1 AS 4046.

9—2002
TM
Australian Standard
Methods of testing roof tiles
AS 4046.9

Method 9: Determination of dynamic weather

resistance

1 SCOPE
This Standard sets out a method to assess the weather resistance of the body of a properly
fixed tiled roof.
NOTES:
1 The wind speed and rate of water application used for the dynamic weather resistance test are
not claimed to represent actual conditions during rain storms. They have been arbitrarily
chosen and found to give results that correlate reasonably with the observed performance of
roofs on low-rise buildings, e.g., up to 10 m.
2 The test has evolved from original studies carried out for the Standards Association of
Australia by the then Commonwealth Experimental Building Station with facilities later
becoming part of the CSIRO DBCE at North Ryde. The test is not absolute but comparative
so that the acceptance criteria can accommodate the performance characteristics of different
tile designs. The selection of standard Marseille tiles for the control specimen conforms to the
philosophy of the original experimental studies, in which the performance of such imported
tiles was recognized by the industry as a satisfactory benchmark. The use of imported tiles
also avoided any sensitive comparison between the products of competing local
manufacturers. It is recognized that a fully reproducible cladding is preferable as the datum
and development of this is under ongoing review.
3 Where sarking and specific fixings are required, these should be included in the test
specimen.

2 PRINCIPLE
Rain is simulated by blowing waterspray on to the specimen and assessing the penetration
as compared to a control specimen.

3 REFERENCED DOCUMENT
The following document is referred to in this Standard:
AS
2049 Roof tiles

4 APPARATUS
The following equipment is required:
(a) Wind generator A wind generator capable of producing a windstream of 16 m/s that
varies not more than ±2 m/s over the area of the discharge duct. The discharge duct is
square with 1.2 m sides.

© Standards Australia
AS 4046.9—2002 2

(b) Water sprays A controlled supply of water capable of introducing a spray into the
windstream through two sets of nozzles. The first set shall comprise an array of fine
jets in a square pattern, in a vertical plane, so as to discharge a spray parallel to the
windstream, and in a downstream direction. The face of the jets shall be not more
than 400 mm horizontally downstream from the face of the duct discharge.
The second set shall comprise a row or rows of coarse jets set between 150 mm and
400 mm above the top of the discharge duct in a manifold set symmetrically
equidistant over a length of 1.0 m such that they discharge downwards at an angle of
60° in the direction of the windstream.
The quantity of water shall be determined by collecting the discharge from a gutter
from the control specimen with the windstream as specified in Step (a) over a period
of 2 min. The water sprays shall be capable of maintaining a total discharge from the
gutter of 0.17 L/s. The coarse jets shall discharge three times the amount of the fine
jets.
(c) Roof support A full-scale model roof that will accept a panel of roofing
1800 mm × 1800 mm. The rafter pitch and attitude of the specimen shall be adjustable
and the model roof shall be provided with a rotating mechanism that ensures that the
mid-point of the test panel remains substantially within the windstream throughout
the test. The underside of the model roof shall be accessible for observation of
specimen performance during tests.
(d) Measuring equipment The following items of equipment shall be provided to
monitor the test conditions:
(i) A device to measure wind velocity to an accuracy of ±1 m/s.
(ii) A device to indicate water flow. The device shall be calibrated by a
collection/time method at periods not exceeding six months.
(iii) A device to measure the rafter pitch. A clinometer capable of measuring to at
least one degree would be suitable.

5 TEST SPECIMEN
The test specimen shall consist of a panel of roof tiles, 1800 mm × 1800 mm laid on the
model roof in an identical manner to that of the roof in practice.
Prototype tiles and accessories shall be as supplied by the manufacturer.
Production tiles and accessories shall be independently selected at random from an
identifiable lot as defined in AS 2049, individually marked and identified in the test report.
NOTE: At the time of publication, an identifiable lot is defined in AS 2049 as ‘a batch of tiles or
accessories of the same type, material and finish, produced in a single shift on a particular date
and on a particular date and at essentially the same time’.
Weather resistance of accessories, ridge and hip installations may need to be tested, with
appropriate tiles used in the assembly adjacent to the item under test. An abutment of tile
and accessory or ridge unit, not less than 3.6 m in length, shall be tested. This may require
the testing of repeated model units. Each repeat test shall comprise a model construction. In
the case of a unique unit, at least three different assemblies of both tiles and the test unit are
required.
Where sarking is specified for the test conditions, the sarking material shall be replaced
with clear plastic sheeting to allow observation of the roof’s performance. When testing
tiles, the ridge, eaves and gables shall be flashed to prevent water penetration at these
points which might mask the performance of the body of the specimen roof.
NOTE: It is advisable that the specimens are laid by competent roof tilers.

