ASTM E783-93

Standard Test Method for Field Measurement of Air Leakage Through Installed Exterior Windows and Doors

SCOPE
1.1 This test method provides a field procedure for determining the air leakage rates of installed exterior windows and doors.  
1.2 This test method is applicable to exterior windows and doors and is intended to measure only such leakage associated with the assembly and not the leakage through openings between the assemblies and adjacent construction. The test method can be adapted for the latter purpose, provided the potential paths of air movement and the sources of infiltration and exfiltration can be identified, controlled, or eliminated.  
1.3 This test method attempts to create and given set of natural environmental conditions. There is a strong possibility that the test method or the test apparatus may, by virtue of their design and use, induce air leakage that does not occur under natural environmental exposure.  
1.4 This test method is intended for the field testing of installed exterior windows or doors. Persons interested in laboratory testing of fenestration products should reference Test Method E283.  
1.5 Persons using this procedure should be knowledgeable in the area of fluid mechanics and instrumentation practices, and shall have a general understanding of fenestration products and components.  
1.6 Throughout this test method, SI units are listed first in accordance with E-6 metric policy, and shall be considered the primary units. Non-SI units are provided in parenthesis.  
1.7  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. For specific precautionary statements, see Section 7.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Oct-2002
• ICS: 91.060.50 - Doors and windows
• Technical Committee: E06 - Performance of Buildings
• Drafting Committee: E06.51 - Performance of Windows, Doors, Skylights and Curtain Walls

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM E783-02 - Standard Test Method for Field Measurement of Air Leakage Through Installed Exterior Windows and Doors
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E283/E283M-19 - Standard Test Method for Determining Rate of Air Leakage Through Exterior Windows, Skylights, Curtain Walls, and Doors Under Specified Pressure Differences Across the Specimen
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E2112-23 - Standard Practice for Installation of Exterior Windows, Doors and Skylights
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2002
• Referred By: ASTM C1642-20 - Standard Practice for Determining Air Leakage Rates of Aerosol Foam Sealants and Other Construction Joint Fill and Insulation Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2002
• Referred By: ASTM C1199-22 - Standard Test Method for Measuring the Steady-State Thermal Transmittance of Fenestration Systems Using Hot Box Methods
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E1424-22 - Standard 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
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2002
• Referred By: ASTM C1401-23 - Standard Guide for Structural Sealant Glazing
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E2319-22 - Standard Test Method for Determining Air Flow Through the Face and Sides of Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, and Doors Under Specified Pressure Differences Across the Specimen
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E3223/E3223M-20 - Standard Guide for Specifying and Testing Field-Constructed Exterior Building Wall System Mockups in New Construction
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E1423-21 - Standard Practice for Determining Steady State Thermal Transmittance of Fenestration Systems
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E2357-23a - Standard Test Method for Determining Air Leakage Rate of Air Barrier Assemblies
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E2813-18 - Standard Practice for Building Enclosure Commissioning
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2002

Standards Content (Sample)

An American National Standard
Designation:E783–93
Standard Test Method for
Field Measurement of Air Leakage Through Installed
1
Exterior Windows and Doors
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E783; 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 Through Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, and Doors
Under Specified Pressure Differences Across the Speci-
1.1 This test method provides a field procedure for deter-
2
men
mining the air leakage rates of installed exterior windows and
2
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
doors.
1.2 This test method is applicable to exterior windows and
3. Terminology
doors and is intended to measure only such leakage associated
3.1 Definitions—Terms used in this test method are defined
with the assembly and not the leakage through openings
in Terminology E631.
between the assemblies and adjacent construction. The test
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
method can be adapted for the latter purpose, provided the
3.2.1 air leakage rate (q or q )—the air leakage per unit of
A L
potential paths of air movement and the sources of infiltration
specimen area (A) or per unit length of operable crack
and exfiltration can be identified, controlled, or eliminated.
3 2 3 2 3
perimeter (L), expressed as m/s−m (ft /min−ft ), or m /
1.3 This test method attempts to create and given set of
3
s−m(ft /min−ft).
natural environmental conditions. There is a strong possibility
3.2.2 extraneous air leakage (Q )—the volume of air flow-
e
thatthetestmethodorthetestapparatusmay,byvirtueoftheir
ing per unit of time through the test chamber and test
design and use, induce air leakage that does not occur under
apparatus, exclusive of the air flowing through the test speci-
natural environmental exposure.
men, under a test pressure difference and test temperature
1.4 This test method is intended for the field testing of
3
difference, converted to standard conditions, expressed in m /s
installed exterior windows or doors. Persons interested in
3
(ft /min).
laboratory testing of fenestration products should reference
3.2.2.1 Discussion—Extraneous leakage is the sum of all
Test Method E283.
leakage other than that intended to be measured by the test.
1.5 Persons using this procedure should be knowledgeable
3.2.3 specimen air leakage (Q )—the volume of air flowing
s
in the area of fluid mechanics and instrumentation practices,
per unit of time through the specimen, under a test pressure
andshallhaveageneralunderstandingoffenestrationproducts
difference and test temperature difference, converted to stan-
and components.
3 3
dard conditions, expressed in m /s (ft /min).
1.6 Throughout this test method, SI units are listed first in
3.2.4 specimen area (A)—theareadeterminedbytheoverall
accordance with E-6 metric policy, and shall be considered the
dimensions of the frame that fits into the rough opening,
primary units. Non-SI units are provided in parenthesis.
2 2
expressed as m (ft ).
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.2.5 test pressure differences—the specified differential
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the
static air pressure across the specimen, expressed as Pa
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
2
(lbf/ft ).
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.2.6 test specimen—the assembled window or door unit as
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific
installed in the exterior wall of a building. The test specimen
precautionary statements, see Section 7.
consistsofthemajorcomponentsoftheassembly,includingall
2. Referenced Documents joints, cracks, or openings between such components and any
panning, receptors, extenders, sills, mullions, or other parts or
2.1 ASTM Standards:
components used for assembly and installation. The test
E283 TestMethodforDeterminingtheRateofAirLeakage
specimen excludes any joints, cracks, or openings between the
assemblyandanyinteriororexteriortrimthatisnotanintegral
partofthesystem,andexcludesanyjoints,cracks,oropenings
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-6 on
between the assembly and the adjacent wall construction.
Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.51
on Component Performance of Windows, Curtain Walls, and Doors.
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 1993. Published April 1993. Originally
2
published as E783–81. Last previous edition E783–91. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.11.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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E783
3.2.7 total air flow (Q)—the volume of air flowing per unit 5.5 Rates of ai
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