ASTM E2178-01

Standard Test Method for Air Permeance of Building Materials

SCOPE
1.1 This test method is to determine the air permeance of building materials at various pressure differentials with the intent of determining 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 X 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Dec-2001
• ICS: 91.100.01 - Construction materials in general
• Technical Committee: E06 - Performance of Buildings
• Drafting Committee: E06.41 - Air Leakage and Ventilation Performance

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM E2178-03 - Standard Test Method for Air Permeance of Building Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E2813-18 - Standard Practice for Building Enclosure Commissioning
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-2001
• Referred By: ASTM E3158-18 - Standard Test Method for Measuring the Air Leakage Rate of a Large or Multizone Building
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-2001
• Referred By: ASTM E2357-23a - Standard Test Method for Determining Air Leakage Rate of Air Barrier Assemblies
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-2001
• 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-Dec-2001

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: E 2178 – 01
Standard Test Method for
Air Permeance of Building Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 2178; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 5. Sampling
1.1 This test method is to determine the air permeance of 5.1 The number of specimens to be tested must be suitable
building materials at various pressure differentials with the to establish an air leakage rate which is representative of the
intent of determining an assigned air permeance rate of the product. In no case shall less than five specimens be tested.
material at the reference pressure difference (DP)of75Pa.
NOTE 1—Because of the variability in the manufacture of a product, the
1.2 The method is intended to assess flexible sheet or rigid
number of specimens to be tested may vary from product to product.
panel-type materials usinga1m 3 1 m specimen size.
Certain materials may have standard methods for sampling that shall be
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as used to sample these materials.
standard. No other units of measurements are included in this
6. Test Apparatus
standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the 6.1 A schematic of the air leakage test apparatus is pre-
sented in Fig. 1.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 6.1.1 Airtight Test Chamber—The airtight test chamber
shall be at least 0.32 m deep and capable of receivinga1mby
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. 1 m test specimen, anchored to the test chamber by means of
a compression frame and clamping devices. The test chamber
2. Referenced Documents
and compression frame shall be stiff enough to limit deflection
2.1 ASTM Standards: within the operating flexibility of the gaskets used to seal the
E 283 Test Method for Rate of Air Leakage through Exte- test specimen to the chamber. Two parallel ribbons of self-
rior Windows, Curtain Walls and Doors adhesive gasket material shall be applied at all sealing points of
E 1677 Specification for an Air Retarder Material or System the apparatus/test specimen assembly. The gasket ribbons shall
for Low-Rise Framed Building Walls be made of medium-density gasket material that can be fused
or glued at joints. The test apparatus shall contain an over-
3. Terminology
pressure control device and windows to verify the specimen
3.1 Definitions:
installation.
3.1.1 air permeance—the rate of air flow (L/s), per unit area 6.1.2 Flow Measuring Devices—The flow measuring de-
(m ) and per unit static pressure differential (Pa). vices used to gage the air flow through the test specimen shall
-6 3
be capable of measuring air flow rate from 1 3 10 m /s (.001
4. Significance and Use -2 3
L/s) up to 1.88 3 10 m /s (18.8 L/s), with an accuracy of 6
4.1 The purpose of this test is to measure the air permeance
3 % of the reading.
of flexible or rigid sheet materials. The results of this test may
6.1.3 Pressure Measuring Devices—The static pressure dif-
be useful in determining suitability of that material as a
ferential across the test specimen shall be measured by pressure
component of an air retarder system.
measuring devices with an accuracy of 6 0.5 % of the pressure
4.2 This method does not address the installed air leakage
reading. The laboratory barometric pressure shall be measured
performance of building materials. The installed performance
