BS-6181-1981 ISO-6589-1981.pdf

BRITISH STANDARD BS 6181:1981 ISO 6589-1981 Method of test for Air permeability of joints in building ISO title: Joints in building Method of test for air permeability of joints UDC 693.224:539.217.5 Licensed Copy: sheffieldun sheffieldun, na, Wed Dec 06 15:39:06 GMT+00:00 2006, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI BS 6181:1981 This British Standard, having been prepared under the direction of the Basic Data and Performance Criteria for Civil Engineering and Building Structures Standards Committee, was published under the authority of the Executive Board and comes into effect on 30 November 1981 © BSI 01-1999 The following BSI references relate to the work on this standard: Committee reference BDB/4 Draft for comment 79/10906 DC ISBN 0 580 12401 0 Cooperating organizations The Basic Data and Performance Criteria for Civil Engineering and Building Structures Standards Committee, under whose direction this British Standard was prepared, consists of representatives from the following: The organizations marked with an asterisk in the above list, together with the following, were directly represented on the Technical Committee entrusted with the preparation of this British Standard: Agrément BoardFederation of Associations of Specialists and Aluminium FederationSub-contractors Association of Building ComponentHealth and Safety Executive Manufacturers Ltd.Incorporated Association of Architects and Association of District CouncilsSurveyors* Association of Metropolitan Authorities*Institute of Building Brick Development Association*Institution of Civil Engineers* British Constructional Steelwork AssociationInstitution of Highway Engineers British Precast Concrete Federation Ltd.Institution of Municipal Engineers* British Woodworking Federation*Institution of Structural Engineers* Cement and Concrete AssociationMinistry of Defence Chartered Institution of Building Services*Modular Society Limited* Concrete Society Limited*National Caravan Council Limited Consumer Standards Advisory CommitteeNational Council of Building Materials of BSIProducers* Convention of Scottish Local AuthoritiesNational Federation of Building Trades Department of Education and Science*Employers* Department of Health and Social SecurityRoyal Association for Disability Department of the Environment (Building and Rehabilitation Research Establishment)*Royal Institute of British Architects* Department of the Environment (Housing andRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors* Construction)*Scottish Development Department* Department of the Environment (PSA)Timber Research and Development Department of Transport*Association* Environmental Health Officers Association Trades Union Congress* Association of County CouncilsInstitution of Building Control Officers Ltd. Constructional Steel Research andInstitution of Public Health Engineers Development Organisation Amendments issued since publication Amd. No.Date of issueComments Licensed Copy: sheffieldun sheffieldun, na, Wed Dec 06 15:39:06 GMT+00:00 2006, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI BS 6181:1981 © BSI 01-1999i Contents Page Cooperating organizationsInside front cover National forewordii 0Introduction1 1Scope1 2Field of application1 3References1 4Definitions1 5Apparatus1 6Preparation of the joint for testing1 7Preparation for the test2 8Test2 9Test results2 10Test report3 Figure Sequence of differential pressure application4 Publications referred toInside back cover Licensed Copy: sheffieldun sheffieldun, na, Wed Dec 06 15:39:06 GMT+00:00 2006, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI BS 6181:1981 ii © BSI 01-1999 National foreword This British Standard has been prepared under the direction of the Basic Data and Performance Criteria for Civil Engineering and Building Structures Standards Committee. It is identical with ISO 6589-1981 “Joints in building Method of test for air permeability of joints” prepared by ISO/TC 59, Building construction, and published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Terminology and conventions. The text of the international standard has been approved as suitable for publication as a British Standard without deviation. Some terminology and certain conventions are not identical with those used in British Standards; attention is especially drawn to the following. The comma has been used as a decimal marker. It is current practice in British Standards to use a full point on the baseline as the decimal marker. Wherever the words “International Standard” appear, referring to this standard, they should be read as “British Standard”. Cross-references. There are no corresponding British Standards for ISO 2444, ISO 3447 and ISO 6613 (in preparation). The technical committee has reviewed the provisions of these international standards and has decided that they are acceptable for use in conjunction with this standard. A related British Standard for ISO 2444 is BS 4643:1970 “Glossary of terms relating to joints and jointing in building”. Table 2 of BS 6093:1981 “Code of practice for design of joints and jointing in building construction” is based on ISO 3447. NOTETextual error. When adopting the text of the international standard a printing error in the caption to the figure was noticed. It has been corrected in this British Standard and has been reported to ISO in a proposal to amend the text of the international standard. A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application. Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity from legal obligations. Summary of pages This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii, pages 1 to 4, an inside back cover and a back cover. This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on the inside front cover. Licensed Copy: sheffieldun sheffieldun, na, Wed Dec 06 15:39:06 GMT+00:00 2006, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI BS 6181:1981 © BSI 01-19991 0 Introduction The establishment of levels of performance for joints in buildings has to be based on tests that will simulate the constraints associated with their behaviour in service. The functions that a joint has to perform have been listed in ISO 3447. The method of test proposed deals with point A.8 of 3.1 of ISO 3447. The method has been adapted from a standard test for air permeability of windows. Care should be taken in relating the results of laboratory tests on joints to their actual performance on site. 1 Scope This International Standard specifies the test method to be used in laboratories for assessing the air permeability of non-opening joints in the exterior walls of buildings. 2 Field of application This International Standard applies to joint between components used in the exterior walls of buildings and fixed according to the manufacturers recommendations. This International Standard does not apply to joints within components (for example the joint between glass fixed in a window frame and sealed with a glazing compound), but applies to the joint between glass mounted in a fixed window frame on site.1) 3 References ISO 2444, Joints in building Vocabulary. ISO 3447, Joints in building General check-list of joint functions. 4 Definitions The definitions given in ISO 2444, Joints in building Vocabulary, apply with the following additions: 4.1 differential pressure difference between the absolute air pressure on the external surface of a joint and the absolute air pressure on the internal surface of the same joint. The difference is positive when the external pressure is higher than the internal pressure. In the other case, it is negative. This differential pressure is expressed in pascals (Pa) 4.2 air permeability inability of a joint to resist the passage of air when it is submitted to a differential pressure across it. The air permeability is characterized by a flow of air expressed in cubic metres per hour per metre as a function of the differential pressure NOTEThis flow may be related to joint length (flow per unit of length in cubic metres per hour per metre), or, for a junction2) between two joints, to the flow at the junction (flow in cubic metres per hour). Where the distribution of joints (length and junction) in an element is known, the flow may also be related to the element surface area (flow per unit of surface in cubic metres per hour per square metre). 5 Apparatus The basic test apparatus shall consist of the following: 5.1 Chamber which can be sealed and pressurized with an opening in one side into which a length of joint at least 1 m long and associated components can be fitted. 5.2 Means of providing a controlled differential pressure across the joint. 5.3 Device for rapid controlled changes of the differential pressure operating between defined limits. 5.4 Means of measuring the flow of air into or out of the chamber. 5.5 Means of measuring the differential pressure between the two faces of the joint, i.e. between the joint surfaces at any part of the wall or of the partition to be tested. 6 Preparation of the joint for testing The joint to be tested shall be installed between actual components so as to withstand the test differential pressures without deflecting to an extent likely to impair the joint or affect its performance. The components surrounding the joint shall be chosen to represent the nature of the surface likely to occur in practice. Any irregularities on that part of the component surface in contact with any jointing product shall be tested for their effect on air permeability. The joint shall be installed so that its external surface forms a part of the internal face of one wall of the chamber for a positive differential pressure and vice versa for a negative differential pressure (see 8.3). 1) See also ISO 6613, Windows and door height windows Air permeability test (At present at the stage of draft). 