ASTM E1677-95(2000)
(Specification)Standard Specification for an Air Retarder (AR) Material or System for Low-Rise Framed Building Walls
Standard Specification for an Air Retarder (AR) Material or System for Low-Rise Framed Building Walls
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers minimum performances and specification criteria for an air retarder (AR) material or system for framed walls of low-rise buildings. The intended users are purchasers of the AR, specifiers of the AR and regulatory groups. The provisions contained in this specification are intended to allow the user to design the wall performance criteria and increase AR specifications to accommodate a particular climate location, function, or design of the intended building. Air retarder performance and specification minimums were selected with the service life of the building wall in mind.
1.2 This specification focuses on ARs for opaque walls. Other areas of the exterior envelope, such as roofs, floors, and interfaces between these areas are not included in this specification.
1.3 This specification does not address air leakage into the wall cavity, that is, windwashing. No standardized test has been developed that adequately identifies all of the influencing factors and measures the impact of this effect on the wall's thermal performance.
1.4 The specifications in this standard are not intended to be utilized for energy load calculations and are not based on an expected level of energy consumption.
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The values in parentheses are for information only and are closely approximated.
1.6 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the test method portion, Annex A1, of this specification. 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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An American National Standard
Designation: E 1677 – 95 (Reapproved 2000)
Standard Specification for
an Air Retarder (AR) Material or System for Low-Rise
Framed Building Walls
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1677; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope C755 PracticeforSelectionofVaporRetardersforThermal
Insulation
1.1 This specification covers minimum performances and
E96 Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Mate-
specificationcriteriaforanairretarder(AR)materialorsystem
rials
for framed walls of low-rise buildings. The intended users are
E241 Practices for Increasing Durability of Building Con-
purchasers of the AR, specifiers of the AR and regulatory
structions Against Water-Induced Damage
groups. The provisions contained in this specification are
E283 TestMethodforDeterminingtheRateofAirLeakage
intended to allow the user to design the wall performance
Through Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, and Doors
criteria and increase AR specifications to accommodate a
Under Specified Pressure Differences Across Specimen
particular climate location, function, or design of the intended
E330 Test Method for Structural Performance of Exterior
building.Airretarderperformanceandspecificationminimums
Windows, Curtain Walls and Doors by Uniform StaticAir
wereselectedwiththeservicelifeofthebuildingwallinmind.
Pressure Differences
1.2 This specification focuses on ARs for opaque walls.
E331 Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior Win-
Other areas of the exterior envelope, such as roofs, floors, and
dows, Curtain Walls, and Doors by Uniform Static Air
interfaces between these areas are not included in this specifi-
Pressure Difference
cation.
E1424 Test Method for Determining the Rate ofAir Leak-
1.3 This specification does not address air leakage into the
age Through Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, and Doors
wall cavity, that is, windwashing. No standardized test has
Under Specified Pressure and Temperature Differences
been developed that adequately identifies all of the influencing
Across the Specimen
factors and measures the impact of this effect on the wall’s
2.2 ASHRAE Standard:
thermal performance.
ASHRAE 62 Acceptable Indoor Air Quality
1.4 Thespecificationsinthisstandardarenotintendedtobe
utilized for energy load calculations and are not based on an
3. Terminology
expected level of energy consumption.
3.1 Definitions:
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
3.1.1 air exfiltration—air leakage out of the building driven
as the standard. The values in parentheses are for information
by negative pressure.
only and are closely approximated.
3.1.1.1 negative pressure—air pressure on the outdoor side
1.6 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the
of a building envelope lower than on the indoor side.
test method portion, Annex A1, of this specification. This
3.1.2 air infiltration—air leakage into the building driven
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,
by positive pressure.
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user
3.1.2.1 positive pressure—air pressure on the outdoor side
of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health
of a building envelope higher than on the indoor side.
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita-
3.1.3 air leakage—the movement/flow of air through the
tions prior to use.
building envelope, which is driven by either or both positive
2. Referenced Documents (infiltration) and negative (exfiltration) pressure differences
across the envelope.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1 2
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.06.
Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.41 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.11.
on Air Leakage and Ventilation. Available from American Society for Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Condi-
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 1995. Published March 1995. tioning Engineers, Inc., 1791 Tullie Crete, N. E., Atlanta, GA 30329.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E 1677 – 95 (2000)
3.1.3.1 Discussion—These pressure differences are caused 5. Performance Requirements
by wind, mechanical systems, and temperature differences
5.1 This specification does not prohibit a user from increas-
(stack effect).
ing a specification performance requirement, however the
3.1.4 air leakage rate—the time rate of air flow across the
specificationshownshallnotbereduced.Theusershallconsult
air retarder. Expressed as cubic feet per minute per square foot
AnnexA1foradditionalmandatoryrequirements,forexample,
of AR surface at a stated pressure differential across the AR
test specimen and procedure. Appendix X1-Appendix X3
expressed in inches of H O. (Cubic meters per second per
contain additional considerations. The performance require-
square meter of AR surface at a pressure differential in
ments are not intended to be used to predict specific levels of
Pascals.)
performance in the field, however they are intended to be used
3.1.5 air retarder (AR)—a material or system in building
in the evaluation of ARs.
constructionthatisdesignedandinstalledtoreduceairleakage
5.1.1 Air Leakage—AR shall be tested in accordance with
either into or through the opaque wall.