with a device capable of measuring barometric pressure within
of air retarder materials and air retarder systems in low-rise
6 3 % of the reading.
framed wall construction is addressed in Specification E 1677.
6.1.4 Piping—The piping connecting the flow measuring
devices and the vacuum blower shall be airtight and contain
flow control devices to regulate the static pressure across the
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on
test specimen within 6 0.5 % of the pressure reading. The pipe
Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.41
connection to the test chamber shall contain an air filter to
on Air Leakage and Ventilation Performance.
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 2001. Published March 2002.
prevent dust or particulate matter from affecting the flow
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.
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
E2178–01
FIG. 1 General Configuration of Test Apparatus
measuring device reading. The piping downstream and up- portion of the support should be welded to a solid metal frame
stream of the flow measuring device shall be designed so the which shall be gasketed and compressed within the test frame.
flow regime does not affect the device’s accuracy. The piping A detailed description of the support grill, including the gage
shall contain a temperature measuring device capable of wire used, shall be included in the test report. Fig. 2 shows the
measuring air temperature within 6 0.5°C to convert all flow preparation for a typical flexible sheet material. The following
rate measurement to STP. procedure must be used to seal the perimeter of the specimen:
6.1.5 Vacuum Blower—The blower used to create a vacuum
7.2.1 Apply a self-adhesive gasket ribbon over the frame of
in the test chamber shall be able to produce static pressure
the wire mesh/screen around the entire perimeter of the test
differential across the test specimen within 6 0.5 % of the
area under investigation (1 m 3 1 m);
pressure reading.
7.2.2 Apply a second self-adhesive gasket ribbon along the
perimeter of the first ribbon in 7.2.1;
7. Specimen Preparation
7.2.3 All joints in the gasket ribbons must be fused or glued;
7.1 Conditioning for Tests—Unless otherwise stated, all
7.2.4 Cut the flexible sheet material specimen to 1100 mm
specimens to be tested shall be conditioned for a minimum
3 1100 mm;
period of seven days at 21 6 1°C and 40 6 5 % RH.
7.2.5 Upon removal of the protective paper over the self-
7.2 Flexible Sheet Materials—Due to lack of rigidity, flex-
adhesive gasket, install the specimen over the wire mesh/
ible materials must be tested over a rigid support having an air
screen;
permeance much greater than the test specimen. An open grill
7.2.6 Apply the self-adhesive gasket over the specimen so it
or wire mesh/screen, fabricated with welded wire having a
lines up with the first ribbon in 7.2.1, and then apply a second
minimum of 25 mm 3 25-mm-square grid (or an alternative
self-adhesive gasket along its perimeter;
means that provides an equivalent degree of support and air
permeance) shall be used for this purpose. The wire mesh 7.2.7 All joints in the gasket ribbons must be fused or glued;
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
E2178–01
FIG. 2 Flexible Sheet Test Specimen
7.2.8 Cut polyethylene film (0.15 mm (6 mils)) to 1400 mm 7.2.13 From the interior line of the adhesive gasket, cut and
3 1400 mm; remove all the excess polyethylene film.
7.2.9 Upon removal of the protective paper over the ribbon, 7.3 Rigid Materials—Fig. 5 shows the preparation for a
cover the specimen with the polyethylene film; typical rigid panel-type material. The following procedure
7.2.10 Cut the polyethylene film at each corner as per Fig. 3; must be used to seal the perimeter of the specimen:
7.2.11 Apply two self-adhesive gaskets to the underside of 7.3.1 Apply a self-adhesive gasket ribbon over the rigid test
the wire mesh/screen support (the gaskets should line up below specimen around the entire perimeter of the area under
the first ribbon installed in 7.2.1); investigation (1 m 3 1 m);
7.2.12 Upon removal of the protective paper over the 7.3.2 All joints in the gasket ribbons must be fused or glued;
gasket, fold and tape each corner of the film with construction 7.3.3 Cut polyethylene film (0.15 mm (6 mils)) to 1400 mm
tape to ensure complete airtightness as per Fig. 4; 3 1400 mm;
FIG. 3 Top View of Polyethylene Placement Over Specimen with Double Perimeter Gaskets
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and rep
...