ASTM E96/E96M-13
(Test Method)Standard Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Materials
Standard Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Materials
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The purpose of these tests is to obtain, by means of simple apparatus, reliable values of water vapor transfer through permeable and semipermeable materials, expressed in suitable units. These values are for use in design, manufacture, and marketing. A permeance value obtained under one set of test conditions may not indicate the value under a different set of conditions. For this reason, the test conditions should be selected that most closely approach the conditions of use. While any set of conditions may be used and those conditions reported, standard conditions that have been useful are shown in Appendix X1.
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of water vapor transmission (WVT) of materials through which the passage of water vapor may be of importance, such as paper, plastic films, other sheet materials, fiberboards, gypsum and plaster products, wood products, and plastics. The test methods are limited to specimens not over 11/4 in. [32 mm] in thickness except as provided in Section 9. Two basic methods, the Desiccant Method and the Water Method, are provided for the measurement of permeance, and two variations include service conditions with one side wetted and service conditions with low humidity on one side and high humidity on the other. Agreement should not be expected between results obtained by different methods. The method should be selected that more nearly approaches the conditions of use.
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard. However, derived results can be converted from one system to the other using appropriate conversion factors (see Table 1).TABLE 1 Metric Units and Conversion FactorsA,B
Multiply
by
To Obtain (for the
same test condition)
WVT
g/h·m2
1.43
grains/h·ft2
grains/h·ft2
0.697
g/h·m2
Permeance
g/Pa·s·m2
1.75 × 107
1 Perm (inch-pound)
1 Perm (inch-pound)
5.72 × 10−8
g/Pa·s·m2
Permeability
g/Pa·s·m
6.88 × 108
1 Perm inch
1 Perm inch
1.45 × 10−9
g/Pa·s·m A These units are used in the construction trade. Other units may be used in other standards.B All conversions of mm Hg to Pa are made at a temperature of 0°C.
1.3 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.
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Designation: E96/E96M − 13
StandardTest Methods for
1
Water Vapor Transmission of Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E96/E96M; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope E177Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
ASTM Test Methods
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of water
D449Specification for Asphalt Used in Dampproofing and
vapor transmission (WVT) of materials through which the
Waterproofing
passage of water vapor may be of importance, such as paper,
D2301Specification for Vinyl Chloride Plastic Pressure-
plastic films, other sheet materials, fiberboards, gypsum and
Sensitive Electrical Insulating Tape
plasterproducts,woodproducts,andplastics.Thetestmethods
1
E691Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
are limited to specimens not over 1 ⁄4 in. [32 mm] in thickness
except as provided in Section 9. Two basic methods, the Determine the Precision of a Test Method
Desiccant Method and the Water Method, are provided for the
measurementofpermeance,andtwovariationsincludeservice
3. Terminology
conditions with one side wetted and service conditions with
3.1 Definitions of terms used in this standard will be found
low humidity on one side and high humidity on the other.
in Terminology C168, from which the following is quoted:
Agreementshouldnotbeexpectedbetweenresultsobtainedby
“water vapor permeability—the time rate of water vapor
different methods. The method should be selected that more
transmissionthroughunitareaofflatmaterialofunitthickness
nearly approaches the conditions of use.
inducedbyunitvaporpressuredifferencebetweentwospecific
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
surfaces, under specified temperature and humidity conditions.
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
Discussion—Permeabilityisapropertyofamaterial,butthe
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
permeability of a body that performs like a material may be
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
used. Permeability is the arithmetic product of permeance and
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance
with the standard. However, derived results can be converted thickness.
from one system to the other using appropriate conversion
water vapor permeance—the time rate of water vapor
factors (see Table 1).
transmission through unit area of flat material or construction
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the inducedbyunitvaporpressuredifferencebetweentwospecific
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the
surfaces, under specified temperature and humidity conditions.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Discussion—Permeanceisaperformanceevaluationandnot
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
a property of a material.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.2 water vapor transmission rate—the steady water vapor
2. Referenced Documents
flowinunittimethroughunitareaofabody,normaltospecific
2
2.1 ASTM Standards: parallel surfaces, under specific conditions of temperature and
C168Terminology Relating to Thermal Insulation
humidity at each surface.”
