ASTM E3127-22
(Guide)Standard Guide for Specifying Water Vapor Transmission Material Properties of Water-Resistive Barriers and Air Barriers
Standard Guide for Specifying Water Vapor Transmission Material Properties of Water-Resistive Barriers and Air Barriers
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 As the building industry shifts towards performance-based design, specification of material properties consistent with anticipated in-service conditions becomes paramount to the design process. When specifying water vapor transmission properties, it is important to identify water vapor transmission properties for WRB/AB products that are measured under test conditions relevant to anticipated in-service conditions. This guide provides a performance-based framework for characterizing the water vapor transmission properties of WRB/AB.
4.2 When specifying WRB/AB, water vapor permeance is an important attribute to consider for proper moisture management and functioning of wall and roof assemblies in service. In North America, water vapor transmission properties of water-resistive and air barrier materials are traditionally tested in accordance with Test Methods E96/E96M. This guide adopts the ASTM E96/E96M test methods as a primary source of information for water vapor transmission properties of WRB/AB unless otherwise instructed by the design professional.
4.3 Most standard test methods rely on a limited set of steady-state testing conditions for evaluating the water vapor transmission properties of materials. Test conditions used to measure and report water vapor transmission values of WRB/AB should represent the in-service conditions of the tested material as closely as possible (that is, should cover the range of temperature and relative humidity conditions the products will experience when installed in wall and roof assemblies). The water vapor permeance of many WRB/AB materials can vary by more than an order of magnitude when tested for ranges of temperatures and relative humidity expected in service. For this reason, WVT properties over the full range of environmental conditions that the material will most likely experience in service should be used or evaluated when specifying a material or assembly design for a specific project.
SCOPE
1.1 This document provides guidelines for specifying water vapor transmission (WVT) properties for above-grade water-resistive barriers and air barriers (WRB/AB), typically installed between building structural components and cladding that compose the exterior side of building envelopes in North America.
1.2 This guide applies to all types of water-resistive barrier and air barrier products, including multifunctional products, regardless of the manufacturing process, type of material, or installation technique.
1.3 This guide provides general provisions for specifying and reporting the water vapor transmission properties of WRB/AB determined by standardized test methods, in accordance with in-service conditions these products typically experience within building envelopes.
1.4 It is beyond the scope of this guide to optimize the water vapor transmission characteristics of WRB/AB for specific conditions of use. The specific conditions of use should account for variations in indoor and outdoor climates, cladding type, moisture storage capacity of cladding materials, thermal insulating measures for wall and roof assemblies, air movement, and vapor diffusion control strategies.
1.5 This guide does not address proper installation and integration of WRB/AB with other wall and roof components.
1.6 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the SI units shown in parentheses are provided for information only. The values stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently. Combining values from two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard. However, derived results can be converted between systems using appropriate conversion factors (see Table 1).
1.7 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 appr...
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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.
Designation: E3127 − 22
Standard Guide for
Specifying Water Vapor Transmission Material Properties of
1
Water-Resistive Barriers and Air Barriers
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3127; 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 responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
1.1 This document provides guidelines for specifying water
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
vapor transmission (WVT) properties for above-grade water-
1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
resistive barriers and air barriers (WRB/AB), typically in-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
stalled between building structural components and cladding
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
that compose the exterior side of building envelopes in North
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
America.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
1.2 This guide applies to all types of water-resistive barrier
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
and air barrier products, including multifunctional products,
regardless of the manufacturing process, type of material, or
2. Referenced Documents
installation technique.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.3 This guide provides general provisions for specifying
C168 Terminology Relating to Thermal Insulation
and reporting the water vapor transmission properties of
C578 Specification for Rigid, Cellular Polystyrene Thermal
WRB/AB determined by standardized test methods, in accor-
Insulation
dance with in-service conditions these products typically
C1289 Specification for Faced Rigid Cellular Polyisocyanu-
experience within building envelopes.
rate Thermal Insulation Board
1.4 Itisbeyondthescopeofthisguidetooptimizethewater
D226/D226M Specification for Asphalt-Saturated Organic
vapor transmission characteristics of WRB/AB for specific
Felt Used in Roofing and Waterproofing
conditions of use. The specific conditions of use should
D779 Test Method for Determining the Water Vapor Resis-
account for variations in indoor and outdoor climates, cladding
tance of Sheet Materials in Contact with Liquid Water by
type, moisture storage capacity of cladding materials, thermal
the Dry Indicator Method
insulating measures for wall and roof assemblies, air
D1079 Terminology Relating to Roofing and Waterproofing
movement, and vapor diffusion control strategies.
