ASTM D8052/D8052M-22

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Designation: D8052/D8052M − 17 D8052/D8052M − 22
Standard Test Method for
Quantification of Air Leakage in Low-Sloped Membrane
Roof Assemblies
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8052/D8052M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the
year of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last
reapproval. A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method provides a laboratory technique for determining air leakage in low-sloped membrane roof assemblies under
specified negative air pressurespressure differences.
1.2 This test method is intended to measure air leakage of a roof assembly with rooftop penetrations.
1.3 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the
two systems may result in non-conformancenonconformance with the standard.
1.4 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1079 Terminology Relating to Roofing and Waterproofing
D7586/D7586M Test Method for Quantification of Air Intrusion in Low-Sloped Mechanically Attached Membrane Roof
Assemblies (Withdrawn 2020)
E283E283/E283M Test Method for Determining Rate of Air Leakage Through Exterior Windows, Skylights, Curtain Walls, and
Doors Under Specified Pressure Differences Across the Specimen
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
E1677 Specification for Air Barrier (AB) Material or Assemblies for Low-Rise Framed Building Walls
E1680 Test Method for Rate of Air Leakage through Exterior Metal Roof Panel Systems
E2357 Test Method for Determining Air Leakage Rate of Air Barrier Assemblies
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D08 on Roofing and Waterproofing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D08.20 on Roofing
Membrane Systems.
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2017Aug. 1, 2022. Published February 2017September 2022. Originally approved in 2017. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as
D8052/D8052M – 17. DOI: 10.1520/D8052_D8052M-17.10.1520/D8052_D8052M-22.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.
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D8052/D8052M − 22
2.2 CAN/CSA Standard:
CAN/CSA-A123.21-14 Standard Test Method for the Dynamic Wind Uplift Resistance of Membrane-roofing Systems
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—Terms used in this test method are defined in Terminology D1079, Terminology E631, Test Method
E283E283/E283M, and Test Method D7586/D7586M.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 The air leakage test consists of installing a roof assembly with five typical rooftop penetrations between two chambers, a
bottom chamber where the roof assembly is installed in a horizontal plane and plane, a top chamber through which air is exhausted
at a rate required to maintain the specified pressure difference across the roof assembly, and measuring the resultant air flow
through the specimen. Although the roof assembly is tested in horizontal plane, the results are applicable to low slope low-sloped
roofs as defined in Terminology D1079.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 This test method can be useful in understanding the response of low-sloped membrane roof assemblies to air pressure
differences induced across the assembly.
5.2 This test method can be useful in understanding the role of different roofing components in providing resistance to air leakage
through the roof assembly.
5.3 When applying the results of tests by this test method, note that the performance of a roof or its components, or both, depends
on proper installation.
5.4 This test method does not purport to establish all criteria necessary for the consideration of air movement in the design of a
roof assembly. Air intrusion in roofing systems is separate and distinct from air leakage in roofing systems. Test Method
D7586/D7586M provides an air intrusion test method for mechanically attached roof assemblies. The results are intended to be
used for comparison purposes and likely do not represent the field installed field-installed performance of the roof assembly.
6. Test Apparatus
6.1 This description of the apparatus is general in nature, and any arrangement of the equipment capable of performing the test
method within the allowable tolerances is permitted.
6.2 The major components of the test apparatus are shown in Fig. 1 and described below:
6.2.1 Pressure Box—The pressure box shall consist of two test chambers designated as the top chamber and the bottom chamber.
6.2.1.1 Top Chamber—The interior length and width dimension of top chamber shall be minimum 6.1 m [20 ft] long and 2.44 m
[8 ft] wide, respectively. It shall have a minimum height of 0.9 m [3 ft] and shall be movable. To measure the chamber pressure,
it shall be fitted with at least one pressure tap. Provision shall be made for an opening on the top chamber through which the pipe
network will be installed and connected to the blower. The top chamber shall be provided with window openings to view the test
specimen response and a gust simulator. The gust simulator shall consist of flap valve connected to a stepping motor through a
timing belt arrangement. To facilitate the control of test pressures that isare applied over the test specimen, the top chamber shall
be well sealed by appropriate sealing products. The top chamber shall be structurally resilient to resist deformation from wind loads
induced during the wind conditioning.
NOTE 1—Sealing products such as non-hardening mastic compounds or pressure-sensitive tape can be used to achieve the air tightness in the construction
of the pressure chamber, to seal the perimeter edges of the test specimen to the bottom chamber, and to seal the access door to the chamber.
6.2.1.2 Bottom Chamber—A supporting frame for the top chamber, which shall have a minimum interior length and width
Available from Canadian Standards Association (CSA), 178 Rexdale Blvd., Toronto, ON M9W 1R3, Canada, http://www.csagroup.org.
D8052/D8052M − 22
FIG. 1 Air Leakage Test Apparatus
dimension of 6.1 m [20 ft] long and 2.44 m [8 ft] wide, respectively, and a minimum height of 0.9 m [3 ft]. The bottom chamber
shall comprise a structural support on which the test specimen shall be installed horizontally as shown in Fig. 1. The structural
support shall be installed on a height adjustable height-adjustable platform that can accommodate membrane roof assemblies with
different thickness.thicknesses. The bottom chamber and the structural support must be capable of supporting the loads transferred
from the test assembly during the conditionedconditions specified in 9.8.
6.2.2 Air System—A controllable blower designed to provide the required airflow air flow at the specified negative pressures. The
blower shall be capable of creating suction pressures of up to 5 kPa [100 psf].
