WATER TIGHTNESS TEST
OBJECTIVE: Water tightness verification of a curtain walling system performed using a spray bar.
REFERENCE STANDARD: UNI EN 13051:2002 “Curtain walling - Watertightness - Site test”
The test methodologies applicable on site to verify the water tightness performance of installed facade sections, considered representative of the entire building, are reported below. A description of the following test methodologies is provided:
Test principle. The test consists of applying a specified and constant quantity of water to form a continuous film over the outdoor surface of the test specimen for a specified period of time, in order to identify water penetration at any point that may occur in curtain walling systems already installed in buildings. This standardized methodology is a supplementary test, not required for classification purposes, but primarily intended for use at locations where water penetration has already occurred or for use on new installations, where specified.
Test procedure. Water shall be continuously sprayed onto the outdoor face in correspondency with the identified areas using equipment consisting of a bar with nozzles, whose technical characteristics are reported below. The water flow shall be regulated to obtain a constant and uniform flow for a period of 30 minutes, equal to 5 l/min for each meter of spray bar length, with an accuracy of ± 10%. The internal inspection of the areas to detect any water penetration shall be carried out both during the spraying time and during the 30 minutes following the end of the spraying.
Expression of results. “Watertightness” is defined as the ability of curtain walling and windows to resist water penetration, and “water penetration” is defined as the penetration of water that continuously or repeatedly wets parts, such as the indoor face of the test area or its underlying areas, or any part of the facade/window designed to remain dry and not forming part of the water drainage system to the outdoors.
Test equipment. The equipment used for the tests, in compliance with the UNI EN 13051:2002 standard, consists of:
- a spray bar for water distribution by means of nozzles spaced at a distance not greater than 400mm and supported in the correct position relative to the curtain walling area;
- an adjustable device for spraying water at an operating pressure flow from 2 bar to 3 bar, so as to form a continuous and constant film on the outdoor surface of the specimen;
- a device for measuring the total quantity of water supplied with an accuracy of 10%;
- a probe for measuring ambient air temperature;
- a barometric probe for measuring atmospheric pressure.