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C16 on
4. Summary of Test Methods
Thermal Insulation and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C16.33 on
Insulation Finishes and Moisture.
4.1 In the Desiccant Method the test specimen is sealed to
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2013. Published December 2013. Originally
the open mouth of a test dish containing a desiccant, and the
approved in 1953. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as E96–12. DOI:
assembly placed in a controlled atmosphere. Periodic weigh-
10.1520/E0096_E0096M-13.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
ings determine the rate of water vapor movement through the
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
specimen into the desiccant.
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 ----------------------
E96/E96M − 13
A,B
TABLE 1 Metric Units and Conversion Factors
limited to about 10 to 12%. For a thick specimen the ledge
3
To Obtain (for the
should not exceed ⁄4 in. [19 mm] for a 10-in. [254-mm] or
Multiply by
...
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: E96/E96M − 12 E96/E96M − 13
Standard Test Methods for
1
Water Vapor Transmission of Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E96/E96M; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of water vapor transmission (WVT) of materials through which the passage of
water vapor may be of importance, such as paper, plastic films, other sheet materials, fiberboards, gypsum and plaster products,
1
wood products, and plastics. The test methods are limited to specimens not over 1 ⁄4 in. (32 mm)[32 mm] in thickness except as
provided in Section 9. Two basic methods, the Desiccant Method and the Water Method, are provided for the measurement of
permeance, and two variations include service conditions with one side wetted and service conditions with low humidity on one
side and high humidity on the other. Agreement should not be expected between results obtained by different methods. The method
should be selected that more nearly approaches the conditions of use.
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the
two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard. However, derived results can be converted from one system to the
other using appropriate conversion factors (see Table 1).
1.3 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C168 Terminology Relating to Thermal Insulation
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
D449 Specification for Asphalt Used in Dampproofing and Waterproofing
D2301 Specification for Vinyl Chloride Plastic Pressure-Sensitive Electrical Insulating Tape
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C16 on Thermal Insulation and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C16.33 on Insulation
Finishes and Moisture.
Current edition approved Dec. 15, 2012Nov. 1, 2013. Published February 2013December 2013. Originally approved in 1953. Last previous edition approved in 20102012
as E96– 10.– 12. DOI: 10.1520/E0096_E0096M-12.10.1520/E0096_E0096M-13.
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 Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
A,B
TABLE 1 Metric Units and Conversion Factors
To Obtain (for the
Multiply by
same test condition)
WVT
2 2
g/h·m 1.43 grains/h·ft
2 2
grains/h·ft 0.697 g/h·m
Permeance
2 7
g/Pa·s·m 1.75 × 10 1 Perm (inch-pound)
−8 2
1 Perm (inch-pound) 5.72 × 10 g/Pa·s·m
Permeability
8
g/Pa·s·m 6.88 × 10 1 Perm inch
−9
1 Perm inch 1.45 × 10 g/Pa·s·m
A
These units are used in the construction trade. Other units may be used in other
standards.
B
All conversions of mm Hg to Pa are made at a temperature of 0°C.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E96/E96M − 13
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions of terms used in this standard will be found in Terminology C168, from which the following is quoted:
“water vapor permeability—the time rate of water vapor transmission through unit area of flat material of unit thickness induced
by unit vapor pressure difference between two specific surfaces, under specified temperature and humidity conditions.
Discussion—Permeability is a property of a material, but the permeability of a body that performs like a material may be used.
Permeability is the arithmetic product of permeance and thickness.
water vapor permeance—the time rate of water vapor transmission through unit area of flat ma
...
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