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Chromatics Rainscreen excels in rigorous testing

A The Glass Wall Company product story

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team Jun 7, 2010

A demanding set of tests has been commissioned to evidence the durability of Chromatics Rainscreen, the product developed for the rainscreen market by The Glass Wall Company.

Chromatics Rainscreen was subjected to standard CWCT weathertightness tests, then artificially aged by a thermo-cycling programme equivalent to natural aging of about 10-15 years, and then tested again.

Chromatics Rainscreen has been independently tested for durability with successful results

Pull-off tests were also conducted after the aging process.

The product demonstrated extraordinary levels of performance throughout, way beyond the usual standards.

The tests were carried out during April and May 2010 at VINCI Construction UK, which is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service as UKAS Testing Laboratory No.0057.

It is also approved with BSI Management Systems for ad-hoc in-service inspections and tests to ISO 9001.

Test sequence.

The weathertightness test methods were in accordance with the CWCT Standard Test Methods for building envelopes 2005, and the full test sequence involved: Wind resistance - serviceability; Watertightness - dynamic; Thermal cycling; Pull-off tests; Wind resistance - serviceability; Wind resistance - safety.

Test conditions.

Watertightness: Water was sprayed onto the sample using the method described above at a flow rate of at least 3.4 litres/m2/minute.

An aero-engine delivered static pressure differential of 600 pascals.

These conditions were maintained for 15 minutes.

Wind resistance - serviceability: The sample was subjected to one positive pressure differential pulse from 0 to 2400 pascals to 0.

The pressure was increased in four equal increments each maintained for 15 +/-5 seconds.

Wind resistance - safety: Negative and positive pressures to 3600 pascals.

The sample was subjected to one positive pressure differential pulse from 0 to 3600 pascals to 0.

The test was then repeated using a negative pressure of - 3600 pascals.

Thermal cycling: -10C to +30C, cycling every 3 hours, for a period of 6 days.

Pull-off tests: Testing was undertaken in accordance with BS EN 1542:1999.

Test results - Date - Test Description - Result.