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1.1 This practice covers the testing of any fenestration products that are installed with the exterior surface exposed to weathering conditions. It is intended to measure the response of the fenestration product to temperature cycles with the temperature changes being induced by controlling the air temperature on the exterior (weather side) or by exposing the product to infrared radiation, or both. When tested using this practice, fenestration products are exposed to standard cycles of elevated and depressed ambient air and surface temperatures. Test methods are specified for evaluating changes in performance that may occur as a result of temperature cycling. With this practice, seasonal and diurnal temperature conditions are simulated in a controlled laboratory apparatus.

1.2 In this practice, two test methods, Test Method A and Test Method B, are described for exposing the exterior surface of fenestration products to the elevated portion of a standardized temperature cycle. The purpose for providing two test methods of exposure is to address two distinct needs of the fenestration industry.

1.3 In this practice, three temperature exposure levels are suggested for each method: Level 1 is a low temperature exposure, Level 2 is a moderate temperature exposure, and Level 3 is a high temperature exposure. The purpose of providing three levels of temperature exposure is to accommodate different grades of fenestration products based on their designs and their potential geographic installation locations. Other temperature levels may be selected by the specifier.

1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are provided for information only and are not considered standard.

1.5 Testing organizations using this practice shall have staff knowledgeable in heat transfer, fluid mechanics, instrumentation practice, and the specific requirements for the test methods specified. Testing personnel shall have a general knowledge of fenestration systems and components being tested.

1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precautionary statements are given in Section 6.

1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

5.1 Fenestration products, when exposed to differential temperatures (constant higher or lower temperatures on the exterior and room temperature on the interior), or temperature cycling (relatively constant room temperature on the interior and repeated cycling of higher and lower temperatures on the exterior), will have stresses induced on components that may cause failure or changes in overall system performance. Some of these changes may be temporary, with their effects on system performance lasting only during the cyclical temperature exposure. Other changes may be more permanent because of the failure of critical components or irreversible changes in those critical components that control overall system performance.

5.2 In this practice, a procedure is provided for evaluating the effects of exposure to temperature cycling at standardized conditions on fenestration products. It is useful for product evaluation and development. Interrelationships between window components can be studied under laboratory conditions simulating in-service temperature extremes.

5.3 Laboratory approximation of in-service temperature cycling and temperature extremes is a useful tool for the fenestration designer. These conditions help in evaluating designs and components for absolute and relative interactions on overall performance when these products are installed and functioning in residential and commercial buildings.

5.4 This practice is limited to temperature exposure and temperature cycling only. Temperature is only one of many environmental factors that affect field performance of fenestration products. Products made with different materials or construction methods may show specific sensitivity to different environmental factors, such as humidity, ultraviolet radiation, or airborne chemicals.

5.5 Because of the complexity and cost of a single apparatus capable of measuring window performance, providing temperature cycling, and providing infrared radiation exposure, more than one test apparatus may be required to complete this practice. If multiple test apparatus are used, care shall be taken when moving the specimen from one apparatus to another to protect them from damage by racking, twisting, dropping, or other causes of distortion.

5.6 In this practice, specimens are subjected to one of a variety of possible variations of ambient air temperature or surface temperature cycling conditions by using either convective hot air or exposure to infrared radiation. Therefore, the results are valid only for the test method and conditions used.

5.7 At present, no correlation data exists that relates this practice to field performance.