EN 15976:2011
(Main)Flexible sheets for waterproofing - Determination of emissivity
Flexible sheets for waterproofing - Determination of emissivity
This European Standard specifies the method to determine the emissivity of plastic, rubber and bitumen vapour control layers, underlays for walls and underlays for discontinuous roofing.
It also defines a conditioning procedure for these product families in order to quantify the sensitivity of emissivity to humidity and temperature.
Abdichtungsbahnen - Bestimmung des Emissionsgrades
Diese Europäische Norm legt das Verfahren zur Bestimmung des Emissionsgrades von Kunststoff-, Elastomer- und Bitumendampfsperrbahnen sowie von Unterdeck- und Unterspannbahnen für Wände und für Dachdeckungen fest.
Darüber hinaus ist ein Konditionierungsverfahren für diese Produktfamilien festgelegt, um die Empfindlichkeit des Emissionsgrades gegenüber Luftfeuchte und Temperatur zu ermitteln.
Feuilles souples d'étanchéité - Détermination de l'émissivité
La présente norme européenne spécifie la méthode de détermination de l’émissivité des écrans souples plastiques, élastomères et bitumineux, écrans souples pour murs extérieurs et écrans souples de sous-toiture pour couverture en petits éléments discontinus.
Elle définit également un mode opératoire de conditionnement pour ces familles de produits, afin de quantifier la perte potentielle d’émissivité en fonction de l’humidité et de la température.
Hidroizolacijski trakovi - Ugotavljanje emisivnosti
Ta evropski standard določa metodo za ugotavljanje emisivnosti plastičnih, gumijastih in bitumenskih plasti za nadzor hlapov, podložnih folij za stene in podložnih folij za prekinjene strehe. Prav tako določa postopek za pogoje za te družine proizvodov, da se ovrednoti občutljivost emisivnosti na vlago in temperaturo.
General Information
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 26-Apr-2011
- Withdrawal Date
- 30-Oct-2011
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 254 - Flexible sheets for water proofing
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 254 - Flexible sheets for water proofing
- Current Stage
- 9093 - Decision to confirm - Review Enquiry
- Start Date
- 28-Jun-2023
- Completion Date
- 14-Apr-2025
Overview
EN 15976:2011 is a European Standard developed by CEN that specifies the method for determining the emissivity of flexible waterproofing sheets. This standard applies to plastic, rubber, and bitumen vapour control layers, as well as underlays for walls and discontinuous roofing. A unique aspect of this standard is its inclusion of a conditioning procedure designed to evaluate how emissivity varies with changes in humidity and temperature.
Understanding emissivity is essential for assessing the thermal performance and durability of flexible waterproofing materials, especially those designed to act as radiant barriers by reflecting infrared radiation.
Key Topics
Emissivity Definition: Emissivity (denoted as ε) is the ratio of energy radiated by a surface compared to a perfect blackbody at the same temperature. It quantifies a material's ability to emit heat through thermal radiation.
Measurement Principle: The standard utilizes a hemispherical blackbody radiator operating at a controlled temperature (100°C ± 0.5°C) to uniformly illuminate specimen surfaces with thermal infrared radiation.
Testing Setup: The apparatus includes an infrared sensor and lens assembly, a specimen holder ensuring flat, wrinkle-free samples, and calibration standards with known high and low emissivity values for accuracy.
Calibration and Calculation: Emissivity values are determined by comparing sample sensor signals to two certified calibration standards, covering an emissivity range of 0.02 to 0.94.
Specimen Preparation: Samples should be conditioned at controlled temperature (23 ± 2 °C) and humidity (50 ± 20 % RH) to ensure repeatable and reliable measurements.
Conditioning Procedure: To assess emissivity sensitivity, specimens undergo a 28-day exposure in a climatic chamber at 90% relative humidity and 70°C. This simulates potential ageing effects from humidity on material performance.
Reporting: Results are presented as mean emissivity values (to two decimal places), with standard deviations and all single test values documented. Values outside apparatus measurement limits are adjusted accordingly.
Applications
Waterproofing Material Quality Control: EN 15976:2011 enables manufacturers and testing laboratories to accurately determine the emissivity of flexible sheets, ensuring compliance with thermal performance criteria.
Thermal Insulation Assessment: Low emissivity surfaces reflect infrared radiation, improving building energy efficiency. This standard helps identify and quantify such radiant barriers within waterproofing systems.
Durability Evaluation: By incorporating conditioning to simulate humidity and temperature effects, this standard assists in predicting how emissivity - and thus thermal properties - may change over time.
Building Envelope Design: Architects and engineers can use emissivity data to select appropriate vapour control layers and underlays that optimize thermal management in roofs and walls.
