ASTM E1186-03(2009)
(Practice)Standard Practices for Air Leakage Site Detection in Building Envelopes and Air Barrier Systems
Standard Practices for Air Leakage Site Detection in Building Envelopes and Air Barrier Systems
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Air infiltration into the conditioned space of a building accounts for a significant portion of the thermal space condition load. Air infiltration can affect occupant comfort by producing drafts, cause indoor air quality problems by carrying outdoor pollutants into occupied building space and, in hot humid climates, can deposit moisture in the building envelope resulting in deterioration of building envelope components. In cold climates, exfiltration of conditioned air out of a building can deposit moisture in the building envelope causing deterioration of building envelope components. Differential pressure across the building envelope and the presence of air leakage sites cause air infiltration and exfiltration (1).
In some buildings, restricting air movement between interior zones of a building may be desired to separate dissimilar interior environments or prevent the movement of pollutants. Although not dealt with specifically in this standard, the detection practices presented can also be useful in detecting air leaks between interior zones of the building.
Air leakage sites are often difficult to locate because air flows may be small under the prevailing weather conditions. Wind conditions can aid in air leakage detection by forcing air to enter a building; however, where air is exiting, the building envelope construction may make observations difficult. For these reasons, forced pressurization or depressurization is strongly recommended for those practices which require controlled flow direction.
The techniques for air leakage site detection covered in these practices allow for a wide range of flexibility in the choice of techniques that are best suited for detecting various types of air leakage sites in specific situations.
The infrared scanning technique for air leakage site detection has the advantage of rapid surveying capability. Entire building exterior surfaces or inside wall surfaces can be covered with a single scan or a simple scanning actio...
SCOPE
1.1 These practices cover standardized techniques for locating air leakage sites in building envelopes and air barrier systems.
1.2 These practices offer a choice of means for determining the location of air leakage sites with each offering certain advantages for specific applications.
1.3 Some of the practices require a knowledge of infrared scanning, building and test chamber pressurization and depressurization, smoke generation techniques, sound generation and detection, and tracer gas concentration measurement techniques.
1.4 The practices described are of a qualitative nature in determining the air leakage sites rather than determining quantitative leakage rates.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.6 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard statements, see Section 6.
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Designation: E1186 − 03 (Reapproved 2009)
Standard Practices for
Air Leakage Site Detection in Building Envelopes and Air
1
Barrier Systems
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1186; 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.
3
1. Scope 2.2 Other Standards:
ANSI-ASHRAE Standard 101 Application of Infrared Sens-
1.1 These practices cover standardized techniques for locat-
ing Devices to the Assessment of Building Heat Loss
ing air leakage sites in building envelopes and air barrier
Characteristics
systems.
ISO Standard 6781 Thermal Insulation—Qualitative Detec-
1.2 These practices offer a choice of means for determining
tion of Thermal Irregularities in Building Envelopes—
the location of air leakage sites with each offering certain
Infrared Method
advantages for specific applications.
3. Terminology
1.3 Some of the practices require a knowledge of infrared
scanning, building and test chamber pressurization and 3.1 Definitions:
depressurization, smoke generation techniques, sound genera-
3.1.1 air barrier system, n—a system in building construc-
tion and detection, and tracer gas concentration measurement tion that is designed and installed to reduce air leakage either
techniques.
into or through the building envelope.
3.1.2 air exfiltration, n—air leakage out of the building.
1.4 The practices described are of a qualitative nature in
determining the air leakage sites rather than determining
3.1.3 air infiltration, n—air leakage into the building.
quantitative leakage rates.
3.1.4 air leakage rate, n—the volume of air movement per
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
unit time across the building envelope or air barrier system,
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
including flow through joints, cracks, and porous surfaces, or
standard.
combinations thereof, in which the driving force for such air
leakage in buildings is either mechanical pressurization or
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
evacuation, natural wind pressures, or air temperature differ-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
ences between the building interior and the outdoors, or
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
combinations thereof.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard
3.1.5 air leakage site, n—a location on the building enve-
statements, see Section 6.
lope or air barrier system where air can move between the
building interior and the outdoors.
