1.1 This test method, known as the guarded hot box method, covers the measurement of the steady-state thermal transfer properties of panels. In distinction to Test Method C177, which is primarily applicable to homogeneous samples, the guarded hot box method provides for the evaluation of thermal performance of building assemblies. This test method is suitable for building construction assemblies, building panels, and other applications of nono-homogeneous specimens at similar temperature ranges. It may also be used for homogeneous specimens.

1.2 This test method may be applied to any building construction for which it is possible to build a reasonably representative specimen of size appropriate for the apparatus.

Note 1-A calibrated hot box, Test Method C976, may also be used for the described measurements and may prove more satisfactory for testing assemblies under dynamic conditions (nonsteady-state) and to evaluate the effects of water migration and air infiltration. The choice between the calibrated or the guarded hot box should be made only after careful consideration of the contemplated use.

1.3 In applying this test method, the general principles outlined must be followed; however, the details of the apparatus and procedures may be varied as needed.

1.3.1 The intent of this test method is to give the essential principles and the general arrangement of the apparatus. Any test using this apparatus must follow those principles. The details of the apparatus and the suggested procedures that follow are given not as mandatory requirements but as examples of this test method and precautions that have been found useful to satisfy the essential principles.

• standards: ASTM : steady-state thermal performance
• thermal analysis and performance : guarded hot box

1. ASTM C991-03 Standard Specification for Flexible Glass Fiber Insulation for Metal Buildings
2. C1046-95, Standard Practice for In-Situ Measurement of Heat Flux and Temperature on Building Envelope Components
3. C1060-90(1997)e1 Standard Practice for Thermographic Inspection of Insulation Installations in Envelope Cavities of Frame Buildings
4. C1134-90(2001) Standard Test Method for Water Retention of Rigid Thermal Insulations Following Partial Immersion
5. C1155-95, Standard Practice for Determining Thermal Resistance of Building Envelope Components from the In-Situ Data
6. C1193-00 Standard Guide for Use of Joint Sealants
7. C1199-00 standard test method for measuring the steady-state thermal transmittance of fenestration systems using hot box methods
8. C1363-97 standard test method for the thermal performance of building assemblies by means of a hot box apparatus
9. C1498-01 standard test method for hygroscopic sorption isotherms of building materials
10. C168-01 Standard Terminology Relating to Thermal Insulating Materials
11. C177-85 Standard test method for steady-state heat flux measurements and thermal transmission properties by means of the guarded-hot-plate apparatus
12. C209-98 standard test methods for cellulosic fiber insulating board
13. C518-91, Standard test method for steady-state heat flux measurements and thermal transmission properties by means of the heat flow meter apparatus
14. C755-85 Standard practice for selection of vapor retarders for thermal insulation
15. C976-90(1996)e1 standard test method for thermal performance of building assemblies by means of a calibrated hot box
16. D1413-76 Standard method of testing wood preservatives by laboratory soil block culture
17. D3273-00 Standard Test Method for Resistance to Growth of Mold on the Surface of Interior Coatings in an Environmental Chamber
18. D3274-95 Standard Test Method for Evaluating Degree of Surface Disfigurement of Paint Films by Microbial (Fungal or Algal) Growth or Soil and Dirt Accumulation
19. D3679-02 Standard Specification for Rigid Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Siding
20. D4442-92(1997)e1 standard test methods for direct moisture content measurement of wood and wood-base materials
21. D4444-92e1 standard test methods for use and calibration of hand-held moisture meters
22. D4933-99 Standard guide for moisture conditioning of wood and wood-base materials
23. D6329-98 standard guide for developing methodology for evaluating the ability of indoor materials to support microbial growth using static environmental chambers
24. E1105-00 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
25. E1186-98 Standard practices for air leakage site detection in building envelopes and air retarder systems
26. E1258-88 Standard Test Method for Airflow Calibration of Fan Pressurization Devices
27. E1424-91, Standard test method for determining the rate of air leakage through exterior windows, curtain walls, and doors under specified pressure and temperature differences across the specimen
28. E1503-06 Standard Test Method for Conducting Outdoor Sound Measurements Using a Digital Statistical Sound Analysis System
29. E1557-02 standard classification for building elements and related sitework-UNIFORMAT II
30. E1646-95 Standard Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior Metal Roof Panel Systems by Uniform Static Air Pressure Difference
31. E1677-95(2000) standard specification for an air retarder (AR) material or system for low-rise framed building walls
32. E1700-95(1999), standard classification for serviceability of an office facility for structure and building envelope
33. E1825-96 Standard Guide for Evaluation of Exterior Building Wall Materials, Products, and Systems
34. E1825-96, standard guide for evaluation of exterior building wall materials, products, and systems
35. E1827-96 Standard Test Methods for Determining Airtightness of Buildings Using an Orifice Blower Door
36. E1827-96(2002) Standard Test Methods for Determining Airtightness of Buildings Using an Orifice Blower Door
37. E2099-00 standard practice for the specification and evaluation of pre-construction laboratory mockups of exterior wall systems
38. E2099-00, standard practice for the specification and evaluation of pre-construction laboratory mockups of exterior wall systems
39. E2128-01a Standard Guide for Evaluating Water Leakage of Building Walls
40. E241-04 Standard Guide for Limiting Water-Induced Damage to Buildings
41. E283-04, standard test method for rate of air leakage through exterior windows, curtain walls and doors
42. E29-04 standard practice for using significant digits in test data to determine conformance with specifications
43. E330-02 standard test method for structural performance of exterior windows, curtain walls, and doors by uniform static air pressure difference
44. E331-00 Standard Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain Walls by Uniform Static Air Pressure Difference
45. E331-00, Standard test method for water penetration of exterior windows, curtain walls, and doors by uniform static air pressure difference
46. E547-00: water penetration of exterior windows, curtain walls, and doors by cyclic static air pressure differential
47. E631-93a(1998)e1 Standard Terminology of Building Constructions
48. E632-82(1996) standard practice for developing accelerated tests to aid prediction of the service life of building components and materials
49. E72-98 Standard Test Methods of Conducting Strength Tests of Panels for Building Construction
50. E74-04 standard practice of calibration of force-measuring instruments for verifying the force indication of testing machines
51. E741-00 Standard Test Method for Determining Air Change in a Single Zone by Means of a Tracer Gas Dilution
52. E773-01, Standard test method for accelerated weathering of sealed insulating glass units
53. E779-03, ASTM Method for Determining Air Leakage Rates by Fan Pressurization Test
54. E779-99 Standard test method for determining air leakage rate by fan pressurization
55. E783-02 standard test method for field measurement of air leakage through installed exterior windows and doors
56. E917-99 standard practice for measuring life-cycle costs of buildings and building systems
57. E964-93(1998)e1 Standard Practice for Measuring Benefit-to-Cost and Savings-to-Investment Ratios for Buildings and Building Systems
58. E96-93 Standard test methods for water-vapor transmission of materials
59. F1249-90(1995) Standard Test Method for Water Vapor Transmission Rate Through Plastic Film and Sheeting Using a Modulated Infrared Sensor
60. F372-99 Standard Test Method for Water Vapor Transmission Rate of Flexible Barrier Materials Using an Infrared Detection Technique
61. G84-89(1999)e1 standard practice for measurement of time-of-wetness on surfaces exposed to wetting conditions as in atmospheric corrosion testing
62. Heat transmission measurements in thermal insulations
63. Performance of exterior envelopes of whole buildings VIII: integration of building envelopes
64. Standard guide for statistical evaluation of indoor air quality models. ASTM D 5157-97