The practice of testing translucent facades for air and water permeability based on experience in Canada and the USA and the applicability of this experience to the realities of the Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction. Current article summarizes North American practices of standard test methods for exterior glazing applications, such as curtain walls, windows and compare these methods with practices exists in Russian Federation.

Materials and methods. It was assumed analysis of the testing principles for curtain walls and windows in Canada and USA, based on the long-term experience of these works and their tests. This article also contains comparison with the existing testing methods in Russian Federation, based on the recently published GOST 70941–2023 “Translucent facade construction. Methods of determination of water permeability under natural conditions”. There is a description of the recommended equipment for testing in a lab and construction site.

Results. The article describes required methods of testing, used equipment, safety rules during test development on construction site.

Conclusions. The absence of the uniform construction site testing standard for the curtain wall and windows in the Russian Federation can create a situation very similar to that once arose in Vancouver, Canada in the beginning of 90th last century, when a lot of building facades starts leaking (leaky condo in Vancouver) and do not comply with the main purpose of the exterior skin of building — to separate exterior environment from interior and provide to public favorable conditions for living in the building. Unfortunately newly developed GOST 70941–2023 more looks like the description of the facades washing before occupancy, than provides engineering approaches for testing facades and determine resistance to withstand with applicable environmental loads on buildings (wind and rain). It is time, when it is necessary to develop uniform standard for all contractors, who builds curtain wall and windows and how these building skin structures suppose to prevent air or water leakage to the interior of the buildings.