Importance of Prequalification— For required accuracy of test results and reliability of certification, it is essential that testing laboratories be prequalified. This practice establishes those qualifications.

Contractual Relationships:

Although testing laboratories may be qualified in accordance with this practice, it is important for the contracting authority to consider the relationship of the testing laboratory with other interested parties before engaging the laboratory to perform the testing. The other interested parties in the project usually consist of the manufacturer of the material to be tested, the contractor (bidder), the owner of the project (user and contracting authority), and the architect who serves as the owner's agent in preparing the contract documents.

Many sealant manufacturers have their own qualified testing facilities that are used to conduct research and maintain quality control of their products. Generally, the companies that have such facilities are willing to certify as to the performance standards with which their products comply. The contracting authority should determine if there are conflicting interests in such a relationship. The contracting authority may prefer that the product testing to ascertain conformance with specific performance standards and the reporting of such testing be performed by a qualified but independent testing laboratory. The contract documents should make this requirement known so that bidders can bid accordingly.

The testing of each caulking and sealant for each and every project can be costly. On a small building project, the cost of testing, if required, may be more than the cost of the sealant materials. On a large project, on the other hand, the cost of testing a sealant with accompanying certification by a qualified independent testing laboratory may be small in comparison to the sealant materials and commensurate with the assurances desired by the contracting authority.

Requirements in Contract Documents:

In addition to specifying the performance standards that the caulking and sealants to be used on a project shall be in compliance with, state that proof of compliance shall be in the form of certification by a testing laboratory meeting the requirements of this practice.

If the contracting authority desires that the testing and certification be by an independent testing laboratory this additional requirement should be included with the requirements stated in 4.3.1.

1. Scope

1.1 This practice describes the qualifications, including minimum requirements for personnel and equipment, duties, responsibilities, and services of independent commercial materials testing laboratories engaged in the testing of caulking and sealants used in building construction.

1.2 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.

1.3 The subcommittee with jurisdiction of this standard is not aware of any similar or equivalent ISO standard.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

C510 Test Method for Staining and Color Change of Single- or Multicomponent Joint Sealants

C603 Test Method for Extrusion Rate and Application Life of Elastomeric Sealants

C639 Test Method for Rheological (Flow) Properties of Elastomeric Sealants

C661 Test Method for Indentation Hardness of Elastomeric-Type Sealants by Means of a Durometer

C679 Test Method for Tack-Free Time of Elastomeric Sealants

C681 Test Method for Volatility of Oil- and Resin-Based, Knife-Grade, Channel Glazing Compounds

C711 Test Method for Low-Temperature Flexibility and Tenacity of One-Part, Elastomeric, Solvent-Release Type Sealants

C712 Test Method for Bubbling of One-Part, Elastomeric, Solvent-Release Type Sealants

C717 Terminology of Building Seals and Sealants

C719 Test Method for Adhesion and Cohesion of Elastomeric Joint Sealants Under Cyclic Movement (Hockman Cycle)

C731 Test Method for Extrudability, After Package Aging, of Latex Sealants

C732 Test Method for Aging Effects of Artificial Weathering on Latex Sealants

C734 Test Method for Low-Temperature Flexibility of Latex Sealants After Artificial Weathering

C736 Test Method for Extension-Recovery and Adhesion of Latex Sealants

C792 Test Method for Effects of Heat Aging on Weight Loss, Cracking, and Chalking of Elastomeric Sealants

C793 Test Method for Effects of Laboratory Accelerated Weathering on Elastomeric Joint Sealants

C794 Test Method for Adhesion-in-Peel of Elastomeric Joint Sealants

C834 Specification for Latex Sealants

C910 Test Method for Bond and Cohesion of One-Part Elastomeric Solvent Release-Type Sealants

C920 Specification for Elastomeric Joint Sealants

C961 Test Method for Lap Shear Strength of Sealants

C1087 Test Method for Determining Compatibility of Liquid-Applied Sealants with Accessories Used in Structural Glazing Systems

C1135 Test Method for Determining Tensile Adhesion Properties of Structural Sealants

C1183 Test Method for Extrusion Rate of Elastomeric Sealants

C1184 Specification for Structural Silicone Sealants

C1216 Test Method for Adhesion and Cohesion of One-Part Elastomeric Solvent Release Sealants

C1241 Test Method for Volume Shrinkage of Latex Sealants During Cure

C1246 Test Method for Effects of Heat Aging on Weight Loss, Cracking, and Chalking of Elastomeric Sealants After Cure

C1247 Test Method for Durability of Sealants Exposed to Continuous Immersion in Liquids

C1248 Test Method for Staining of Porous Substrate by Joint Sealants

C1257 Test Method for Accelerated Weathering of Solvent-Release-Type Sealants

C1265 Test Method for Determining the Tensile Properties of an Insulating Glass Edge Seal for Structural Glazing Applications

C1294 Test Method for Compatibility of Insulating Glass Edge Sealants with Liquid-Applied Glazing Materials

C1311 Specification for Solvent Release Sealants

C1367 Test Method for Dead Load Resistance of a Sealant in Elevated Temperatures

C1382 Test Method for Determining Tensile Adhesion Properties of Sealants When Used in Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) Joints

C1442 Practice for Conducting Tests on Sealants Using Artificial Weathering Apparatus

C1501 Test Method for Color Stability of Building Construction Sealants as Determined by Laboratory Accelerated Weathering Procedures

C1519 Test Method for Evaluating Durability of Building Construction Sealants by Laboratory Accelerated Weathering Procedures

C1589 Practice for Outdoor Weathering of Construction Seals and Sealants

C1635 Test Method to Evaluate Adhesion/Cohesion Properties of a Sealant at Fixed Extension

D2202 Test Method for Slump of Sealants

D2203 Test Method for Staining from Sealants

D2377 Test Method for Tack-Free Time of Caulking Compounds and Sealants

D2452 Test Method for Extrudability of Oil- and Resin-Base Caulking Compounds

D2453 Test Method for Shrinkage and Tenacity of Oil- and Resin-Base Caulking Compounds

E1301 Guide for Proficiency Testing by Interlaboratory Comparisons

E1323 Guide for Evaluating Laboratory Measurement Practices and the Statistical Analysis of the Resulting Data

E1580 Guide for Surveillance of Accredited Laboratories

Keywords

certification; independent; testing laboratory; Laboratory--building/construction materials analysis; Sealants; Testing and inspection agencies;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 91.100.50 (Binders. Sealing materials)

Citing ASTM Standards

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