ASTM E1677

This specification covers the minimum performance and acceptance criteria for an air barrier (AB) material or system for framed walls of low-rise buildings with the service life of the building wall in mind. The provisions contained in this specification are intended to allow the user to design the wall performance criteria and increase AB specifications to accommodate a particular climate location, function, or design of the intended building. This specification focuses mainly on ABs for opaque walls. Other areas of the exterior envelope, such as roofs, floors, and interfaces between these areas are not included in this specification. Also not addressed here are air leakages into the wall cavity, that is, windwashing. Additionally, the specifications in this standard are not intended to be utilized for energy load calculations and are not based on an expected level of energy consumption.

This abstract is a brief summary of the referenced standard. It is informational only and not an official part of the standard; the full text of the standard itself must be referred to for its use and application. ASTM does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents of this abstract are accurate, complete or up to date.

1. Scope

1.1 This specification covers minimum performances and specification criteria for an air barrier (AB) material or system for framed walls of low-rise buildings. The intended users are purchasers of the AB, specifiers of the AB and regulatory groups. The provisions contained in this specification are intended to allow the user to design the wall performance criteria and increase AB specifications to accommodate a particular climate location, function, or design of the intended building. Air barrier performance and specification minimums were selected with the service life of the building wall in mind.

1.2 This specification focuses on ABs for opaque walls. Other areas of the exterior envelope, such as roofs, floors, and interfaces between these areas are not included in this specification.

1.3 This specification does not address air leakage into the wall cavity, that is, windwashing. No standardized test has been developed that adequately identifies all of the influencing factors and measures the impact of this effect on the wall's thermal performance.

1.4 The specifications in this standard are not intended to be utilized for energy load calculations and are not based on an expected level of energy consumption.

1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The values in parentheses are for information only and are closely approximated.

The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the test method portion, , of this specification. 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.

2. Referenced Documents

Canadian Standard
AirBarrierSystemForWallsofLow-RiseBuildings: Performance and Assessment
American Society of Civil Engineers
ASCE7-88,1990, Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structure, Fig 1, Basic Wind Speed (mph)
ASHRAE Standard
ASHRAE62 Acceptable Indoor Air Quality
ASTM Standards
C755 Practice for Selection of Vapor Retarders for Thermal Insulation
E1424 Test Method for Determining the Rate of Air Leakage Through Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, and Doors Under Specified Pressure and Temperature Differences Across the Specimen
E241 Guide for Limiting Water-Induced Damage to Buildings
E283 Test Method for Determining the Rate of Air Leakage Through Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, and Doors Under Specified Pressure Differences Across the Specimen
E330 Test Method for Structural Performance of Exterior Windows, Doors, Skylights, and Curtain Walls by Uniform Static Air Pressure Differences
E331 Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors, Curtain Walls by Uniform Static Air Pressure Difference
E96 Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Materials

Index Terms

air barrier; air exfiltration; air infiltration; air leakage; air leakage rate; opaque wall; structural integrity; vapor retarder; water leakage; water resistance; water vapor permeance; ICS Number Code 91.120.30 (Waterproofing)

Citing ASTM Standards

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