The fan arrangment used during the performance test

Curtain wall mock up panel

The performance tests which are usually of greatest concern and structual performance under wind loading and the ability of the wall to prevent water penetratiion during heavy rain storms.  These represent two levels of concern.  Structural failure, of course, may endanger human life, so structural adequacy is a basic essential.  The occurrence of water leakage will not likely be dangerous, but may cause discomfort and substantial property damage.  The concern about air leakage is though the amount of air passing through the wall must always be limited to a small amout in order to minimize heat loss and condensation. Tests included:
 

	Preload
	The testing sample was preloaded to 50% of the design positive pressure for 10 second in order to preset and provide a settling and take up period for the system.
	Air Infiltration Test to ASTM E283-91
	A static 300 Pa positive pressure was applied.  Air infiltration through the sample shall not exceed 0.02m3/min/m2
	Water Penetration Test under Static Pressure to ASTM E331-93
	A 4 minutes pre soaking period, should be applied at zero pressure and then a static 1000 Pa positive pressure was applied for 15 minutes.  In the test, water should not appear on the interior side of the plane of the innermost face of the test sample.
	Water Penentration Test under Cyclic Pressure  AS/NZS 4284-1995
	The following cyclic pressures were applied and water spray operated all the time.   Pressure During      0 Pa 5 min. 150-300 Pa  5 min. 0 Pa 2 min. 300-600 Pa 5 min. 0 Pa 2 min. 660-1320 Pa  5 min.   Aircraft enginre and water spray racks in use for the dynamic warter penetration test Water should not be appear on the interior side of the plane of the intermost face of the test sample.
	Strutural Adequacy Test under Static Pressure to ASTM E330-90
	The test specimen was tested under design prositive and negative pressure in following stages:   Pressure During      Observation            50% of design pressure 10 sec.  preload 0 Kpa 10 sec. zero readings  50% of design pressure 10 sec. take readings 100% of design pressure     10 sec. take readings 0 Kpa 1 min.  take readings Under these loading conditions, the test specimen should meet the following criteria: The maximum net deflection of any structural mullion should not exceed 1/240 fo the span or 20mm whichever is less. Gaskets should not unlock or disengage.
	Structural Adequacy Test under Cyclic Load to Hong Kong Building Department PNAP 106 Cyclic
	The test specimen was tested under the following sequence for positive and negative pressure successively:   1.  Test preparation  0-P1-0-P1-0-P1-0 2. Cyclic test 0-P2-0-P2-0-P2-0-P2-0-P2-0 3. Safety test 0-P3-0 where P1 = 50% of design pressure P2 = 100% of design pressure P3 = 125% of design pressure Readings were taken at the beginning, at the end, and during the P2 loading.  After the safety test, 15 minutes were allowed for the specicman to settle before taking  readings when the was unloaded. The test specimen should met the following criteria:   1.  The maximum deflection of any structural member should not exceed 1/180 of the span or 20mm, whichever is the least. 2. After the application of the test load, the specimen should not show any sign of significant separation, plastic deformation, or deleterious effects. 3. The extent of recovery of any deformation 15 minutes after removal of the safety load is to be at least 95%.
	Safety/Proof Test
	The test specimen was to be tested up to 150% of the design positive and negative pressure under static.  The following load sequence was applied:   Pressure During      Observation          75% of the design pressure  10 sec.  preload 0 10 sec. zero readings  75% of the design pressure 10 sec.  - 150% of the design pressure  10 sec.  - 0 10 sec. take readings The test specimen should met the following criteria:   1.  Net residual deflection of framing members after load was removed should not exceed 1/1000 of the span. 2. There should be no failure or gross permanent distortion of framing members or any other component of the system including glass. 3.  Gaskets should not unlock or disengage.

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