D1653 Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Or-
1.5 This guide does not address proper installation and
ganic Coating Films
integration of WRB/AB with other wall and roof components.
D3833/D3833M Test Method for Water Vapor Transmission
1.6 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded of Pressure-Sensitive Tapes
separately as standard. Within the text, the SI units shown in
E96/E96M Test Methods for Gravimetric Determination of
parentheses are provided for information only. The values Water Vapor Transmission Rate of Materials
stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each
E398 Test Method for Water Vapor Transmission Rate of
system shall be used independently. Combining values from Sheet Materials Using Dynamic Relative Humidity Mea-
two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.
surement
However, derived results can be converted between systems
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
using appropriate conversion factors (see Table 1).
E2556/E2556M Specification for Vapor Permeable Flexible
Sheet Water-Resistive Barriers Intended for Mechanical
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Attachment
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Performance
2
of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.41 on Air For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Leakage and Ventilation Performance. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved May 1, 2022. Published July 2022. DOI: 10.1520/ Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
E3127-22. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 --------------
...
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E3127 − 22
Standard Guide for
Specifying Water Vapor Transmission Material Properties of
1
Water-Resistive Barriers and Air Barriers
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3127; 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 responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
1.1 This document provides guidelines for specifying water
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
vapor transmission (WVT) properties for above-grade water-
1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
resistive barriers and air barriers (WRB/AB), typically in-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
stalled between building structural components and cladding
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
that compose the exterior side of building envelopes in North
America. Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
1.2 This guide applies to all types of water-resistive barrier
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
and air barrier products, including multifunctional products,
regardless of the manufacturing process, type of material, or
2. Referenced Documents
installation technique.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.3 This guide provides general provisions for specifying
C168 Terminology Relating to Thermal Insulation
and reporting the water vapor transmission properties of
C578 Specification for Rigid, Cellular Polystyrene Thermal
WRB/AB determined by standardized test methods, in accor-
Insulation
dance with in-service conditions these products typically
C1289 Specification for Faced Rigid Cellular Polyisocyanu-
experience within building envelopes.
rate Thermal Insulation Board
1.4 It is beyond the scope of this guide to optimize the water
D226/D226M Specification for Asphalt-Saturated Organic
vapor transmission characteristics of WRB/AB for specific
Felt Used in Roofing and Waterproofing
conditions of use. The specific conditions of use should
D779 Test Method for Determining the Water Vapor Resis-
account for variations in indoor and outdoor climates, cladding
tance of Sheet Materials in Contact with Liquid Water by
type, moisture storage capacity of cladding materials, thermal
the Dry Indicator Method
insulating measures for wall and roof assemblies, air
D1079 Terminology Relating to Roofing and Waterproofing
movement, and vapor diffusion control strategies.
D1653 Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Or-
1.5 This guide does not address proper installation and
ganic Coating Films
integration of WRB/AB with other wall and roof components.
D3833/D3833M Test Method for Water Vapor Transmission
1.6 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
of Pressure-Sensitive Tapes
separately as standard. Within the text, the SI units shown in E96/E96M Test Methods for Gravimetric Determination of
parentheses are provided for information only. The values
Water Vapor Transmission Rate of Materials
stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each E398 Test Method for Water Vapor Transmission Rate of
system shall be used independently. Combining values from
Sheet Materials Using Dynamic Relative Humidity Mea-
two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.
surement
However, derived results can be converted between systems
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
using appropriate conversion factors (see Table 1).
E2556/E2556M Specification for Vapor Permeable Flexible
Sheet Water-Resistive Barriers Intended for Mechanical
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Attachment
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Performance
2
of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.41 on Air For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Leakage and Ventilation Performance. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved May 1, 2022. Published July 2022. DOI: 10.1520/ Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
E3127-22. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E3127 − 22
A, B
TABLE 1 Units and Conversion Factors
3.2.1.1 Discussion—A given material may serve multiple
To Obtain (for th
...
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