ASTM E2128-01a(2009)
(Guide)Standard Guide for Evaluating Water Leakage of Building Walls
Standard Guide for Evaluating Water Leakage of Building Walls
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This guide is intended to provide building professionals with a comprehensive methodology for evaluating water leakage through walls. It addresses the performance expectations and service history of a wall, the various components of a wall, and the interaction between these components and adjacent construction. It is not intended as a construction quality control procedure, nor as a preconstruction qualification procedure. It is intended for evaluating buildings that exhibit water leakage.
Qualifications—Use of this guide requires a knowledge of basic physics and of construction and wall design principles and practices.
Application—The sequential activities described herein are intended to produce a complete and comprehensive evaluation program, but all activities may not be applicable or necessary for a particular evaluation program. It is the responsibility of the professional using this guide to determine the activities and sequence necessary to properly perform an appropriate leakage evaluation for a specific building.
Preliminary Assessment—A preliminary assessment may indicate that water leakage problems are limited to a specific element or portion of a wall. The evaluation of causes may likewise be limited in scope, and the procedures recommended herein abridged according to the professional judgement of the investigator. A statement stipulating the limits of the investigation should be included in the report.
Expectations—Expectations about the overall effectiveness of an evaluation program must be reasonable and in proportion to a defined scope of work and the effort and resources applied to the task. The objective is to be as comprehensive as possible within a defined scope of work. The methodology in this guide is intended to address intrinsic leakage behavior properties of a wall system, leading to conclusions that generally apply to similar locations on the building. Since every possible location is not included in an evaluation program, it is p...
SCOPE
1.1 This guide describes methods for determining and evaluating causes of water leakage of exterior walls. For this purpose, water penetration is considered leakage, and therefore problematic, if it exceeds the planned resistance or temporary retention and drainage capacity of the wall, is causing or is likely to cause premature deterioration of a building or its contents, or is adversely affecting the performance of other components. A wall is considered a system including its exterior and interior finishes, fenestration, structural components, and components for maintaining the building interior environment.
1.2 Investigative techniques discussed may be intrusive, disruptive, or destructive. It is the responsibility of the investigator to establish the limitations of use, to anticipate and advise of the destructive nature of some procedures, and to plan for patching and selective reconstruction as necessary.
1.3 This practice does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. Establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Awareness of safety and familiarity with safe procedures are particularly important for above-ground operations on the exterior of a building and destructive investigative procedures which typically are associated with the work described in this guide.
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Designation:E2128–01a(Reapproved2009)
Standard Guide for
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Evaluating Water Leakage of Building Walls
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2128; 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 Air Pressure Difference
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
1.1 This guide describes methods for determining and
E1105 Test Method for Field Determination of Water Pen-
evaluating causes of water leakage of exterior walls. For this
etration of Installed Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors,
purpose, water penetration is considered leakage, and therefore
and Curtain Walls, by Uniform or Cyclic Static Air
problematic, if it exceeds the planned resistance or temporary
Pressure Difference
retention and drainage capacity of the wall, is causing or is
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2.2 AAMA Standards:
likely to cause premature deterioration of a building or its
AAMA 501.2 Field Check of Metal Storefronts, Curtain
contents, or is adversely affecting the performance of other
Walls, and Sloped Glazing Systems for Water Leakage
components. A wall is considered a system including its
AAMA 502 Specification for FieldTesting ofWindows and
exterior and interior finishes, fenestration, structural compo-
Sliding Doors
nents, and components for maintaining the building interior
AAMA 503 Specification for Field Testing of Metal Store-
environment.
fronts, Curtain Walls, and Sloped Glazing Systems
1.2 Investigative techniques discussed may be intrusive,
disruptive, or destructive. It is the responsibility of the inves-
3. Terminology
tigator to establish the limitations of use, to anticipate and
3.1 Defintions—Refer to Terminology E631.
advise of the destructive nature of some procedures, and to
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
plan for patching and selective reconstruction as necessary.
3.2.1 incidental water—unplanned water infiltration that
1.3 This practice does not purport to address all of the
penetrates beyond the primary barrier and the flashing or
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. Establish
secondary barrier system, of such limited volume that it can
appropriate safety and health practices and determine the
escape or evaporate without causing adverse consequences.
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Awareness
3.2.2 water absorption—a process in which a material takes
of safety and familiarity with safe procedures are particularly
in water through its pores and interstices and retains it wholly
important for above-ground operations on the exterior of a
without transmission.
building and destructive investigative procedures which typi-
3.2.3 water infiltration—a process in which water passes
cally are associated with the work described in this guide.
through a material or between materials in a system and
2. Referenced Documents reaches a space that is not directly or intentionally exposed to
2 the water source.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.2.4 water leakage—water that is uncontrolled; exceeds
E331 Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior Win-
theresistance,retention,ordischargecapacityofthesystem;or
dows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain Walls by Uniform
causes subsequent damage or premature deterioration.
Static Air Pressure Difference
3.2.5 water penetration—a process in which water gains
E514 Test Method for Water Penetration and Leakage
access into a material or system by passing through the surface
Through Masonry
exposed to the water source.
E547 Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior Win-
3.2.6 water permeation—a process in which water enters,
dows, Skylights, Doors, and CurtainWalls by Cyclic Static
flows, and spreads within and discharges from a material.
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4. Significance and Use
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Performance
of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.55 on Exterior
4.1 This guide is intended to provide building professionals
Building Wall Systems.
with a comprehensive methodology for evaluating water leak-
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2009. Published January 2010. Originally
age through walls. It addresses the performance expectations
approved in 2001. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as E2128 – 01a. DOI:
10.1520/E2128-01AR09.
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For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
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contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Available from American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA),
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on 1827 Walden Office Square, Suite 550, Schaumburg, IL 60173-4268, ht
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