ASTM E2178-21a

Standard Test Method for Determining Air Leakage Rate and Calculation of Air Permeance of Building Materials

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The purpose of this test is to calculate an assigned air permeance of flexible sheet or rigid panel-type materials at a reference air pressure differential of 75 Pa. The results 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 is addressed in Specification E1677, Test Method D8052/D8052M, and Test Method E2357.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method is to determine the air leakage rate of building materials at various pressure differentials with the intent of calculating 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, 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: 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)

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:E2178 −21a
Standard Test Method for
Determining Air Leakage Rate and Calculation of Air
1
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 E1677SpecificationforAirBarrier(AB)MaterialorAssem-
blies for Low-Rise Framed Building Walls
1.1 This test method is to determine the air leakage rate of
E2357TestMethodforDeterminingAirLeakageRateofAir
building materials at various pressure differentials with the
Barrier Assemblies
intent of calculating an assigned air permeance rate of the
material at the reference pressure difference (∆P)of75Pa.
3. Terminology
1.2 The method is intended to assess flexible sheet or rigid
3.1 Definitions:
panel-type materials using a1m×1m specimen size.
3.1.1 For definitions of general terms related to building
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
construction used in this test method, refer to Terminology
standard. No other units of measurements are included in this
E631.
standard.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
2
3.2.1 air leakage rate (Q), L/(s·m )—theairleakageperunit
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the specimen area (A).
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.2.2 air permeance, L/s—the rate of air flow per unit area
2
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
(m ) and per unit static pressure differential (Pa).
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
4. Significance and Use
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
4.1 The purpose of this test is to calculate an assigned air
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
permeance of flexible sheet or rigid panel-type materials at a
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
reference air pressure differential of 75Pa. The results may be
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
useful in determining suitability of that material as a compo-
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
nent of an air retarder system.
4.2 This method does not address the installed air leakage
2. Referenced Documents
performance of building materials. The installed performance
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
ofairretardermaterialsandairretardersystemsisaddressedin
D8052/D8052M Test Method for Quantification of Air
Specification E1677, Test Method D8052/D8052M, and Test
Leakage in Low-Sloped Membrane Roof Assemblies
Method E2357.
E283/E283MTest Method for Determining Rate of Air
Leakage Through Exterior Windows, Skylights, Curtain
5. Sampling
Walls, and Doors Under Specified Pressure Differences
5.1 The number of specimens to be tested shall be suitable
Across the Specimen
to establish an air leakage rate which is representative of the
E631Terminology of Building Constructions
product. In no case shall less than five specimens be tested.
NOTE1—Becauseofthevariabilityinthemanufactureofaproduct,the
number of specimens to be tested may vary from product to product.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on
Certain materials may have standard methods for sampling that shall be
Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.41
used to sample these materials.
on Air Leakage and Ventilation Performance.
Current edition approved April 1, 2021. Published May 2021. Originally
6. Test Apparatus
approved in 2001. Last previous edition approved in 2021 as E2178–21. DOI:
10.1520/E2178-21A.
6.1 A schematic of the air leakage rate test apparatus is
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
presented in Fig. 1.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
6.1.1 Airtight Test Chamber—The airtight test chamber
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. shall be at least 320 mm deep and capable of receivinga1m
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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E2178−21a
FIG. 1General Configuration of Test Apparatus
by 1 m test specimen, anchored to the test chamber by means 6.1.4 Piping—The piping connecting the flow measuring
of a compre
...

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 − 21 E2178 − 21a
Standard Test Method for
Determining Air Leakage Rate and Calculation of Air
1
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 leakage rate of building materials at various pressure differentials with the intent of
calculating 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, 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D8052/D8052M Test Method for Quantification of Air Leakage in Low-Sloped Membrane Roof Assemblies
E283/E283M Test Method for Determining Rate of Air Leakage Through Exterior Windows, Skylights, Curtain Walls, and
Doors Under Specified Pressure Differences Across the Specimen
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
E1677 Specification for Air Barrier (AB) Material or Assemblies for Low-Rise Framed Building Walls
E2357 Test Method for Determining Air Leakage Rate of Air Barrier Assemblies
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:
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 Feb. 1, 2021April 1, 2021. Published February 2021May 2021. Originally approved in 2001. Last previous edition approved in 20132021 as
E2178 – 13.E2178 – 21. DOI: 10.1520/E2178-21.10.1520/E2178-21A.
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 − 21a
2
3.2.1 air leakage rate (Q), L/(s·m )—the air leakage per unit specimen area (A).
2
3.2.2 air permeance, L/s—the rate of air flow per unit area (m ) and per unit static pressure differential (Pa).
4. Significance and Use
4.1 The purpose of this test is to calculate an assigned air permeance of flexible sheet or rigid panel-type materials at a reference
air pressure differential of 75 Pa. 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, Test Method
D8052/D8052M, and Test Method E2357.
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 rate test apparatus is presented in F
...