ASTM E2128-17

Standard Guide for Evaluating Water Leakage of Building Walls

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This guide is intended to provide building professionals with a comprehensive methodology for evaluating water leakage through walls. It addresses the performance expectations and service history of a wall, the various components of a wall, and the interaction between these components and adjacent construction. It is not intended as a construction quality control procedure, nor as a preconstruction qualification procedure. It is intended for evaluating buildings that exhibit water leakage.  
4.1.1 Qualifications—This guide requires the evaluator to possess a knowledge of basic physics and of construction and wall design principles and practices.  
4.1.2 Application—The sequential activities described herein are intended to produce a complete and comprehensive evaluation program, but all activities may not be applicable or necessary for a particular evaluation program. It is the responsibility of the professional using this guide to determine the activities and sequence necessary to properly perform an appropriate leakage evaluation for a specific building.  
4.1.3 Preliminary Assessment—A preliminary assessment may indicate that water leakage problems are limited to a specific element or portion of a wall. The preliminary assessment may also indicate that the wall is not the source of a leak even though it is perceived as such by the building occupant. The presence of water might result from a roofing problem, a condensation problem, a plumbing problem, operable windows or doors left opened or unlatched or some other condition not directly related to water leakage through the building wall and is outside the scope of this guide. The evaluation of causes may likewise be limited in scope, and the procedures recommended herein abridged according to the professional judgement of the evaluator. A statement stipulating the limits of the investigation should be included in the report.  
4.1.4 Expectations—Expectations about the overall effectiveness of an evaluatio...
SCOPE
1.1 This guide describes methods for determining and evaluating causes of water leakage of exterior walls. For this purpose, water penetration is considered leakage, and therefore problematic, if it exceeds the planned resistance or temporary retention and drainage capacity of the wall, is causing or is likely to cause premature deterioration of a building or its contents, or is adversely affecting the performance of other components. A wall is considered a system including its exterior and interior finishes, fenestration, structural components, and components for maintaining the building interior environment.  
1.2 Investigative techniques discussed may be intrusive, disruptive, or destructive. It is the responsibility of the investigator to establish the limitations of use, to anticipate and advise of the destructive nature of some procedures, and to plan for patching and selective reconstruction as necessary.  
1.3 This practice does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. Establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Awareness of safety and familiarity with safe procedures are particularly important for above-ground operations on the exterior of a building and destructive investigative procedures which typically are associated with the work described in this guide.  
1.4 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-Oct-2017
• ICS: 91.060.10 - Walls. Partitions. Facades
• Technical Committee: E06 - Performance of Buildings
• Drafting Committee: E06.55 - Performance of Building Enclosures