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 3 AS 4046.9—2002

6 CONTROL SPECIMEN
A control specimen shall be used to establish a datum for the assessment of weather
resistance. It shall consist of a panel of Marseille pattern terracotta tiles. To aid
identification, these tiles are marked on the underside ‘GUICHARD CARVIN & Cie’ and
‘MARSEILLE ST ANDRE’ and display on both surfaces a bas-relief of a bee. If alternative
Marseille tiles are used, they shall be compared to the ‘GUICHARD CARVIN &
Cie/MARSEILLE ST ANDRE’ tile for equivalence.
NOTE: The Committee recognizes that the stock of suitable tiles is finite and may not be readily
available. Clean undamaged tiles from other Marseille manufacturers may provide a suitable
control specimen.
The tiles are laid without sarking; otherwise they are exactly as per the test specimen
defined in Clause 5, on battens on the model roof.

7 PROCEDURE
The procedure is as follows:
(a) Datum Establish a datum as follows:
(i) Set the control specimen to a rafter pitch of 27°. (This is known as quarter pitch
as the height of the ridge is quarter the span of the roof.)
(ii) Set the wind generator to 16 m/s and introduce water into the windstream until
a run-off of 0.17 L/s is maintained. These settings will be used for all
subsequent tests.
(iii) Apply the test conditions to the control specimen for 2 min with the ridge
normal to the windstream and observe and record its performance.
(iv) Immediately alter the attitude of the control specimen so that the ridge is at 27°
to the windstream and the overlocks are facing into the wind. Apply the test
conditions for a further 2 min and observe and record the performance.
(v) Comment on any water that may have penetrated to the underside of the
specimen, noting drainage or dripping from tiles and the position on the
specimen. Water on the underside of the tiles that is discharged onto the top
surface of tiles below is not considered to be leakage.
The performance of the control specimen shall be used as the benchmark for all
subsequent tests.
(b) Test The test shall be performed on at least the maximum and minimum pitches. If
other rafter pitches are to be tested, they should be done in order of diminishing pitch.
Carry out the test as follows:
(i) Set the test specimen to the maximum specified rafter pitch. In the absence of a
specification, the default pitch is 27°.
(ii) Apply the datum test conditions to the specimen and perform Steps (iii) to (v)
in Item (a) above.
(iii) Set the roof to the next lower pitch specified and repeat Steps (iii) to (v) in
Item (a) above for each pitch required, or in the absence of a specification to
the minimum pitch (this will usually be the rafter pitch above which sarking is
not required).
(iv) Assess the results of the test at each pitch against the performance of the
control specimen, recording the results for each pitch as ‘penetration less, equal
or more than’ the datum test.

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AS 4046.9—2002 4

8 REPORT
The report shall include the following information:
(a) A full description of the test specimen tiles and the method of laying them to the roof
structure. This shall include a drawing of the test tiles showing overall dimensions
and indicate positions of all drainage channels and weather checks.
(b) The details of the lot from which the test samples were selected.
(c) A statement furnished by the manufacturer certifying that the drawings and
specifications provided to the test laboratory accurately represent in all respects the
specimen as tested.
(d) The date and location of the tests.
(e) A full description of the tests performed, and the observed performance of the
specimen during the tests. The description shall include the pitches of the specimen
and whether or not sarking was used.
(f) An assessment of the test performance relative to the performance of the control
specimen.
(g) The number of this Australian Standard, i.e., AS 4046.9.

© Standards Australia www.standards.com.au

 5 AS 4046.9—2002

NOTES
AS 4046.9—2002 6

NOTES
 7 AS 4046.9—2002

NOTES
AS 4046.9—2002 8

This Australian Standard was prepared by Committee BD-008, Roof Tiles. It was approved on behalf of the Council of Standards Australia
on 28 August 2002 and published on 30 October 2002.

The following are represented on Committee BD-008:

Australian Building Codes Board
Australian Council of Trade Unions
CSIRO, Building, Construction and Engineering
Housing Industry Association
Master Builders Australia
Master Tilers, Slaters and Shinglers Association of NSW
Monash University
NSW Roofing Tile Association
National Roof Tiling Industry Training Committee
Queensland Master Roof Tilers Association
Victorian Roofing Tile Association

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First published as AS 4046.9—2002.

This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 02049.

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