6.2.3 Pressure Measuring Apparatus—A device for measuring the test pressure difference within a tolerance of 62 % of the
reading or 62.5 Pa [0.05 psf], whichever is greater.
6.2.4 Airflow Air Flow Measurement System—A device to measure the air flow into the test chamber or through the test specimen.
NOTE 2—The accuracy of the specimen leakage flow measurement is affected by the accuracy of the flowmeter flow meter and amount of extraneous
leakage of the apparatus (see Annex A1 of Test Method E283E283/E283M).
6.2.5 Data Acquisition System—A computer based computer-based system capable of reading and recording the pressure and
airflow air flow measurements.
7. Test Specimen
7.1 The specimens tested shall be representative of the field built field-built roofing assemblies. Therefore, the test specimens shall
be fabricated as prescribed by the proponent in providing for the specimen construction required herein.
7.2 The test specimen shall include the following five penetrations: wooden curb, metal curb, cast iron plumbing vent with
pre-manufactured boot, ABS (Acrylonitrile(acrylonitrile butadiene styrene),styrene) or PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)(polyvinyl
chloride) plumbing vent with field fabricated field-fabricated pipe seal, and a roof drain (see Fig. 2). All penetrations shall be
installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions. The penetrations shall be covered (see Fig. 3) to ensure
that the measured air leakage is through the test specimen and not through the penetrations during the testing.
7.3 The perimeter edges of the structural deck shall be flush to the interior of the bottom chamber and shall be sealed to the bottom
D8052/D8052M − 22
FIG. 2 Typical Layout of Test Specimen
FIG. 3 General Arrangement of the Air Leakage Setup
chamber using suitable sealing products as shown in the cross-sectional view (Fig. 3). This is crucial to ensure that the deck seams
or joints are the flow paths and not the deck edges.
7.4 When insulated test specimens are tested, the top surface of the insulation board shall be flush with the top edges of the bottom
chamber.
7.5 To ensure that edges of the roofing membrane are not part of the flow paths during air leakage testing, the roofing membrane
shall have a minimum overhang of 600 mm [24 in.] on all the four sides and shall be sealed to the outside of the bottom chamber
as shown in Fig. 3 by suitable sealing products (see Note 1).
8. Calibration
8.1 Calibration shall be performed in accordance to the procedure described in Test Method E283E283/E283M.
9. Test Procedure
9.1 With the test specimen constructed in the bottom chamber and covered with the top chamber, the test procedure comprises of
measuring the extraneous leakage of the top chamber and air leakage of the test specimen.
9.2 Ensure that the top chamber is tightly fixed to the bottom chamber during the test to make sure that no membrane slippage
occurs. (See Note 3.)
NOTE 3—Clamping devices or gaskets may be used for tightening the top chamber to the bottom chamber.
D8052/D8052M − 22
9.3 To measure the extraneous leakage, close the gust simulator, cover the specimen appropriately with a continuous sheet of
roofing membrane or a polyethylene sheet, and connect the air system and airflow air flow measurement system as shown in Fig.
3.
9.4 Apply suction of 25 Pa [0.5 psf], and maintain the pressure for one minute.1 min. Thereafter, raise the suction and hold for
one minute 1 min as follows: 50 Pa [1.04 psf], 75 Pa [1.57 psf], 100 Pa [2.09 psf], 150 Pa [3.13 psf], 250 Pa [5.22 psf], and 300
Pa [6.27 psf]. During the test, measure the extraneous leakage of the top chamber and record the results.
9.5 During the entire testing process, the barometric pressure, temperature, and relative humidity of the air at the test specimen
shall be recorded.
9.6 Express the measured extraneous leakage of the top chamber in terms of flow at standard conditions and plot the relationship
between the air flow and pressure difference as per Eq 1.
n
Q 5 c~Δ P! (1)
e
where:
Q = air flow or extraneous leakage, L/s [ft /min],
e
c = flow coefficient,
ΔP = pressure difference, and
n = exponent indicating the flow types or openings.
9.7 Pre-Conditioning Air Leakage:
9.7.1 After the completion of the extraneous leakage measurement, remove the covering membrane or polyethylene sheet, and
repeat the procedure in 9.4 to measure the pre-conditioning air leakage of the test specimen. If the measured air leakage is same
as the extraneous leakage of specimen from 9.6, proceed to 9.8,; otherwise identify the air flow paths that could be the result of
workmanship and seal them appropriately, and repeat 9.4. Designate this measured air flow as the extraneous air flow, Q .
e
9.8 Wind Pressure Conditioning:
9.8.1 Subject the test specimen to CSA A123.21-14 Level A dynamic load cycle with a test wind pressure of 2.8 kPa [60 psf]
[60 psf] (Fig. 4).
9.8.2 After the wind pressure conditioning, the test specimen shall be inspected by the testing agency for any signs of failure such
as seam delamination, membrane tear, construction details failure, and so forth. The test specimen shall not demonstrate any
change in structure that would affect the integrity of the assembly.
9.9 Post Conditioning Post-Conditioning Air Leakage:
FIG. 4 CSA A123.21-14 – Level A: 2200 Cycles
D8052/D8052M − 22
9.9.1 The air leakage test of 9.4 shall be repeated after wind conditioning to quantify the air leakage of the test specimen. This
measured air leakage is designated the total air leakage, Q .
t
10. Calculation
10.1 At each pressure level, the flow rate through the test sp
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