ASTM F1249-01

Standard Test Method for Water Vapor Transmission Rate Through Plastic Film and Sheeting Using a Modulated Infrared Sensor

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for determining the rate of water vapor transmission through flexible barrier materials. The method is applicable to sheets and films up to 3 mm (0.1 in.) in thickness, consisting of single or multilayer synthetic or natural polymers and foils, including coated materials. It provides for the determination of (1 ) water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), (2) the permeance of the film to water vapor, and (3) for homogeneous materials, water vapor permeability coefficient.
Note 1—Values for water vapor permeance and water vapor permeability must be used with caution. The inverse relationship of WVTR to thickness and the direct relationship of WVTR to the partial pressure differential of water vapor may not always apply.
1.2  This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, 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: 09-Oct-2001
• ICS: 83.140.10 - Films and sheets
• Technical Committee: F02 - Primary Barrier Packaging
• Drafting Committee: F02.30 - Mechanical Dispensers

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM F1249-06 - Standard Test Method for Water Vapor Transmission Rate Through Plastic Film and Sheeting Using a Modulated Infrared Sensor
• Effective Date: 22-Jun-2006
• Referred By: ASTM F2896-23 - Standard Specification for Reinforced Polyethylene Composite Pipe For The Transport Of Oil And Gas And Hazardous Liquids
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM C1767M-21 - Standard Specification for Stainless Steel Jacketing for Insulation
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM C1729M-21 - Standard Specification for Aluminum Jacketing for Insulation
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D6701-21 - Standard Test Method for Determining Water Vapor Transmission Rates Through Nonwoven and Plastic Barriers
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D6577-15(2019) - Standard Guide for Testing Industrial Protective Coatings
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM C647-19 - Standard Guide to Properties and Tests of Mastics and Coating Finishes for Thermal Insulation
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM C1729-21 - Standard Specification for Aluminum Jacketing for Insulation
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM E154/E154M-08a(2019) - Standard Test Methods for Water Vapor Retarders Used in Contact with Earth Under Concrete Slabs, on Walls, or as Ground Cover
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM E1745-17(2023) - Standard Specification for Plastic Water Vapor Retarders Used in Contact with Soil or Granular Fill under Concrete Slabs
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM E398-20 - Standard Test Method for Water Vapor Transmission Rate of Sheet Materials Using Dynamic Relative Humidity Measurement
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM C1767-21 - Standard Specification for Stainless Steel Jacketing for Insulation
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D2103-15 - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Film and Sheeting
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM C1423-21 - Standard Guide for Selecting Jacketing Materials for Thermal Insulation
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D7407-07(2020) - Standard Guide for Determining the Transmission of Gases Through Geomembranes
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001

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:F1249–01
Standard Test Method for
Water Vapor Transmission Rate Through Plastic Film and
1
Sheeting Using a Modulated Infrared Sensor
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1249; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for determining the 3.1 Definitions:
rate of water vapor transmission through flexible barrier 3.1.1 water vapor permeability coeffıcient—the product of
materials. The method is applicable to sheets and films up to 3 the permeance and the thickness of the film. The permeability
mm (0.1 in.) in thickness, consisting of single or multilayer is meaningful only for homogeneous materials, in which case
synthetic or natural polymers and foils, including coated it is a property characteristic of bulk material.
materials. It provides for the determination of (1) water vapor 3.1.1.1 Discussion—Thisquantityshouldnotbeusedunless
transmission rate (WVTR), (2) the permeance of the film to the relationship between thickness and permeance has been
water vapor, and (3) for homogeneous materials, water vapor verified in tests using several thicknesses of the material. An
permeability coefficient. accepted unit of permeability is the metric perm centimeter, or
2
1 g/m per day per mm Hg·cm of thickness. The SI unit is the
NOTE 1—Values for water vapor permeance and water vapor perme-
2
mol/m ·s·Pa·mm. The test conditions (see 3.1) must be stated.
ability must be used with caution. The inverse relationship of WVTR to
3.1.2 water vapor permeance—the ratio of a barrier’s
thickness and the direct relationship of WVTR to the partial pressure
WVTR to the vapor pressure difference between the two
differential of water vapor may not always apply.
surfaces.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1.2.1 Discussion—An accepted unit of permeance is the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
2
metric perm, or 1 g/m per day per mm Hg. The SI unit is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
2
mol/m ·s·Pa. Since the permeance of a specimen is generally a
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
function of relative humidity and temperature, the test condi-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
tions must be stated.
3.1.3 water vapor transmission rate (WVTR)—the time rate
2. Referenced Documents
of water vapor flow normal to the surfaces, under steady-state
2.1 ASTM Standards:
conditions, per unit area.
D 374 Test Methods for Thickness of Solid Electrical Insu-
2
2 3.1.3.1 Discussion—An accepted unit ofWVTR is g/m per
lation
3 day. The test conditions of relative humidity and temperature
D 1898 Practice for Sampling of Plastics
where the humidity is the difference in relative humidity across
D 4204 Practice for Preparing Plastic Film Specimens for a
4 the specimens, must be stated.
Round-Robin Study
E 96 Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Mate-
4. Summary of Test Method
5
rials
4.1 A dry chamber is separated from a wet chamber of
E 104 Practice for Maintaining Constant Relative Humidity
6 known temperature and humidity by the barrier material to be
by Means of Aqueous Solutions
tested. The dry chamber and the wet chamber make up a
diffusion cell in which the test film is sealed. Water vapor
1
diffusing through the film mixes with the gas in the dry
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F02 on Flexible
Barrier Materials and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F02.30 on Test
chamberandiscarriedtoapressure-modulatedinfraredsensor.
Methods.
This sensor measures the fraction of infrared energy absorbed
Current edition approved Oct. 10, 2001. Published December 2001. Originally
by the water vapor and produces an electrical signal, the
published as F 1249 – 89. Last previous edition F 1249 – 90 (1995).
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 10.01. amplitude of which is proportional to water vapor concentra-
3
Discontinued, see 1997 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01.
tion.The amplitude of the electrical signal produced by the test
4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.02.
film is then compared to the signal produced by measurement
5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.06.
6
of a calibration film of known water vapor transmission rate.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.03.
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F1249
6.1.1.3 Diffusion Cell Air Passages—Two h
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