2. Referenced Documents
3.1.6 building system, n—the boundary or barrier separating
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
theinteriorvolumeofabuildingfromtheoutsideenvironment.
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
3.1.6.1 Discussion—For the purpose of these practices, the
E741 Test Method for Determining Air Change in a Single
interior volume is the deliberately conditioned space within a
Zone by Means of a Tracer Gas Dilution
building generally not including the attic space, basement
E779 TestMethodforDeterminingAirLeakageRatebyFan
space, and attached structures, unless such spaces are con-
Pressurization
nected to the heating and air conditioning system, such as a
crawl space plenum. The actual building envelope may extend
1
These practices are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on
beyond these boundaries because of ducting or other construc-
Performance of Buildings and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.41
on Air Leakage and Ventilation Performance. tion features.
Current edition approved April 15, 2009. Published June 2009. Originally
3.1.7 test specimen, n—the part of the air barrier system on
approved in 1987. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as E1186 – 03. DOI:
the building to be tested that may consist of the selected areas
10.1520/E1186-03R09.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
the ASTM website. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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E1186 − 03 (2009)
of materials comprising the principle resistance to airflow, cal systems and moving an anemometer over the interior
joints between such materi
...
This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM 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:E1186–98 Designation: E 1186 – 03 (Reapproved 2009)
Standard Practices for
Air Leakage Site Detection in Building Envelopes and Air
1
RetarderBarrier Systems
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1186; 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 These practices cover standardized techniques for locating air leakage sites in building envelopes and air retarderbarrier
systems.
1.2 These practices offer a choice of means for determining the location of air leakage sites with each offering certain
advantages for specific applications.
1.3 Some of the practices require a knowledge of infrared scanning, building and test chamber pressurization and
depressurization, smoke generation techniques, sound generation and detection, and tracer gas concentration measurement
techniques.
1.4 The practices described are of a qualitative nature in determining the air leakage sites rather than determining quantitative
leakage rates.
1.5
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.6 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use. For specific hazard statements, see Section 6.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E 631 Terminology of Building Constructions
2
E 741 Test Method for MeasuringAir Leakage Rate by Tracer Dilution Test Method for Determining Air Change in a Single
Zone by Means of a Tracer Gas Dilution
E 779 Test Method for Determining Air Leakage Rate by Fan Pressurization
3
2.2 Other Standards:
ANSI-ASHRAE Standard 101 ApplicationofInfraredSensingDevicestotheAssessmentofBuildingHeatLossCharacteristics
ISO Standard 6781 Thermal Insulation—Qualitative Detection of Thermal Irregularities in Building Envelopes—Infrared
3
Method ISO Standard 6781 Thermal Insulation—Qualitative Detection of Thermal Irregularities in Building Envelopes—
Infrared Method
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 air leakage rateair barrier system, n—the volume of air movement per unit time across the building envelope or air
retarder system, including flow through joints, cracks, and porous surfaces, or combinations thereof, in which the driving force for
such air leakage in buildings is either mechanical pressurization or evacuation, natural wind pressures, or air temperature
differences between the building interior and the outdoors, or combinations thereof. —a system in building construction that is
designed and installed to reduce air leakage either into or through the building envelope.
3.1.2 air leakage siteair exfiltration, n—a location on the building envelope or air retarder system where air can move between
1
These practices are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-6 E06 on Performance of Buildings and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.41 on Air
Leakage and Ventilation.
´1
Current edition approved June 10, 1998. Published August 1998. Originally published as E1186 – 87. Last previous edition E1187 – 87 (1992) .on Air Leakage and
Ventilation Performance.
Current edition approved April 15, 2009. Published June 2009. Originally approved in 1987. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as E 1186 – 03.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
, Vol 04.11.volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from American National Standards Institute, 11 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.
3
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
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E 1186 – 03 (2009)
the building interior and the outdoors. —air leakage out of the building.
3.1.3 air infiltration, n—air leakage into the building.
3.1.4 air exfiltrationair leakage rate, n—air leakage out of the building. —the volume
...
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