1.1 This test method covers the measurement of steady state thermal transmission through flat slab specimens using a heat flow meter apparatus.

1.2 This is a comparative (or secondary) method of measurement since specimens of known thermal transmission properties must be used to calibrate the apparatus. Properties of the calibration specimens must be traceable to an absolute measurement method, and should be obtained from or traceable to a recognized national standards laboratory.

1.3 The test method is applicable to the measurement of thermal transmission through a wide range of specimen properties and environmental conditions. The method has been used at ambient conditions of 10 to 40ˇăC with thicknesses up to approximately 250 mm, and with plate temperatures from -195ˇăC to 540ˇăC at 25 mm thickness (Refs. (5, 6)).

1.4 This test method may be used to characterize material properties which may or may not be representative of actual conditions of use. Other test methods such as Test Methods C236 or C976 should be used if needed.

1.5 To meet the requirements of this test method the thermal resistance of the sample must be greater than 0.10 K[dot]m /W in all directions.

1.6 It is not practical in a test method of this type to try to establish details of construction and procedures to cover all contingencies that might offer difficulties to a person without pertinent technical knowledge. Thus users of this test method shall have sufficient knowledge to satisfactorily fulfill their needs. For example, knowledge of heat transfer principles, low level electrical measurements, and general test procedures is required.

1.7 Standardization of this test method is not intended to restrict in any way the future development of improved or new methods or procedures by research workers.

1.8 Since the design of a heat meter apparatus is not a simple matter, a procedure for qualifying an apparatus is given in 7.8.

1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to consult and establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

• standards: ASTM : steady-state heat flux measurements
• thermal analysis and performance

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. C236-89, Standard test method for steady-state thermal performance of building assemblies by means of a guarded hot box
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