Windows, Doors, Skylights – Air & Water
We perform both air and water tests for fenestration systems and their interfaces with adjacent construction.
Air Testing
Air testing of windows, doors, and skylights is used to:
- Demonstrate compliance with project specifications and the North American Fenestration Standard (NAFS) targets where applicable.
- Contribute to whole building airtightness objectives and WBALT targets.
- Identify specific leakage paths using theatrical fog and other diagnostic tools.
Methods include:
- Quantitative testing to ASTM E783, measuring air leakage rates through a defined sample; operable and fixed components are typically tested separately, and methodology varies for curtain wall versus punched openings.
- Qualitative testing to ASTM E1186 using theatrical fog to visualize leakage paths and identify “gross offenders,” with some limited leakage accepted if it meets design intent.
Water Testing
We provide water penetration testing to confirm that systems and interfaces perform under driving rain conditions.
Methods include:
- Quantitative water penetration testing to ASTM E1105 using a test chamber and controlled water spray to evaluate performance under differential pressure.
- Qualitative water testing to AAMA 501.2, often used in large areas or where interior access is limited, acting as a field check with pass/fail criteria but no rating value.
We consider:
- The need to include transitions and interfaces in the sample, not just the “sample proper.”
- Temperature constraints (e.g., minimum ambient temperatures) and the use of heated enclosures where required.
- Practical site conditions such as access, power, and water supply pressure, utilizing techniques like “reservoir method” with pumps and water tanks, when needed.
Walls – Air Barriers and Interfaces
Air barrier performance is critical to overall enclosure behavior, and we test both materials and assemblies.
Our services include:
- Quantitative air testing of air barrier assemblies, generally conforming to ASTM E783 principles with exterior chambers applied while the air barrier is still exposed.
- Qualitative air testing to ASTM E1186 using depressurized domes and surfactant liquid to detect leakage at penetrations, with test frequencies defined by wall area or detail counts.
- Field adhesion testing of air and water barrier membranes on walls and roofs using:
- Quantitative pull tests to ASTM D4541 and D7274 (where substrates are appropriate).
- Qualitative “knife tests” to ASTM D6677, recognizing the subjectivity of this method.
We also advise on limitations of current standards (for example, lack of quantitative pull‑off standards for membranes on gypsum substrates) and reference related standards such as ASTM C1521 for sealant joint adhesion.
Roofs – Air, Water, and Post‑Construction Assessment
For roofs, our verification services address both in‑construction performance and post‑construction condition.
Key services include:
- Wind uplift testing to ASTM E907 and FM 1‑52 using large domes to assess field, edge, and corner conditions under high pressures.
- Electronic leak detection (ELD) to ASTM D7877 and ASTM D8231 for waterproofed roofs, using low‑voltage scanning platforms or rollers, and low‑voltage electric field vector mapping, where appropriate.
- Moisture detection in existing roofs using:
- Tramex dec‑scanning to ASTM D7954, a non‑destructive method that can locate wet insulation to depths of approximately 150 mm (6 inches) under a range of conditions.
- Thermographic scanning to ASTM C1153 for roofs and ASTM C1060/E1186 for walls, identifying anomalous thermal signatures that indicate moisture or missing insulation.
We pay careful attention to ideal test conditions and potential pitfalls such as:
- Temperature differentials and weather conditions needed for reliable thermography.
- False positives from reflections, patch repairs, or HVAC exhaust.
- Limitations of ELD and flood testing on certain roof types.
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