Joseph Howe Manor | Halifax, NS

ThermalWise conducted pre-remediation forensic water penetration testing and post-remediation water penetration testing. Testing was a version of ASTM E1105 Standard Test Method for Field Determination of Water Penetration of Installed Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain Walls, by Uniform or Cyclic Static Air Pressure Difference and followed in general accordance with AAMA 511-08 Voluntary Guideline for Forensic Water Penetration Testing of Fenestration Products.   

The test specimen included a ribbon window section consisting of a fixed glazed section next to an awning window next to a fix glazed section. Also included in the identified test specimen was the ribbon window system to pre-cast panel exterior caulked joint. The test specimen was known to have water leakage. 

Forensic water penetration testing consisted of three tests. Each test was intended to isolate and test specific potential sources of water penetration to accurately identify the source of water penetration.  

Test 1 – Awning Window Test 
Awning window was exposed to exterior water spray. The pre-cast to ribbon window caulked joint, fix glazed section of the ribbon window, and awning window to ribbon window system joint was masked from exterior water spray. 

Test 2 - Ribbon Window System Test
The ribbon window system was exposed to exterior water spray. The pre-cast to ribbon window system caulked joints was masked from exterior water spray. 

Test 3 – Ribbon Window to Pre-Cast Panel Caulked Joint Test 
The ribbon window to pre-cast panel caulk joint was exposed to exterior water spray. The ribbon window system including the awning window wA masked from exterior water spray. 

The purpose of pre-remediation forensic water penetration testing is to simulate common wind driven rain events the test specimen would be exposed to, establish a performance baseline, determine if water penetration is taking place within the test specimen, and, assuming there is leakage, potentially identify the likely water infiltration pathway. The test results can be used to verify theories on water infiltration pathways and inform remediation approaches. 

When the building envelope remediation takes place, a post-remediation water penetration test will take place on the same area used for the pre-remediation test.  The purpose of the testing is to replicate the pre-remediation testing procedure and determine if water penetration is taking place. Test results are used to verify the effectiveness of building envelope remediation.