Standard Practice for Selection of Water Vapor Retarders for Thermal Insulation

SCOPE
1.1 This practice outlines factors to be considered, describes design principles and procedures for water vapor retarder selection, and defines water vapor transmission values appropriate for established criteria. It is intended for the guidance of design engineers in preparing vapor retarder application specifications for control of water vapor flow through thermal insulation. It covers commercial and residential building construction and industrial applications in the service temperature range from -40 to +150°F (-40 to +66°C). Emphasis is placed on the control of moisture penetration by choice of the most suitable components of the system.
1.2 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.

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Publication Date
31-Oct-2003
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ASTM C755-03 - Standard Practice for Selection of Water Vapor Retarders for Thermal Insulation
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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: C755 – 03
Standard Practice for
1
Selection of Water Vapor Retarders for Thermal Insulation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C755; 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 4. Significance and Use
1.1 Thispracticeoutlinesfactorstobeconsidered,describes 4.1 Experiencehasshownthatuncontrolledwaterentryinto
design principles and procedures for water vapor retarder thermal insulation is the most serious factor causing impaired
selection, and defines water vapor transmission values appro- performance. Water entry into an insulation system may be
priate for established criteria. It is intended for the guidance of through diffusion of water vapor, air leakage carrying water
design engineers in preparing vapor retarder application speci- vapor, and leakage of surface water.Application specifications
fications for control of water vapor flow through thermal for insulation systems that operate below ambient dew-point
insulation. It covers commercial and residential building con- temperatures should include an adequate vapor retarder sys-
struction and industrial applications in the service temperature tem. This may be separate and distinct from the insulation
range from−40 to+150°F (−40 to+66°C). Emphasis is placed system or may be an integral part of it. For selection of
on the control of moisture penetration by choice of the most adequate retarder systems to control vapor diffusion, it is
suitable components of the system. necessary to establish acceptable practices and standards.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the 4.2 Vapor Retarder Function—Water entry into an insula-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the tion system may be through diffusion of water vapor, air
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- leakage carrying water vapor, and leakage of surface water.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- The primary function of a vapor retarder is to control move-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. ment of diffusing water vapor into or through a permeable
insulation system. The vapor retarder system alone is seldom
2. Referenced Documents
intendedtopreventeitherentryofsurfacewaterorairleakage,
2
2.1 ASTM Standards: but it may be considered as a second line of defense.
C168 Terminology Relating to Thermal Insulation
4.3 Vapor Retarder Performance—Design choice of retard-
C647 Guide to Properties and Tests of Mastics and Coating
erswillbeaffectedbythicknessofretardermaterials,substrate
Finishes for Thermal Insulation to which applied, the number of joints, available length and
C921 Practice for Determining the Properties of Jacketing
width of sheet materials, useful life of the system, and
Materials for Thermal Insulation inspectionprocedures.Eachofthesefactorswillhaveaneffect
C1136 Specification for Flexible, Low Permeance Vapor
on the retarder system performance and each must be consid-
Retarders for Thermal Insulation ered and evaluated by the designer.
E96/E96M Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of
4.3.1 Althoughthispracticeproperlyplacesmajoremphasis
Materials onselectingthebestvaporretarders,itmustberecognizedthat
faulty installation techniques can impair vapor retarder perfor-
3. Terminology
mance. The effectiveness of installation or application tech-
3.1 For definitions of terms used in this practice, refer to
niques in obtaining design water vapor transmission (WVT)
Terminology C168.
performance must be considered in the selection of retarder
materials.
1
4.3.2 As an example of the evaluation required, it may be
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C16 on Thermal
Insulation and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C16.33 on Insulation
impractical to specify a lower “as installed” value, because
Finishes and Moisture.
difficultiesoffieldapplicationoftenwillpreclude“asinstalled”
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2003. Published December 2003. Originally
attainment of the inherent WVT values of the vapor retarder
approved in 1973. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as C755–02. DOI:
materials used. The designer could approach this requirement
10.1520/C0755-03.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
by selecting a membrane retarder material that has a lower
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
permeance manufactured in 5-ft (1.5-m) width or a sheet
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
material 20 ft (6.1 m) wide having a
...

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