2) Intersections of joints. Licensed Copy: sheffieldun sheffieldun, na, Wed Dec 06 15:39:06 GMT+00:00 2006, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI BS 6181:1981 2 © BSI 01-1999 7 Preparation for the test Extraneous air leakage from the chamber, not imputable to the joint, shall be measured and preferably eliminated. When the extraneous chamber air leakage is measured, it shall be determined with the joint specimen sealed and at the differential pressures to be exerted during the joint air permeability tests. (Care must be taken to ensure that the joint is well sealed over its face and at its ends.) The metering equipment for the measurement of the air permeability of the joint may be used for measuring the extraneous air leakage or it may be necessary to provide additional air metering equipment. The method adopted to measure the air leakage shall be stated in the test report. The air temperature of the laboratory and the test chamber shall be measured and recorded in the report. 8 Test 8.1 Tests for the following four conditions of installation shall be made to determine the effects of dimensional deviations: a) Nominal joint width with the external surfaces of the adjacent components forming the joint correctly aligned. b) Minimum specified joint width with the external surfaces of the adjacent components forming the joint correctly aligned. c) Maximum specified joint width with the external surfaces of the adjacent components forming the joint correctly aligned. d) Joint width varying from minimum to maximum width along length, and with adjacent components forming the joint misaligned in the opposite direction to the plane of the component surfaces (in the direction perpendicular to the faces of the components) within the given limits. Junctions between joints shall also be tested under the conditions a) to d) above. To test a junction, for example, between a vertical joint and a horizontal joint, first test the junction formed between lengths of the two types of joint and then test separate lengths of the two types. The effect of the junction itself is then calculated by subtracting the air flows through the two separate joints (correcting for length as appropriate) from the air flow through the complete assembly. 8.2 Three positive differential pressure pulses increasing from 0 to maximum over a period greater than 1 s shall be applied to the test chamber. Each pressure shall be maintained for at least 3 s. These pressures shall be 10 % higher than the maximum differential pressure Pmax required for the following part of the test (see 8.3) without however being less than 500 Pa (see Figure). 8.3 The joint shall then be subjected to increasing positive differential pressures in stages of at least 10 s duration up to the maximum differential pressure required for the test. This maximum differential pressure is to be calculated from the velocity of the wind acting on the joint in its intended location in use. These differential pressures shall be 50, 100, 150, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 Pa and can then be increased gradually in steps of 250 Pa maximum if the differential pressure required for the test is, exceptionally, higher than 600 Pa. The differential pressures shall then be applied in the reverse order. The Figure shows the sequence of operations for a required differential pressure Pmax less than 600 Pa, for example of 300 Pa, see part a) of the Figure and for a required differential pressure of Pmax greater than 600 Pa, for example of 700 Pa, see part b) of the Figure. 8.4 The test shall be repeated with negative differential pressures by reversing the installation of the joint so that its interior surface forms a part of the internal face of one wall of the chamber. 9 Test results The air permeability at each differential pressure shall be recorded to the nearest 0,1 m3/h. The higher of the two flow readings for each pressure (measured once during the increasing phase and then during the decreasing phase) shall be noted in the report. In addition, the accuracy to be expected from the measuring instruments used shall be indicated in the report. For each joint tested, the air permeability expressed as cubic metres of air per hour shall be recorded: a) per metre of length of each type of joint; b) for each junction location (intersection of joints). In addition, if the distribution of joints (length and junctions) for an element is known, the flow per unit of surface of the element can be given. The air permeability shall be plotted against increasing differential pressure and the graphs shall be included in the report. If necessary, corrections shall be made for any extraneous air leakage from the chamber (see clause 7). Licensed Copy: sheffieldun sheffieldun, na, Wed Dec 06 15:39:06 GMT+00:00 2006, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI BS 6181:1981 © BSI 01-19993 10 Test report The test report shall include at least: a) a diagram of the test apparatus or its reference; b) details of installing the test joint; c) ambient a