1. Scope

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

1.2 This specification focuses on ARs 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.

1.6 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the test method portion, Annex A1, 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 (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASHRAE Standards

ASCE Standards

ASTM Standards

C755 Practice for Selection of Water Vapor Retarders for Thermal Insulation

E96/E96M Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Materials

E241 Guide for Limiting Water-Induced Damage to Buildings

E283 Test Method for Determining 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 Difference

E331 Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain Walls by Uniform Static Air Pressure Difference

E631 Terminology of Building Constructions

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

CSA Standards

Keywords

air barrier; air exfiltration; air infiltration; air leakage; air leakage rate; opaque wall; structural integrity; vapor retarder; water leakage; water resistance; water vapor permeance: Air infiltration/exfiltration; Air leakage testing--building materials/constructions; Air retarder (AR) systems; Architectural materials/applications--specifications; Building materials/applications--specifications; Opaque wall; Structural building materials/applications--specifications; Structural integrity; Water resistance; Water vapor permeability; Water vapor retarders--specifications;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 91.120.30 (Waterproofing)

DOI: 10.1520/E1677-95R00

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