Test Method E283. Air leakage rate shall not exceed 0.06
3.1.6 opaque wall—all exposed areas of a wall that enclose 2 −3 3 2
cfm/ft at 0.3 in. H O. (0.3 310 m/(s·m ) at 75 Pa.)
conditioned space, except openings for windows, doors and
NOTE 1—Air leakage rate of 0.06 cfm/ft at 0.3 in. H O corresponds
building service systems.
approximately to a low rise building (floor area=125 m ) with an air
3.1.7 structural integrity—for the purpose of this specifica-
leakage rate of 1.0 to 2.0 air changes/h at 0.2 in. H O (50 Pa) in which
tion, it is the ability of the AR to maintain air leakage
25% of the leakage occurs through the opaque walls.
performance after exposure to elevated positive and negative
pressure (see 5.1.2 for performance). 5.1.2 Structural Integrity—Air retarder shall be tested in
3.1.8 vapor retarder—a material or system that adequately accordance with Test Method E330, ProcedureA—no deflec-
impedes the transmission of water vapor under specified tion information is required. TheAR shall withstand sustained
conditions. minimum pressure of 2 in. H O (500 Pa) (equivalent wind
3.1.8.1 Discussion—For practical purposes it is assumed speed of approximately 65 mph or 29 m/s) for 1 h. The
that the permeance of a vapor retarder will not exceed one specimen shall pass this test by retesting the air leakage
perm in inch-pound units (57.4 ng/(s· m · Pa)), although at performancerequirementandpassingtherequirementin5.1.1.
present this value may only be appropriate for residential
NOTE 2—The user can consult the map in Fig. 1, reference (1) andTest
construction. For certain other types of construction the per-
Method E330 (Significance and Use Section) for guidance on wind
meance must be lower.
speeds for the area where the building will be located. This requirement
3.1.9 water leakage—penetration of water onto the exterior
doesnotaddressgustwindloadswherethewindspeedcanbesignificantly
planeofframingorcavityinsulationunderspecifiedconditions higher but for a very short period of time. If anAR is used in a high gust
area, the user may require testing at a higher pressure for a shorter period
of air pressure difference across the AR during a test period.
to simulate gust conditions.
3.1.10 water resistance—the capability of a material or
system to retard water leakage.
5.1.3 Water Resistance—Type I ARs shall be tested in
3.1.11 water vapor diffusion—the process by which water
accordance with Test Method E331. No water penetration
vaporspreadsormovesthroughpermeablematerialscausedby
shall occur onto the exterior plane of framing or cavity
a difference in water vapor pressure.
insulation, at 0.11 in. H O (27 Pa) pressure difference (equiva-
3.1.12 water vapor permeance—the time rate of water
lent wind speed of approximately 15 mph) during a 15-min.
vapor transmission through unit area of flat material or
test period (see Table 1).
constructioninducedbyunitvaporpressuredifferencebetween
5.1.4 Water Vapor Permeance, or water vapor transmission
two specific surfaces, under specified temperature and humid-
rate of an AR material or materials of a system shall be
ity conditions.
determinedandreportedinaccordancewithTestMethodE96,
3.1.12.1 Discussion—Permeance is a performance evalua-
Procedure A. The test shall utilize standard test conditions of
tion and not a property of a material. An acceptable unit of
73.4°F (23°C) and a relative humidity of 50 62%.
permeance is the perm: expressed in the units grain/h · ft in.
NOTE 3—This test specification is specific to the AR material or
Hg (metric perm=expressed in the units ng/(s · m · Pa)).
materials that make up the system. The user can consult X2.3 for
information on permeance.
4. Classification
4.1 This specification covers two types ofARs. The perfor-
6. Supplemental Requirements
mance requirements are shown in Table 1.
6.1 Air retarder manufacturers shall provide field applica-
tioninstructionsonhowtoinstalltheARtoachievecontinuity.
TABLE 1 AR Classifications
6.2 Air retarder manufacturers shall make available upon
Classifications
Performance Properties
request the test configuration used to achieve the performance
Type I Type II
requirements of Section 5.
