ON SITE WATER TIGHTNESS TESTING FOR CURTAIN WALLING

BY CLIVE EVERETT, FACADES TECHNICAL STANDARDS DIRECTOR IN TECHNICAL - 30/07/2018

The most common cause for façade failures is water leakage. Although tests for water tightness
can be done off site in laboratories using large scale mock-ups, these do not take into
consideration the impact of site workmanship. 

There are three separate site tests to assess water tightness: the hose, the spray bar and the
cabinet. However, the cabinet test whilst it remains a technically feasible site test, it does have a
number of practical limitations so it is advised to use the other two tests on site. 

Hose Testing: Official Guidance: CWCT Section 9, AAMA 501-94

Specifications:

This method uses a compressor to create a strong jet of water through a nozzle. To ensure the
test provides consistent results the following must remain constant or at least measured each
time:

 Defined nozzle; Pressure of water entering nozzle; Flow rate of water through the nozzle;
 The cone of water generated by the nozzle should be aimed perpendicular to the cladding;
 The nozzle should be and kept at a fixed distance from the element that is being tested.
 These parameters are defined within the AAMA 501-94 standard.
 The recommended nozzle is the Monarch Type B-25, #6.030
 Nominal water pressure is 220 ± 20kPa
 This produces a water flow of 22 ± 2 litres/minute with a cone angle of 30˚
 Standard distance from nozzle to joint is 0.3m; Joint is tested in 1.5m steps

N.B. Seals around doors and windows are made of softer seals to suit their primary function
and hose testing of these joints should be avoided using this method unless the pressure of
water is reduced. The spray bar test is more applicable to these types of joints.

Purpose: 
The testing of permanently sealed joints. (The hose spray should not dislodge gaskets or wet-
applied sealants unless these have been poorly installed or not been allowed enough time to
cure). It is also suitable to use on sloped claddings.

Method:
At the beginning of the test the area at the lowest horizontal joint being tested is wetted first, the
test moves progressively upwards along the intersecting vertical joints to the next horizontal joint.
The required rate at which the hose is moved along the joint is 30 seconds for every 1.5m length
that is tested.
 
Where a project off site test has been carried out, or the window / curtain wall system has
previously been tested the standard test pressures used in the offsite test should be used to
calibrate the site hose test.
 
 ON SITE WATER TIGHTNESS TESTING FOR CURTAIN WALLING
BY CLIVE EVERETT, FACADES TECHNICAL STANDARDS DIRECTOR IN TECHNICAL - 30/07/2018

Spray-Bar Testing: Official Guidance: CWCT Section 10, BS EN 13051

Summary:
This test is designed to see how water spray interacts with the face of a cladding system; it is
useful to determine water flow around penetrations through systems - a penetration may re-route
the run-off onto a drainage opening or possibly onto a joint.
 
Purpose:
This is to test open-jointed systems such as rain screens, and facade elements that have opening
joints such as cladding, unsealed patent glazing, opening lights or doors and smoke vents. It
enables the designer to assess how water flows around penetrations and through systems.
 
Specifications: 

 Water is sprayed using a pressure range of 2 to 3 bar

 Flow rate should be kept to 5 litres/minute/metre length of spray bar
 Standard distance of spray to travel is 0.25m
 Spray bars with nozzles at 0.4m from cladding surface

Method:
 
The spray bar and nozzle should be aimed at the cladding face preferably above the joint so the
flow of water runs down over the joint. The water spray should be running for 30 minutes and
signs for leakage should be observed on the internal surface.
 
CWCT Hose test advice
 
When undertaking either spray bar or hose tests the services of a UKAS accredited test house
should be obtained.
 
Both test methods require that the internal finishes and infill materials are removed so that the
source of any water that has penetrated the façade can be identified.
 
To assess whether the quality of the workmanship remains consistent it is recommended that a
total of 5% of all fixed joints are tested, that all different joint arrangements are tested and that
testing is phased throughout the building.
 
Facade Performance 

Facade Performance Testing, also called Curtain Wall Testing or Mock-up Testing. The laboratory
provides a structure (Chamber) to which the curtain wall contractor fixes their specimen (Performance
Mockup Unit - PMU) and encloses it to form an air-tight chamber. PMU size varies per projects, it might
include glass curtain walling, window & door, skylight, metal cladding...etc. Beside the basic tests of Air
Infiltration, Static/Dynamic Water Penetration and Structural Load, number of other procedures and tests
designed to verify the performance of the facade in accordance with the specified standards.

Laborartory Testing verfies that the design of the proposed system is capable, when assembled and test in
the laborartory, of meeting the design criteria. It gives assurance to the project management team that his
aspect of the project will meet the project requirements. Every job is different and should be tested no
matter the proposed system has been tested before for assurance.
Facade Performance Testing

We offer you the latest facade testing methods, highly experience specialists and state-of-art Facade
Automation Computerized Testing System. (FACTS)

Facade Performance Test International Standard

ASTM E283 
BS 5368 Part 1
Air Permeability Test EN 12152
AS/NSZ 4284
GB 15227
ASTM E331
BS 5368 Part 2
Water penetration test under static pressure EN 12152
AS/NZS 4284
GB 15277
AAMA 501.1 
Water penetration test under dynamic & cyclic ASTM E547
pressure AS/NZS 4284
GB 15277
Wind pressure test  HK PNAP APP37
ASTM E330
BS 5368 Part 3
EN 12179
AS/NZS 4284 
 GB 15227
CoP of Glass 2018 Cl. 8.3.1

Seismic or building displacement test AAMA 501.4 

AS/NZS 4284
BMU tie back test AS/NS 4284 or test to contract requirement
Thermal Cyclic test AAMA 501.5

Windows Testing
Window Test International Standard
Dimension test (overall dimension) Hong Kong Housing Com2.M005.6.2.a-2012 edition
Dimension test (individual member) BS 1474:1991 Cl.7.4
BS 6375-1:2009
Air permeability test BS EN 1026
BS EN 12207, AS 2047, AS 4420
BS 6375-1:2009
Water Tightness Test BS EN 1027
BS EN 12208, AS 2047, AS 4420

Resistance to wind test BS 6375-1:2009, BS 6375-2-:1987 

BS EN 13046:1
BS 6375-2:2009
BS EN 10246-1
Operation and strength test BS EN 14608
BS EN 14609
BS EN 13115, AS 2047, AS 4420
Operation, strength and endurance test SS212:2007 (Test 1 to 9)