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: E2128 − 17
Standard Guide for
1
Evaluating Water Leakage of Building Walls
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2128; 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 2. Referenced Documents
2
1.1 This guide describes methods for determining and 2.1 ASTM Standards:
evaluating causes of water leakage of exterior walls. For this C1601 Test Method for Field Determination of Water Pen-
purpose, water penetration is considered leakage, and therefore etration of Masonry Wall Surfaces
problematic, if it exceeds the planned resistance or temporary C1715/C1715M Test Method for Evaluation of Water Leak-
retention and drainage capacity of the wall, is causing or is age Performance of Masonry Wall Drainage Systems
likely to cause premature deterioration of a building or its E331 Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior
contents, or is adversely affecting the performance of other Windows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain Walls by Uni-
components. A wall is considered a system including its form Static Air Pressure Difference
exterior and interior finishes, fenestration, structural E547 Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior
components, and components for maintaining the building Windows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain Walls by Cyclic
interior environment. Static Air Pressure Difference
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
1.2 Investigative techniques discussed may be intrusive,
E860 Practice for Examining And Preparing Items That Are
disruptive, or destructive. It is the responsibility of the inves-
Or May Become Involved In Criminal or Civil Litigation
tigator to establish the limitations of use, to anticipate and
E1105 Test Method for Field Determination of Water Pen-
advise of the destructive nature of some procedures, and to
etration of Installed Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors,
plan for patching and selective reconstruction as necessary.
and Curtain Walls, by Uniform or Cyclic Static Air
1.3 This practice does not purport to address all of the
Pressure Difference
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. Establish
E1188 Practice for Collection and Preservation of Informa-
appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and
tion and Physical Items by a Technical Investigator
determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to
3
2.2 AAMA Standards:
use. Awareness of safety and familiarity with safe procedures
AAMA 501.2 Quality Assurance and Diagnostic Water
are particularly important for above-ground operations on the
Leakage Field Check of Installed Storefronts, Curtain
exterior of a building and destructive investigative procedures
Walls and Sloped Glazing Systems
which typically are associated with the work described in this
AAMA 511 Voluntary Guideline for Forensic Water Pen-
guide.
etration Testing of Fenestration Products,Article 4.2.1.3.1
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
Optional Sill Dam Test (This test method previously
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
appeared in AAMA 502.)
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- 3. Terminology
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
3.1 Defintions—Refer to Terminology E631.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Performance contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.55 on Perfor- Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
mance of Building Enclosures. the ASTM website.
3
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2017. Published December 2017. Originally Available from American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA),
approved in 2001. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as E2128 – 12. DOI: 1827 Walden Office Square, Suite 550, Schaumburg, IL 60173-4268, http://
10.1520/E2128-17. www.aamanet.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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E2128 − 17
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: resources applied to the task. The objective is to be as
3.2.1 incidental water—unplanned water infiltration that comprehensiveaspossiblewithinadefinedscopeofwork.The
penetrates beyond the primary barrier and the flashing or methodology in this guide is in
...

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: E2128 − 12 E2128 − 17
Standard Guide for
1
Evaluating Water Leakage of Building Walls
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2128; 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 guide describes methods for determining and evaluating causes of water leakage of exterior walls. For this purpose,
water penetration is considered leakage, and therefore problematic, if it exceeds the planned resistance or temporary retention and
drainage capacity of the wall, is causing or is likely to cause premature deterioration of a building or its contents, or is adversely
affecting the performance of other components. A wall is considered a system including its exterior and interior finishes,
fenestration, structural components, and components for maintaining the building interior environment.
1.2 Investigative techniques discussed may be intrusive, disruptive, or destructive. It is the responsibility of the investigator to
establish the limitations of use, to anticipate and advise of the destructive nature of some procedures, and to plan for patching and
selective reconstruction as necessary.
1.3 This practice does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. Establish appropriate
safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Awareness of safety and familiarity with safe procedures are particularly important for above-ground operations on the exterior
of a building and destructive investigative procedures which typically are associated with the work described in this guide.
1.4 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:
C1601 Test Method for Field Determination of Water Penetration of Masonry Wall Surfaces
C1715C1715/C1715M Test Method for Evaluation of Water Leakage Performance of Masonry Wall Drainage Systems
E331 Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain Walls by Uniform Static Air
Pressure Difference
E547 Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain Walls by Cyclic Static Air Pressure
Difference
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
E860 Practice for Examining And Preparing Items That Are Or May Become Involved In Criminal or Civil Litigation
E1105 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
E1188 Practice for Collection and Preservation of Information and Physical Items by a Technical Investigator
3
2.2 AAMA Standards:
AAMA 501.2 Quality Assurance and Diagnostic Water Leakage Field Check of Installed Storefronts, Curtain Walls and Sloped
Glazing Systems
AAMA 511 Voluntary Guideline for Forensic Water Penetration Testing of Fenestration Products, Article 4.2.1.3.1 Optional Sill
Dam Test (This test method previously appeared in AAMA 502.)
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.55 on Exterior Building
Wall SystemsPerformance of Building Enclosures.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2012Nov. 1, 2017. Published January 2012December 2017. Originally approved in 2001. Last previous edition approved in 20092012
as E2128 – 01a (2009).E2128 – 12. DOI: 10.1520/E2128-12.10.1520/E2128-17.
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’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA), 1827 Walden Office Square, Suite 550, Schaumburg, IL 60173-4268, http://
www.aamanet.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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