in such a manner as to wet all of the test
velocity.Ameans of access into the chamber may be provided
specimen uniformly and to wet those areas vulnerable to water
to facilitate adjustments and observations after the specimen
penetration. If additional nozzles are required to provide
has been installed.
NOTE 1—For a negative pressure system, the water-spray grid would be located outside the chamber and the air supply would be replaced by an
air-exhaust system.
FIG. 1 General Arrangement of the Water Leakage Apparatus Positive Chamber System
E547–00
thelargestsizeofaparticulardesign,type,construction,andconfiguration
uniformity of water spray at the edge of the test specimen, they
to be used should be tested.
shall be equally spaced around the entire spray grid.
9. Calibration
7. Hazards
9.1 The ability of the test apparatus to meet the require-
7.1 Warning—Glass breakage will not normally occur at
ments of 6.2.4 shall be checked by using a catch box, the open
the small pressure differences applied in this test. Excessive
face of which shall be located at the position of the face of the
pressure differences may occur, however, due to error in
test specimen. The calibration device is illustrated in Fig. 2.
operationorwhentheapparatusisusedforotherpurposessuch
The catch box shall be designed to receive only water
asstructuraltesting;therefore,exerciseadequateprecautionsto
impingingontheplaneofthetestspecimenfaceandtoexclude
protect personnel.
all run-off water from above.The box shall be 610 mm (24 in.)
square, divided into four areas each 305 mm (12 in.) square.
8. Test Specimens
Use a cover approximately 760 mm (30 in.) square to prevent
8.1 Test specimens shall be of sufficient size to determine
water from entering the calibration box before and after the
the performance of all typical parts of the fenestration system.
timed observation interval. The water impinging on each area
For curtain walls or walls constructed with prefabricated units,
shall be captured separately.Aspray that provides at least 1.26
the specimen width shall be not less than two typical units plus
L/min (20 gal/h) tot
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