Air leakage in accordance with 5.1.1 in accordance with 5.1.1
6.3 If anAR is susceptible to ultraviolet (UV) degradation,
Structural integrity in accordance with 5.1.2 in accordance with 5.1.2
Water resistance in accordance with 5.1.3 not required the AR manufacturers shall provide application/installation
Water vapor permeance in accordance with 5.1.4 in accordance with 5.1.4
instructions that indicate the amount of UV exposure the
Supplemental in accordance with in accordance with
productcanwithstand.TheARmanufacturershallalsoprovide
requirements Section 6 Section 6
upon request test configuration and procedure for UV testing.
E 1677 – 95 (2000)
NOTE 1—Reprinted from the March/April 1990 issue of Building Standards, copyrightr 1990, with the permission of the publishers, the International
Conference of Building Officials.
FIG. 1 Basic Wind Speeds in Miles Per Hour
6.4 The classification of ARs shall be clearly identifiable 7. Keywords
eitherintheaccompanyingliterature,ontheirpackaging,oron
7.1 air exfiltration; air infiltration; air leakage; air leakage
their product. (See Table 1 for classification of ARs.)
rate; air retarder; opaque wall; structural integrity; vapor
retarder; water leakage; water resistance; water vapor per-
meance
E 1677 – 95 (2000)
ANNEX
(Mandatory Information)
A1. TESTING AIR LEAKAGE, STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY, AND WATER RESISTANCE
A1.1 Test Apparatus shallnotbeinstalledintestedassembly.Ifanygasketing/caulk
isrequestedbytheARmanufacturer,itshallbeconsideredpart
A1.1.1 TestapparatusshallconformtoTestMethodsE283,
of the AR.
E330, and E331 except as modified by this specification.
A1.2.4 Fornegativeandpositivepressuredifferencetesting,
A1.2 Test Specimen
use either of the following two test options to simulate the
installation of an exterior finish/cladding. If the exterior finish/
A1.2.1 Wall shall be constructed 8 ft by 8 ft or larger, 2 in.
cladding is the AR the following two test options are not
by 4 in. framing, and stud spacing of 16 in. on center. (Any
required (see reference (2) and (3) for additional guidance).
additional material attached to this frame shall be considered
A1.2.4.1 To simulate a lap siding install 1 in. by 1 in. wood
part of the AR.)
strips placed horizontally 9 in. apart to the face of the exterior
A1.2.2 The AR tested shall not include installation proce-
AR. Install the specimen in the test apparatus so the AR is
dures that are different from those in field application instruc-
observable, particularly during the structural integrity test.
tions. Seams representative of those in the field application
A1.2.4.2 To simulate brick veneer, install brick ties in a 16
shall be included within the test area.
in. by 16 in. grid pattern to the face of the exteriorAR. Install
A1.2.2.1 If a component of an exteriorAR is installed as 4
the specimen in the test apparatus so the AR is observable,
ftby8ftsheathing(withlongdimensionverticallyinstalled)or
particularly during the structural integrity test.
less, at least two vertical seams shall be within the test area.
A1.2.2.2 If an AR is less than 8 ft in the vertical direction,
A1.3 Test Procedure
at least one horizontal seam shall be within the test area. More
seams are required with narrow (less than 4-ft wide) products. A1.3.1 For this specification, conduct both Test Methods
A1.2.2.3 Bothverticaledgesofthewallshallbesealedwith E283 and E330 utilizing both negative and positive pressure
caulk, gasket, or tape. TheAR manufacturer shall specify how differences.
the top and bottom of the wall shall be treated. If the wall has A1.3.2 Structural Integrity—(Test Method E330) Conduct
caulking, gasketing, or tape utilized at the top or bottom, or sustained loading on the specimen at a positive and negative
both, it shall be considered part of the AR, and shall be pressure difference of 2 in. H O, (500 Pa) (approximately 65
prescribed by the manufacturer for field application. mph) for a period of 1 h. The specimen shall have passed this
A1.2.3 Ifinteriorwallboard,orsimilartypematerial,isused test for structural integrity by retesting the air leakage perfor-
aspartoftheAR,thefollowingpracticesshallbeincorporated. mance requirement and passing the requirement in 5.1.1. No
A1.2.3.1 The wallboard shall be installed by sealing seams adjustmentsoralterationsshallbemadetothespecimenorAR
at the top and both vertical edges of the wall.The bottom shall between the completion of the structural integrity test (Test
remain unsealed to simulate normal construction practice. If Method E330) and the completion of the air leakage test (Test
sealingofthebottomedgeiscalledforbytheARmanufacturer Method E283). Users can require more stringent sustained
it is then considered part of their system.Vertical or horizontal load requirements. See Fig. 1 for information on the wind
seams within the field of the test area shall b
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