SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 12 April 2016
STP158520140116

A Review of Cladding Drainage Testing, Standards, and Codes

Source

In the mid to late 1990s, the exterior insulation and finishing systems (EIFS) industry introduced drainage into its wall systems, aimed at increasing the water management of those systems. Along with this introduction came the development of test methods for drainage efficiency and the inclusion of drainage criteria in code requirements. More specifically, ASTM E2273, Standard Test Method for Determining the Drainage Efficiency of Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) Clad Wall Assemblies, was developed and published initially in 2003. This test method was adopted into code for EIFS with drainage with a drainage efficiency requirement of 90 %. The EIFS industry became leaders in this area, and the drainage methods originally developed for EIFS were adapted to evaluate non-EIFS wall systems as well, which in some cases (such as in the Oregon Residential Specialty Code) had decreased required drainage efficiencies. In parallel to the development of ASTM E2273, researchers have proposed other drainage efficiency test methods, although none has been standardized at this point. This paper provides a review of ASTM E2273 and other drainage test methods that has been reported. The applicability to water management in EIFS wall systems and to wall systems with other claddings is discussed. This paper also reviews code requirements and code evaluation acceptance criteria that require drainage validation.

Author Information

Weston, Theresa, A.
DuPont Protective Solutions, Richmond, VA, US
Boone, Kimdolyn
DuPont Protective Solutions, Richmond, VA, US
Price: $25.00
Contact Sales
Related
Reprints and Permissions
Reprints and copyright permissions can be requested through the
Copyright Clearance Center
Details
Developed by Committee: E06
Pages: 183–196
DOI: 10.1520/STP158520140116
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-7616-4
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-7615-7