prEN 13050

Curtain Walling - Watertightness - Laboratory test under dynamic condition of air pressure and water spray

This standard defines an additional test method which may be used when assessing the watertightness of curtain walling, both its fixed and openable parts. It is a supplementary test, not required for classification purposes, and it should be used only when the project specifier has determined its necessity.It describes how the outside face of a curtain walling specimen should be subjected to a continuous spray of water and a turbulent airflow, with continuous pulses of positive air pressure generated from within the chamber.
This standard applies to any curtain walling product as defined in prEN 13830:2000

Vorhangfassaden - Schlagregendichtheit - Laborprüfung mit wechselndem Luftdruck und Besprühen mit Wasser

Diese Norm legt ein zusätzliches Prüfverfahren fest, das zur Beurteilung der Schlagregendichtheit von Vorhangfassaden, sowohl von ortsfesten als auch zu öffnenden Teilen, angewendet werden kann. Bei der Prüfung handelt es sich um eine ergänzende Prüfung, die nicht für Klassifizierungszwecke gefordert wird, und sie sollte nur dann angewendet werden, wenn der Projektmanager deren Notwendigkeit festgelegt hat.
Sie beschreibt, wie die Außenseite des Prüfkörpers einer Vorhangfassade kontinuierlich mit Wasser besprüht und einem turbulenten Luftstrom, einschließlich kontinuierlich im Innern der Kammer erzeugten positiven Luftdruckstößen, ausgesetzt werden sollte.
Diese Norm gilt für jede Art von Vorhangfassaden wie sie in EN 13830 festgelegt sind.

Façades rideaux - Etanchéité à l'eau - Essai en laboratoire sous pression d'air dynamique et projection d'eau

Obešene fasade – Neprepustnost za vodo – Laboratorijski preskus pri dinamičnem tlaku

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 33 - Doors, windows, shutters and building hardware
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 33/WG 6 - Curtain walling
• Current Stage: 4598 - Decision to abandon - Finalization for Vote
• Start Date: 21-Sep-2007
• Completion Date: 21-Sep-2007
• Ref Project: oSIST prEN 13050:2006 - Curtain Walling - Watertightness - Laboratory test under dynamic condition of air pressure and water spray

Relations

• Revises: ENV 13050:2000 - Curtain walling - Watertightness - Laboratory test under dynamic condition of air pressure and water spray
• Effective Date: 08-Jun-2022

Overview

prEN 13050 is a European standard developed by CEN that specifies an additional laboratory test method for assessing the watertightness of curtain walling systems under dynamic conditions. This test combines controlled water spray with turbulent airflow and dynamic air pressure pulses to simulate harsh environmental conditions. Unlike classification tests, this standard serves as a supplementary assessment tool, utilized when project specifiers require enhanced verification of curtain wall performance, particularly for both fixed and openable curtain wall parts. It applies to any curtain walling product defined under EN 13830.

The standard ensures that curtain walls can resist water penetration effectively during fluctuating air pressure and rainfall, key factors affecting building façade durability and occupant comfort.

Key Topics

• Scope and Applicability
  Applies to curtain walling systems, including fixed and operable elements. Intended as an optional test to verify watertightness beyond classification requirements.

• Test Principle
  Exposing the outer face of curtain wall specimens to a continuous water spray combined with a turbulent air flow and regular pulses of positive air pressure from within the test chamber.

• Test Setup and Apparatus

  • Rigid test chamber with supports mimicking installation conditions
  • Water spray system delivering a continuous full-cone spray at 2–3 bar pressure
  • Mobile wind generator producing a turbulent airflow with specific velocity profiles (minimum 20 m/s average across the specimen)
  • Equipment to apply dynamic air pressure pulses accurately between minimum and maximum design pressures

• Specimen Requirements
  Full-scale, fully operational curtain wall samples with correct materials and fixings, large enough to cover at least two modules and a vertical mullion joint.

• Test Procedure
  Systematic spraying combined with air pressure pulses and turbulent wind applied via a movable fan assembly which traverses the specimen’s surface. Inspection for water leakage inside the specimen is continuous throughout the test duration.

• Results and Reporting
  Detailed recording of any water infiltration, exact leakage location, timing, test pressures, and airflow conditions. Comprehensive test report including drawings, equipment calibration, and environmental conditions.

Applications

• Curtain Wall System Verification
  Useful for designers, specifiers, and manufacturers to demonstrate the robustness of curtain wall watertightness under dynamic, real-world conditions.

• Quality Control and Performance Validation
  An important test for projects in high wind and heavy rain regions where curtain wall durability is critical to prevent water ingress that could damage internal building components.

• Supplementary Assessment Prior to Installation
  Enables stakeholders to evaluate and improve curtain wall designs before building installation, minimizing costly on-site waterproofing issues.

• Research and Development
  Supports innovation and improvement in curtain wall assemblies by providing a consistent laboratory test for troubleshooting and validating enhanced sealing solutions.

Related Standards

• EN 13830: Curtain Walling - Product Standard
  Defines curtain wall product requirements and general performance criteria including mechanical and thermal performance.