Research and Development: Material scientists can leverage the standardized method to innovate low-emissivity waterproofing solutions with improved longevity and thermal characteristics.
Related Standards
EN 13416: Sampling rules for bitumen, plastic, and rubber sheets used in roof waterproofing, indispensable for specimen selection under EN 15976.
EN 13859-1: Defines characteristics of underlays for discontinuous roofing, relevant for application context of some tested materials.
EN 13859-2: Related to underlays for walls, supporting comprehensive evaluation of waterproofing systems.
EN 13984: Covers plastic and rubber vapour control layers, directly linked to the materials tested by EN 15976.
EN 13970: Addresses bitumen water vapour control layers, further relating to waterproofing product classifications.
By following EN 15976:2011, stakeholders in the construction and waterproofing industries can ensure precise, reproducible measurement of flexible sheets’ emissivity - a critical factor in thermal performance and durability. This standard fosters consistent quality assurance aligned with European regulatory expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions
EN 15976:2011 is a standard published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Flexible sheets for waterproofing - Determination of emissivity". This standard covers: This European Standard specifies the method to determine the emissivity of plastic, rubber and bitumen vapour control layers, underlays for walls and underlays for discontinuous roofing. It also defines a conditioning procedure for these product families in order to quantify the sensitivity of emissivity to humidity and temperature.
This European Standard specifies the method to determine the emissivity of plastic, rubber and bitumen vapour control layers, underlays for walls and underlays for discontinuous roofing. It also defines a conditioning procedure for these product families in order to quantify the sensitivity of emissivity to humidity and temperature.
EN 15976:2011 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 91.100.50 - Binders. Sealing materials. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN 15976:2011 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Hidroizolacijski trakovi - Ugotavljanje emisivnostiAbdichtungsbahnen - Bestimmung des EmissionsgradesFeuilles souples d'étanchéité - Détermination de l'émissivitéFlexible sheets for waterproofing - Determination of emissivity91.100.50Veziva. Tesnilni materialiBinders. Sealing materialsICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 15976:2011SIST EN 15976:2011en,fr,de01-oktober-2011SIST EN 15976:2011SLOVENSKI
STANDARD
EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 15976
April 2011 ICS 91.100.50 English Version
Flexible sheets for waterproofing - Determination of emissivity
Feuilles souples d'étanchéité - Détermination de l'émissivité Abdichtungsbahnen - Bestimmung des Emissionsgrades This European Standard was approved by CEN on 17 March 2011.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre:
Avenue Marnix 17,
B-1000 Brussels © 2011 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Members. Ref. No. EN 15976:2011: ESIST EN 15976:2011
1 Scope This European Standard specifies the method to determine the emissivity of plastic, rubber and bitumen vapour control layers, underlays for walls and underlays for discontinuous roofing.
It also defines a conditioning procedure for these product families in order to quantify the sensitivity of emissivity to humidity and temperature.
2 Normative references The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this European Standard. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 13416, Flexible sheets for waterproofing — Bitumen, plastic and rubber sheets for roof waterproofing — Rules for sampling 3 Terms and definitions For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply 3.1 emissivity emissivity of a material (usually written 0) is the ratio (proportion) of the energy radiated by a surface relative to the energy radiated by a blackbody at the same temperature. It is a measure of a material's ability to radiate heat 3.2 blackbody blackbody is a theoretical object that absorbs all electromagnetic radiation that falls on it at all wavelengths. No electromagnetic radiation passes through it and none is reflected NOTE A blackbody is also a perfect emitter with a normal and corrected emissivity of 1.
3.3 TIR Thermal Infrared Radiation principle
4 Symbols For the purposes of this document, the following symbols apply c specific heat capacity is the measure of the heat energy required to increase the temperature of a unit quantity of a substance by a certain temperature interval.
the wavelength
is the distance between repeating units of a propagation wave of a given frequency. NOTE In this document it is understood the wave length is limited to the infrared light spectrum.
(epsilon) emissivity (see above definition of emissivity)
(0 ≤ 0 ≤ 1).
(rho) reflectivity coefficient is the proportion of the incident electromagnetic radiation reflected from a surface or an optical element.
τ (tau) transmission coefficient is the proportion of incident electromagnetic radiation (light) passes through a surface or an optical element. 0L
emissivity for the low emissive calibration standard. 0H
emissivity for the high emissive calibration standard. U
sensor signal of the specimen in Volt. UH
sensor signal of the high emissive calibration standard in Volt. UL
sensor signal of the low emissive calibration standard in Volt. 5 Principle of low emitting surfaces
Flexible sheets for waterproofing with a low emitting surface are commonly refer
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