ASTM C1642

This practice is intended to measure air flow through materials used to fill joints found in building construction.

This practice does not purport to establish all required criteria for the selection of an air barrier assembly. Therefore, the results should be used only for comparison purposes and should not be seen as the equivalent to field installed building systems.

1. Scope

1.1 This practice is intended to determine the air leakage rate of aerosol foam sealants as measured in a standardized jig. This practice provides a procedure for preparing the test apparatus and further describes the application of aerosol foam sealant and other joint fillers to the apparatus prior to conducting Test Method E 283.

1.2 This practice allows testing laboratories to quantify the air leakage rate of aerosol foam sealants or joint filling products using Test Method E 283 and reporting the data in L/(s m²) according to Practice E 29.

1.3 This practice is used in conjunction with Test Method E 283. Although Test Method E 283 is a laboratory test method used with fenestration products, individuals interested in performing field air leakage tests on installed units should reference Test Method E 783 and AAMA 502.

1.4 Aerosol foam sealants are used for a variety of end use applications generally intended to reduce air leakage in the building envelope.

1.5 Insulating type materials also will be found suitable for evaluation with this practice.

1.6 There are no other known practices or test methods that specify the preparation of the assemblies used to determine the air leakage rate of gap filling sealants, dry preformed foams or insulations.

1.7 The values given in SI units are the standard. The inch-pound units in parentheses are for information only.

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

ASTM Standards
C1330 Specification for Cylindrical Sealant Backing for Use with Cold Liquid-Applied Sealants
C1536 Test Method for Measuring the Yield for Aerosol Foam Sealants
C1620 Specification for Aerosol Polyurethane and Aerosol Latex Foam Sealants
C717 Terminology of Building Seals and Sealants
E283 Test Method for Determining Rate of Air Leakage Through Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, and Doors Under Specified Pressure Differences Across the Specimen
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
E783 Test Method for Field Measurement of Air Leakage Through Installed Exterior Windows and Doors

Index Terms

aerosol; aerosol foam; air barrier; air barrier foam sealant; air exfiltration; air infiltration; air leakage; air permanence; door; fenestration; insulation materials; latex foam sealant; polyurethane foam sealant; window; ICS Number Code 91.100.50 (Binders. Sealing materials)

Citing ASTM Standards

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