• EN 12155: Curtain Walling - Watertightness Pressure Test
  Describes static pressure tests for curtain wall water tightness classification.

• prEN 13119: Curtain Walling - Terminology
  Provides standardized terms and definitions ensuring consistency in curtain wall testing and documentation.

• EN 1027: Windows and Doors - Watertightness Test Method
  Related to water tightness assessment, useful for understanding water infiltration mechanisms.

• EN 12154: Curtain Walling - Watertightness - Performance Requirements and Classification
  Complements prEN 13050 by setting watertightness classes and classification criteria.

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Keywords: prEN 13050, curtain walling, watertightness test, laboratory test, dynamic air pressure, water spray, turbulent airflow, curtain wall water leakage, CEN standard, EN 13830, façade testing, curtain wall performance, water infiltration test, curtain wall validation, building envelope durability.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI oSIST prEN 13050:2006

PREDSTANDARD
marec 2006
Obešene fasade – Neprepustnost za vodo – Laboratorijski preskus pri
dinamičnem tlaku
Curtain walling – Watertightness – Laboratory test under dynamic condition of air
pressure and water spray
ICS 91.060.10 Referenčna številka
©  Standard je založil in izdal Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje ali kopiranje celote ali delov tega dokumenta ni dovoljeno

EUROPEAN STANDARD
DRAFT
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
January 2006
ICS Will supersede ENV 13050:2000
English Version
Curtain Walling - Watertightness - Laboratory test under
dynamic condition of air pressure and water spray
Façades rideaux - Etanchéité à l'eau - Essai en laboratoire
sous pression d'air dynamique et projection d'eau
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee CEN/TC 33.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which
stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language
made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the Management Centre has the same
status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are aware and to
provide supporting documentation.
Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without notice and
shall not be referred to as a European Standard.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36  B-1050 Brussels
© 2006 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 13050:2006: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
Foreword. 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions. 4
4 Principle. 5
5 Apparatus . 5
6 Test Specimen. 6
7 Specimen Preparation. 6
8 Test Procedure. 6
9 Test Results. 7
10 Test Report . 7
Bibliography . 11

Foreword
This document (prEN 13050:2006) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 33 “Doors, windows,
shutters, building hardware and curtain walling”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry in order to convert ENV 13050: 2000 into an EN by a
CEN enquiry + formal vote.
This document will supersede ENV 13050:2000.
The contents of this draft is exactly the same that the contents of ENV 13050: 2000. Only the normative
references and Bibliography were updated.

1 Scope
This standard defines an additional test method which may be used when assessing the watertightness of
curtain walling, both its fixed and openable parts. It is a supplementary test, not required for classification
purposes, and it should be used only when the project specifier has determined its necessity.
It describes how the outside face of a curtain walling specimen should be subjected to a continuous spray of
water and a turbulent airflow, with continuous pulses of positive air pressure generated from within the chamber.
This standard applies to any curtain walling product as defined in EN 13830.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document
(including any amendments) applies.
EN 12155, Curtain walling - Test method to determine watertightness pressure
prEN 13119:1997, Curtain Walling - Terminology
EN 13830, Curtain Walling - Product standard
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this European Standard, the terms and definitions given in prEN 13119:1997 and the
following apply.
3.1
test pressure
difference between the static air pressures on the outside and inside faces of the test specimen. It is expressed
in Pascals (Pa).
3.2
positive test pressure
when the static air pressure is greater on the outside face of the test specimen than on the inside face.

3.3
watertightness
ability of the curtain walling specimen to resist water leakage.

3.4
water leakage
penetration of water that continuously or repeatedly wet parts of :
1. the inside face of the specimen.
2. any parts of the specimen not intended to be wetted as part of the system of water drainage to the
outside.
4 Principle
The application of a constant and specified quantity of water in a spray combined with a specified turbulent
airflow and continuous regular pulses of positive test pressure, on to the outside face of the specimen, while
inspecting for water leakage.
5 Apparatus
5.1 A chamber with an opening into which the test specimen can be fitted. This chamber shall be of sufficient
strength and rigidity to withstand the test pressures likely to be imposed during the tests. It shall not deflect
under test pressure to any extent which would affect the performance of the test specimen.

Adequately representative structural supports shall be provided to which the specimen shall be attached in
accordance with the conditions of use in the works (see also clause 6).

5.2 A means for applying controlled positive test pressures to the specimen arranged such that the air does not
impinge directly on the specimen with any significant velocity.

5.3  A means by which rapidly controlled changes of test pressure may be produced within defined limits.

5.4  A means of measuring the applied test pressures within an accuracy of ±1 %.

5.5  An adjustable device for spraying water at working pressure range of 2 bar to 3 bar according to the
manufacturers specification so that a constant and continuous film can be applied to the outside surface of the
specimen.
The local mains water supply shall be an acceptable source providing it is clean enough to allow the spray
nozzles to function properly throughout the test.

The water spraying device shall have nozzles spac
...