Water Penetration Testing

Water can cause more damage to a home or building than almost anything else besides a fire. This does not mean the water damage caused by a flood; it means the everyday seepage and leakage that can occur around windows, doors and skylights. This leakage can be caused by poor manufacturing, improper installation techniques or occur a result of a building aging. Proper water penetration testing can reduce the possibilities of this happening saving the building's owner thousands of dollars in unnecessary repairs. Water damage may not always be readily noticeable as leaks are generally very small at first. The water may seep down into the walls and over a period of months or years cause severe damage to interior walls and floors. Left unabated it can even cause damage to electrical circuits that can result in devastating fires. Proper water penetration testing can eliminate the problem before it even gets started. Before a newly designed window can be used in the construction of a building it is subject to water penetration testing in accordance with standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials.

The ASTM is an organization that began in the late 19th century as a testing facility to ensure that the rails being manufactured to build the Pennsylvania Rail Road were being manufactured to an exacting standard. This testing process resulted in all rails being made more precisely and reduced the number of accidents. The ASTM began to expand its role in the manufacturing and construction industry and now is considered the premier testing standard around the globe. When it comes to testing for water penetration windows, doors, skylights and curtain walls can be tested on site or in a certified laboratory to check for compliance. There are three different methods of water penetration testing windows, doors, skylights and curtain walls. Each of them is carefully regulated by the ASTM and must be performed exactly as the standard sets out. Two of the methods can be performed in a laboratory setting using a mock up wall to hold the assembly to be tested in place. In each cases water is sprayed at the outside face and edges while air pressure is applied.

In one case the air applied at a steady even pressure that is higher than that on the inside. In the other case the air pressure on the outside while still higher than that on the inside is cyclic in nature much like the wind ebbs and flows in nature. Testing for water penetration on site is similar to the methods used in the laboratory setting; water is applied with air pressure to the outside face and edges of the test assembly. Not only will this test the door or window assembly it will also test the surrounding frameworks and supporting walls. If there is water penetration in any of the above test the assembly must be redesigned or replaced before certification can be issued. QED Lab is one the Pacific Northwest's premier fenestration testing facilities. They have achieved national recognition for their testing staff and facilities and are fully trained in all aspects of ASTM and AAMA fenestration testing.