ASTM E2269-21

Standard Test Method for Determining Argon Concentration in Sealed Insulating Glass Units using Gas Chromatography

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This test method is intended to provide a means for determining the concentration of fill gases, typically argon, oxygen, and nitrogen gases in individual sealed insulating glass units, which were intended to be filled with a specific concentration of fill gases at the time of manufacture.  
4.2 The fill gases, oxygen and nitrogen, are physically separated by gas chromatography and compared to corresponding components separated under similar conditions from a reference standard mixture or mixtures of known composition. If the carrier gas is the same as the fill gas, then just the oxygen and nitrogen (air contaminate) are separated.  
4.3 The composition of the sample is calculated from the chromatogram by comparing the area under the curve of each component with the area under the curve of the corresponding component on the reference standard chromatogram.  
4.4 It is essential that the person or persons performing this test are very knowledgeable about the principles and techniques of gas chromatography, operation and calibration of gas chromatographs. More information can be found in Practice E355.  
4.5 It takes time for the fill gas to equilibrate in any insulating glass unit. This is particularly important in insulating glass units using a tubular spacer and in units containing interior components such as tubular muntin bars. Performing this test before a unit has equilibrated could result in fill gas concentrations that are measurably different than the actual fill gas concentration.  
4.6 This method may be used to determine the initial fill gas concentration achieved by the filling method, or the fill gas concentration in units that have been in service or that have been subjected to durability tests such as those described in Test Method E2188.  
4.7 This is a destructive test method in that the edge seal of the insulating glass unit is breached in order to obtain a gas sample for analysis by gas chromatography.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers procedures for using gas chromatographs to determine the concentration of argon gas in the space between the panes of sealed insulating glass.  
1.2 This test method is not applicable to insulating glass units containing open capillary/breather tubes.  
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement 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: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2021
• ICS: 71.040.50 - Physicochemical methods of analysis
• ICS: 81.040.01 - Glass in general
• Technical Committee: E06 - Performance of Buildings
• Drafting Committee: E06.22 - Durability Performance of Building Constructions

Standards Content (Sample)

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.
Designation: E2269 − 21
Standard Test Method for
Determining Argon Concentration in Sealed Insulating Glass
1
Units using Gas Chromatography
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2269; 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 E2188 Test Method for Insulating Glass Unit Performance
1.1 This test method covers procedures for using gas chro-
3. Terminology
matographs to determine the concentration of argon gas in the
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms found in this
space between the panes of sealed insulating glass.
standard, refer to Terminologies C162, C717, and E631.
1.2 This test method is not applicable to insulating glass
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
units containing open capillary/breather tubes.
3.2.1 fill gas—any gas or mixture of gases intended to
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
replace atmospheric air in the space between the panes of a
as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
sealed insulating glass unit.Afill gas is typically inert; and the
standard.
most commonly used fill gases include argon, krypton, and
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the sulfur hexafluoride (SF ).
6
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.2.2 sealed insulating glass unit—a pre-assembled unit,
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
comprising sealed panes of glass separated by dehydrated
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
space (s), intended for clear vision areas of buildings. the unit
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
isnormallyusedforwindows,windowwalls,picturewindows,
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
sliding doors, patio doors, or other types of windows or doors.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
4. Significance and Use
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
4.1 This test method is intended to provide a means for
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
determining the concentration of fill gases, typically argon,
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
oxygen,andnitrogengasesinindividualsealedinsulatingglass
units, which were intended to be filled with a specific concen-
2. Referenced Documents
tration of fill gases at the time of manufacture.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4.2 The fill gases, oxygen and nitrogen, are physically
C162 Terminology of Glass and Glass Products
separatedbygaschromatographyandcomparedtocorrespond-
C717 Terminology of Building Seals and Sealants
ing components separated under similar conditions from a
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
reference standard mixture or mixtures of known composition.
ASTM Test Methods
If the carrier gas is the same as the fill gas, then just the oxygen
E355 Practice for Gas Chromatography Terms and Relation-
and nitrogen (air contaminate) are separated.
ships
4.3 The composition of the sample is calculated from the
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
chromatogram by comparing the area under the curve of each
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
component with the area under the curve of the corresponding
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
component on the reference standard chromatogram.
4.4 It is essential that the person or persons performing this
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on
test are very knowledgeable about the principles and tech-
Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.22
on Durability Performance of Building Constructions.
niques of gas chromatography, operation and calibration of gas
Current edition approved April 1, 2021. Published April 2021. Originally
chromatographs. More information can be found in Practice
approved in 2003. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as E2269 – 14. DOI:
E355.
10.1520/E2269-21.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
4.5 It takes time for the fill gas to equilibrate in any
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
insulatingglassunit.Thisisparticularlyimportantininsulating
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. glass units using a tubular spacer and in units cont
...

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: E2269 − 14 E2269 − 21
Standard Test Method for
Determining Argon Concentration in Sealed Insulating Glass
1
Units using Gas Chromatography
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2269; 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 covers procedures for using gas chromatographs to determine the concentration of argon gas in the space
between the panes of sealed insulating glass.
1.2 This test method is not applicable to insulating glass units containing open capillary/breather tubes.
1.3 The values stated in SIinch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement 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:
C162 Terminology of Glass and Glass Products
C717 Terminology of Building Seals and Sealants
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
E355 Practice for Gas Chromatography Terms and Relationships
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
3
E773 Test Method for Accelerated Weathering of Sealed Insulating Glass Units (Withdrawn 2010)
E2188 Test Method for Insulating Glass Unit Performance
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms found in this standard, refer to Terminologies C162, C717, and E631.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.22 on Durability
Performance of Building Constructions.
Current edition approved April 1, 2014April 1, 2021. Published May 2014April 2021. Originally approved in 2003. Last previous edition approved in 20052014 as
E2269 – 05.E2269 – 14. DOI: 10.1520/E2269-14.10.1520/E2269-21.
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

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E2269 − 21
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 fill gas—any gas or mixture of gases intended to replace atmospheric air in the space between the panes of a sealed insulating
glass unit. A fill gas is typically inert; and the most commonly used fill gases include argon, krypton, and sulfur hexafluoride (SF ).
6
3.2.2 sealed insulating glass unit—a pre-assembled unit, comprising sealed panes of glass separated by dehydrated space (s),
intended for clear vision areas of buildings. the unit is normally used for windows, window walls, picture windows, sliding doors,
patio doors, or other types of windows or doors.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 This test method is intended to provide a means for determining the concentration of fill gases, typically argon, oxygen, and
nitrogen gases in individual sealed insulating glass units, which were intended to be filled with a specific concentration of argon
fill gases at the time of manufacture.
4.2 The argon, oxygen, and nitrogenfill gases, oxygen and nitrogen, are physically separated by gas chromatography and compared
to corresponding components separated under similar conditions from a reference standard mixture or mixtures of known
composition. If the carrier gas is the same as the fill gas, then just the oxygen and nitrogen (air contaminate) are separated.
4.3 The composition of the sample is calculated from the chromatogram by comparing the area under the curve of
...