ASTM E2178-13

Standard Test Method for Air Permeance of Building Materials

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The purpose of this test is to measure the air permeance of flexible sheet or rigid panel-type materials. The results of this test may be useful in determining suitability of that material as a component of an air retarder system.  
4.2 This method does not address the installed air leakage performance of building materials. The installed performance of air retarder materials and air retarder systems in low-rise framed wall construction is addressed in Specification E1677.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method is to determine the air permeance of building materials at various pressure differentials with the intent of determining an assigned air permeance rate of the material at the reference pressure difference (ΔP) of 75 Pa.  
1.2 The method is intended to assess flexible sheet or rigid panel-type materials using a 1 m × 1 m specimen size.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurements 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Jan-2013
• ICS: 91.100.01 - Construction materials in general
• Technical Committee: E06 - Performance of Buildings
• Drafting Committee: E06.41 - Air Leakage and Ventilation Performance

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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:E2178 −13
Standard Test Method for
1
Air Permeance of Building Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2178; 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 3.2.1 air permeance—therateofairflow(L/s),perunitarea
2
(m ) and per unit static pressure differential (Pa).
1.1 This test method is to determine the air permeance of
building materials at various pressure differentials with the
4. Significance and Use
intent of determining an assigned air permeance rate of the
4.1 The purpose of this test is to measure the air permeance
material at the reference pressure difference (∆P)of75Pa.
of flexible sheet or rigid panel-type materials. The results of
1.2 The method is intended to assess flexible sheet or rigid
this test may be useful in determining suitability of that
panel-type materials using a1m×1m specimen size.
material as a component of an air retarder system.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
4.2 This method does not address the installed air leakage
standard. No other units of measurements are included in this
performance of building materials. The installed performance
standard.
of air retarder materials and air retarder systems in low-rise
framed wall construction is addressed in Specification E1677.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
5. Sampling
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
5.1 The number of specimens to be tested shall be suitable
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
to establish an air leakage rate which is representative of the
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
product. In no case shall less than five specimens be tested.
NOTE1—Becauseofthevariabilityinthemanufactureofaproduct,the
2. Referenced Documents
number of specimens to be tested may vary from product to product.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
Certain materials may have standard methods for sampling that shall be
used to sample these materials.
E283Test Method for Determining Rate of Air Leakage
Through Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, and Doors
6. Test Apparatus
Under Specified Pressure Differences Across the Speci-
6.1 A schematic of the air leakage test apparatus is pre-
men
sented in Fig. 1.
E631Terminology of Building Constructions
6.1.1 Airtight Test Chamber—The airtight test chamber
E1677SpecificationforAirBarrier(AB)MaterialorSystem
shall be at least 320 mm deep and capable of receivinga1m
for Low-Rise Framed Building Walls
by 1 m test specimen, anchored to the test chamber by means
of a compression frame and clamping devices. The test
3. Terminology
chamber and compression frame shall be stiff enough to limit
3.1 Definitions:
deflectionwithintheoperatingflexibilityofthegasketsusedto
3.1.1 For definitions of general terms related to building
seal the test specimen to the chamber. Two parallel ribbons of
construction used in this test method, refer to Terminology
self-adhesive gasket material shall be applied at all sealing
E631.
points of the apparatus/test specimen assembly. The gasket
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
ribbons shall be made of medium-density gasket material that
can be fused or glued at joints.The test apparatus shall contain
an over-pressure control device and windows to verify the
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on
specimen installation.
Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.41
6.1.2 Flow Measuring Devices—The flow measuring de-
on Air Leakage and Ventilation Performance.
vices used to gage the air flow through the test specimen shall
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2013. Published March 2013. Originally
-6 3
be capable of measuring air flow rate from1×10 m /s (.001
approved in 2001. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as E2178–11. DOI:
-2 3
10.1520/E2178-13.
L/s) up to 1.88 × 10 m /s (18.8 L/s), with an accuracy of 6
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
3% of the reading.
contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. ForAnnual Book ofASTM
6.1.3 Pressure Measuring Devices—The static pressure dif-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. ferentialacrossthetestspecimenshallbemeasuredbypressure
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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E2178−13
FIG. 1General Configuration of Test Apparatus
measuringd
...

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: E2178 − 11 E2178 − 13
Standard Test Method for
1
Air Permeance of Building Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2178; 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 is to determine the air permeance of building materials at various pressure differentials with the intent of
determining an assigned air permeance rate of the material at the reference pressure difference (ΔP) of 75 Pa.
1.2 The method is intended to assess flexible sheet or rigid panel-type materials using a 1 m × 1 m specimen size.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurements 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E283 Test Method for Determining Rate of Air Leakage Through Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, and Doors Under Specified
Pressure Differences Across the Specimen
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
E1677 Specification for Air Barrier (AB) Material or System for Low-Rise Framed Building Walls
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of general terms related to building construction used in this test method, refer to Terminology E631.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
2
3.2.1 air permeance—the rate of air flow (L/s), per unit area (m ) and per unit static pressure differential (Pa).
4. Significance and Use
4.1 The purpose of this test is to measure the air permeance of flexible sheet or rigid panel-type materials. The results of this
test may be useful in determining suitability of that material as a component of an air retarder system.
4.2 This method does not address the installed air leakage performance of building materials. The installed performance of air
retarder materials and air retarder systems in low-rise framed wall construction is addressed in Specification E1677.
5. Sampling
5.1 The number of specimens to be tested shall be suitable to establish an air leakage rate which is representative of the product.
In no case shall less than five specimens be tested.
NOTE 1—Because of the variability in the manufacture of a product, the number of specimens to be tested may vary from product to product. Certain
materials may have standard methods for sampling that shall be used to sample these materials.
6. Test Apparatus
6.1 A schematic of the air leakage test apparatus is presented in Fig. 1.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.41 on Air Leakage
and Ventilation Performance.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2011Feb. 1, 2013. Published December 2011March 2013. Originally approved in 2001. Last previous edition approved in 20032011 as
E2178 – 03.E2178 – 11. DOI: 10.1520/E2178-11.10.1520/E2178-13.
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.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E2178 − 13
FIG. 1 General Configuration of Test Apparatus
6.1.1 Airtight Test Chamber—The airtight test chamber shall be at least 320 mm deep and capable of receiving a 1 m by 1 m
test specimen, anchored to the test chamber by means of a compression frame and clamping devices. The test chamber and
compression frame shall be stiff enough to limit deflection within the operating flexibility of the gaskets used to seal the test
specimen to the chamber. Two parallel ribbons of self-adhesive gasket material shall be applied at all sealing points of the
apparatus/test specimen assembly. The gasket ribbons shall be made of medium-density gasket material that can be fused or glued
at joints. The test apparatus shall contain an over-pressure control device and windows to verify the speci
...