ASTM E1677-23

Standard Specification for Air Barrier (AB) Material or Assemblies for Low-Rise Framed Building Walls

ABSTRACT
This specification covers the minimum performance and acceptance criteria for an air barrier (AB) material or system for framed walls of low-rise buildings with the service life of the building wall in mind. The provisions contained in this specification are intended to allow the user to design the wall performance criteria and increase AB specifications to accommodate a particular climate location, function, or design of the intended building. This specification focuses mainly on ABs for opaque walls. Other areas of the exterior envelope, such as roofs, floors, and interfaces between these areas are not included in this specification. Also not addressed here are air leakages into the wall cavity, that is, windwashing. Additionally, 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.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers minimum performances and specification criteria for an air barrier (AB) material or system for framed walls of low-rise buildings. The intended users are purchasers of the AB, specifiers of the AB and regulatory groups. The provisions contained in this specification are intended to allow the user to design the wall performance criteria and increase AB specifications to accommodate a particular climate location, function, or design of the intended building. Air barrier performance and specification minimums were selected with the service life of the building wall in mind.  
1.2 This specification focuses on ABs 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 standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.7 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: 30-Jun-2023
• ICS: 91.120.30 - Waterproofing
• Technical Committee: E06 - Performance of Buildings
• Drafting Committee: E06.41 - Air Leakage and Ventilation Performance

Relations

• Refers: ASTM C755-20 - Standard Practice for Selection of Water Vapor Retarders for Thermal Insulation
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2020
• Refers: ASTM E241-20 - Standard Guide for Limiting Water-Induced Damage to Buildings
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2020

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: E1677 − 23
Standard Specification for
Air Barrier (AB) Material or Assemblies for Low-Rise Framed
1
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. 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 environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.1 This specification covers minimum performances and
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
specification criteria for an air barrier (AB) material or system
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
for framed walls of low-rise buildings. The intended users are
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
purchasers of the AB, specifiers of the AB and regulatory
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
groups. The provisions contained in this specification are
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
intended to allow the user to design the wall performance
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
criteria and increase AB specifications to accommodate a
particular climate location, function, or design of the intended
2. Referenced Documents
building. Air barrier performance and specification minimums
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
were selected with the service life of the building wall in mind.
C755 Practice for Selection of Water Vapor Retarders for
1.2 This specification focuses on ABs for opaque walls.
Thermal Insulation
Other areas of the exterior envelope, such as roofs, floors, and
E96/E96M Test Methods for Gravimetric Determination of
interfaces between these areas are not included in this specifi-
Water Vapor Transmission Rate of Materials
cation.
E241 Guide for Limiting Water-Induced Damage to Build-
1.3 This specification does not address air leakage into the ings
E283 Test Method for Determining Rate of Air Leakage
wall cavity, that is, windwashing. No standardized test has
been developed that adequately identifies all of the influencing Through Exterior Windows, Skylights, Curtain Walls, and
factors and measures the impact of this effect on the wall’s Doors Under Specified Pressure Differences Across the
thermal performance. Specimen
E330/E330M Test Method for Structural Performance of
1.4 The specifications in this standard are not intended to be
Exterior Windows, Doors, Skylights and Curtain Walls by
utilized for energy load calculations and are not based on an
Uniform Static Air Pressure Difference
expected level of energy consumption.
E331 Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
Windows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain Walls by Uni-
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
form Static Air Pressure Difference
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
and are not considered standard.
E1424 Test Method for Determining the Rate of Air Leakage
1.6 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the Through Exterior Windows, Skylights, Curtain Walls, and
test method portion, Annex A1, of this specification. This
Doors Under Specified Pressure and Temperature Differ-
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, ences Across the Specimen
3
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user
2.2 ASCE Standard:
of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and ASCE 7-88 1990, Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and
Other Structure, Fig. 1, Basic Wind Speed (mph)
1 2
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.41 contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
on Air Leakage and Ventilation Performance. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved July 1, 2023. Published August 2023. Originally the ASTM website.
3
approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2019 as E1677 – 19. DOI: Available from American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 1801 Alexander
10.1520/E1677–23. Bell Dr., Reston, VA 20191, http://www.asce.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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...

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: E1677 − 19 E1677 − 23
Standard Specification for
Air Barrier (AB) Material or Assemblies for Low-Rise Framed
1
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. 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 specification covers minimum performances and specification criteria for an air barrier (AB) material or system for
framed walls of low-rise buildings. The intended users are purchasers of the AB, specifiers of the AB and regulatory groups. The
provisions contained in this specification are intended to allow the user to design the wall performance criteria and increase AB
specifications to accommodate a particular climate location, function, or design of the intended building. Air barrier performance
and specification minimums were selected with the service life of the building wall in mind.
1.2 This specification focuses on ABs 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 standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
1.7 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:
1
This specification 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 July 1, 2019July 1, 2023. Published August 2019August 2023. Originally approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 20112019 as
E1677E1677 – 19.–11. DOI: 10.1520/E1677–19.10.1520/E1677–23.
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

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E1677 − 23
C755 Practice for Selection of Water Vapor Retarders for Thermal Insulation
E96/E96M Test Methods for Gravimetric Determination of Water Vapor Transmission Rate of Materials
E241 Guide for Limiting Water-Induced Damage to Buildings
E283 Test Method for Determining Rate of Air Leakage Through Exterior Windows, Skylights, Curtain Walls, and Doors Under
Specified Pressure Differences Across the Specimen
E330/E330M Test Method for Structural Performance of Exterior Windows, Doors, Skylights and Curtain Walls by Uniform
Static Air Pressure Difference
E331 Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain Walls by Uniform Static Air
Pressure Difference
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
E1424 Test Method for Determining the Rate of Air Leakage Through Exterior Windows, Skylights, Curtain Walls, and Doors
Under Specified Pressure and Temperature Differences Across the Specimen
3
2.2 ASHRAE Standard:
ASHRAE 62 Acceptable Indoor Air Qua
...