TESTS OF RAIN SCREEN SYSTEMS

Log Out | Topics | Search Moderators | Register | Edit Profile

Author Message Gerard Sanchis Senior Member Username: gerard_sanchis Post Number: 78 Registered: 10-2009 Posted on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 - 06:09 pm:    Are there tests by NAAMM or others for testing rain screen walls for air and water infiltration? In our climate we seldom design rain screens and I've never had to specify the tests. Any help would be appreciated. Anne Whitacre, FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: awhitacre Post Number: 1275 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 - 08:15 pm:    you use the same tests you use for other curtainwalls. (either onsite or in a lab). The rainscreen just lets water get through the face -- its still not supposed to get into the building. ASTM E283 for air infiltration; ASTM E330 for structural test; AAMA 501.1 for dynamic pressure... whatever you would use for a sealed system is appropriate for a rainscreen system. plus noise reduction, thermal performance and whatever else you want. they still have to perform in rainy, windy weather... Steven Bruneel, AIA, CSI-CDT, LEED-AP, EDAC Senior Member Username: redseca2 Post Number: 346 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 - 08:51 pm:    As Anne states, except: When doing off-site lab testing in a test chamber we endeavor to add into the scope a requirement to remove the rainscreen covering and do a visual inspection for displacements that have compromised the water barrier assembly. Anne Whitacre, FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: awhitacre Post Number: 1276 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - 07:36 pm:    Steve- you're right. I've done lab testing, and the testing was actually done before the rainscreen was installed -- since its the underlying membrane that is the water/air barrier anyway. so we did a test without the rainscreen, and then applied the rainscreen and did another test. Steven Bruneel, AIA, CSI-CDT, LEED-AP, EDAC Senior Member Username: redseca2 Post Number: 347 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - 07:52 pm:    Yes. I forgot to mention we were also doing seismic testing (at the specified performance and again at +150% to see if it broke). We needed to see if the waterproof membrane had failed with all that rocking and rolling, twisting and shouting. Gerard Sanchis Senior Member Username: gerard_sanchis Post Number: 79 Registered: 10-2009 Posted on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - 08:33 pm:    Thank you all but remember that this is an in situ series of tests. Would a test using the AAMA 501.2 method (water spray) replicate actual conditions of the wall when in place. After all is said and done, the rain screen with its open joints is designed to equalize pressure in the cavity and using a pressure chamber will not duplicate the conditions at the site. ken hercenberg Senior Member Username: khercenberg Post Number: 285 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Thursday, June 21, 2012 - 09:50 am:    How do you compartmentalize the drainage plane in an open joint system? It seems that, like Anne pointed out, the testing has to be done before the open joint 'veneer' is installed (or it needs to be taken off). After all, according to new conventional wisdom, pressure equalized rain screens aren't really pressure equalized. At the very least, for them to work, they need to be properly compartmentalized anyway so maybe that establishes the size of your testing chamber. anon (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Thursday, June 21, 2012 - 12:37 pm:    YES! AAMA has two recently developed tests for rainscreen cladding systems that I require in my specifications for these cladding systems (in climates that warrant such a system - not across the board for all climate conditions). They are AAMA 508 and AAMA 509. Colin Gilboy Senior Member Username: colin Post Number: 307 Registered: 09-2005 Posted on Friday, June 22, 2012 - 03:37 pm:    We have had good success with Vaproshield. They did testing with our wood rainscreen system in their own lab. They are extremely proactive and have a wide array of different drainage plane materials. I'm not sure if they will do on site testing. I hope this is helpful. -Chris Nolan, General Woodcraft, Inc. Colin Gilboy Publisher, 4specs.com 435.654.5775 - Utah 800.369.8008 ken hercenberg Senior Member Username: khercenberg Post Number: 287 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Friday, June 22, 2012 - 06:09 pm:    Thanks for forwarding Chris' post Colin. My understanding is that Vaproshield cannot stand up to prolonged UV exposure which an open joint system will result in. Testing for their Wall Shield product is 270 days, but polypropylene is what it is. Then again, if it's just being installed for the test, I suppose it doesn't matter. It just becomes an issue if the intent is to compartmentalize the drainage plane permanently. Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: nwoods Post Number: 456 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Friday, June 22, 2012 - 06:36 pm:    Vaproshield sells a UV resistent tape that goes over their membrane at the joints in your rainscreen system. I have used this in a TRESPA based rainscreen system. Installation went smoothly, performance not verified yet, only recently installed.