Façade Watertightness

In the watertightness test, water is sprayed evenly onto the exterior surface of a facade or window sample while the pressure differential is stepped up on the interior side. At each pressure step it is observed whether water passes to the interior surface. The watertightness class is determined by the highest pressure step reached without leakage observed.

The purpose is to show that the facade does not admit water under the combined effect of rain and wind. Facade leaks are among the most expensive post-construction remediation items; the test is therefore usually required on a prototype before manufacturing.

• Curtain wall systems
• Window and door systems
• Glass roofs and skylights
• Panel facade systems

• EN 12155 (curtain walling — watertightness, laboratory test under static pressure)
• EN 1027 (windows and doors — watertightness test)
• EN 13051 (curtain walling — watertightness, site test)
• EN 12154 / EN 12208 (watertightness classification)

Method

Static or dynamic pressure in the laboratory; EN 13051 in the field

Su debisi

Spray flow rate and nozzle arrangement defined in the standard

Pressure levels

Starting from zero and increasing in steps defined in the standard

Time

Standard-defined waiting time at each level

• Facade test wall and pressure chamber
• Calibrated water spray nozzle array and flow meter
• Pressure generation and measurement system
• Interior surface observation setup and recording system

• The sample must be taken so as to represent the batch and in accordance with the sampling rules of the relevant standard.
• The sampling date, location and the person who took the sample must be recorded.
• Samples requiring curing or conditioning must be stored under the defined conditions.
• The number of samples must meet the minimum required by the standard.
• The sample must not be damaged during transport.

Mounting the sample on the test wall often takes longer than the test itself. Mounting and testing together generally take a few days.

1. 1The sample is mounted on the test wall with its project details.
2. 2An air permeability test (if applicable) is done first.
3. 3The water spray system is set up and flow rate verified.
4. 4While water is sprayed, the pressure differential is started from zero.
5. 5Pressure is increased in the defined steps, dwelling at each.
6. 6Water passage on the interior surface is continuously observed.
7. 7The step at which leakage is observed is recorded and the class determined.

The acceptance class does not come from the test method but from the product standard and the project: concrete class, reinforcement class, aggregate category, or fire performance class is defined in the specification. The report gives the measured value; the conformity decision is made against the relevant product standard.

The result is classified by the highest pressure step completed without leakage observed. Which class is required is determined by the building's height, location and wind load calculation; this value comes from the project.

• Sample description, sampling location and date
• Sampling method and witness sample information, if any
• Standard and test conditions applied
• Sample dimensions, curing conditions and age information
• Measured values and calculated results
• Failure mode or damage description (where applicable)
• A statement that the result applies only to the specimen submitted for testing

EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.

Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

• EU 305/2011 Construction Products Regulation (CPR)
• Construction Products Regulation (Turkey)
• TS 500 / Requirements for Design and Construction of Reinforced Concrete Structures
• Turkish Building Earthquake Code

The section below describes the field that the Façade Watertightness test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

• Concrete Compressive Strength
• Concrete Tensile Strength
• Aggregate Sieve Analysis
• Aggregate Los Angeles Abrasion
• Reinforcing Steel Tensile Test
• Brick Compressive Strength
• Ceramic Flexural Strength
• Glass Impact Test
• Wind Load
• Fire Resistance
• Reaction to Fire
• Cement