Cephe Testleri — EN 13830 / EN 12154 / EN 13116

What Is Façade?

Facade systems tests evaluate the performance of the curtain wall as a whole. Air permeability (EN 12153), water tightness (EN 12155, EN 12865), wind load resistance (EN 12179), horizontal translation and behavior under earthquake motion and fire spread tests are carried out. Experiments are performed on a mock-up sample of real size.

Purpose of Façade

The aim is to verify that the facade system demonstrates water and air tightness, wind load resistance and mobility at the building scale. Facade repair is one of the most costly interventions on a building scale.

Which Products Is Façade Applied To?

Giydirme cephe (curtain wall) sistemleri
Panel and cassette facades
Ventilated facade systems
Structural silicone facades
Glass roof and atrium systems

In Which Sectors Is Façade Used?

ConstructionConstructionGlassMetal

Standards Related to Façade

TS EN 13830 (curtain wall — product standard)
TS EN 12153 / EN 12152 (air permeability test and classification)
TS EN 12155 / EN 12154 (water tightness test and classification)
TS EN 12179 / EN 13116 (wind load resistance)
TS EN 12865 (dynamic water tightness)
TS EN 13501-1 (reaction to fire classification)

Façade Conditions

Mock-up: Sample in real size, at least one story high and with typical details
Test sequence: Air, water, wind and again air-water sequence are defined in the standard.
Dinamik su deneyi: With a propeller mechanism that simulates the wind effect
Motion: Storey drift and thermal movement can also be applied

Equipment for Façade

Large-scale façade test wall and pressure chamber
water spray systems
Dinamik su deneyi pervanesi
Floor drift simulation device
Deformation measurement systems

Sample Requirements for Façade

Life-size mock-up; should include typical and critical details
Floor junction, corner and opening wing details must be included in the sample.
System detail drawings and assembly instructions must be provided
It is preferable for the sample to be assembled by the assembly team on site

Duration of Façade

Mock-up fabrication and assembly is longer than the experiment period and usually takes weeks. The series of experiments lasts several days. The total schedule is determined by mock-up preparation.

Façade Procedure

1The mock-up is mounted on the experimental wall.
2Preload is applied.
3Air permeability is measured.
4Static water tightness test is applied.
5Wind load and safety load tests are carried out.
6Air and water experiments are repeated; If necessary, a dynamic water test is performed.

Façade Acceptance Criteria

EN 12152, EN 12154 and EN 13116 define classes for air, water and wind performance; The required class is determined according to building height, location and project specifications. Fire performance is declared with the EN 13501-1 classification. Within the scope of (EU) 305/2011, the test result is not a pass/fail decision, but the performance value to be announced in the Declaration of Performance (DoP). The national regulations and project specifications of the country where the structure where the product will be used determine which performance level is sufficient.

Evaluation of Results

Façade tests test the system as a whole, and leaks almost always arise from combinations of details: floor junction, corner, opening sash and panel joint. That's why it's imperative that the mock-up includes critical details; A sample containing only the typical area does not indicate true risk.

Façade Report

System description, mock-up dimensions and details included
Montaj bilgisi
Air permeability results and class
Watertightness results and class
Wind load and deformation values
Observations, leak points and photographs

Accreditation

EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.

Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

Scope and authorisations

Related Regulations

Construction Products Regulation (EU) 305/2011

Construction Materials Testing — What Does This Testing Field Cover?

The section below describes the field that the Façade test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

Construction materials testing shows whether a product performs the function it takes on within the structure. A wide field is gathered in this family, from the compressive strength of concrete to the thermal transmittance of glass, from sieve analysis of aggregate to the watertightness of windows.

What sets this family apart from the others is that the result turns directly into a REGULATORY DECLARATION. For products covered by construction products legislation a declaration of performance (DoP) is mandatory, and every essential characteristic in the declaration rests on a test result. Reaction-to-fire class, thermal conductivity, compressive strength, water permeability and release of dangerous substances are declared in this way. The declaration is a legal text carrying the manufacturer's signature; the test record behind it is the first document requested in an inspection.

The second distinguishing feature is that the product is assessed over its SERVICE LIFE. An electronic device runs for five years; a building component stays in place for fifty and is exposed throughout that time to freeze-thaw cycles, UV, moisture, chemical attack and load. Durability tests (freeze-thaw, carbonation, alkali-silica reaction, ageing) therefore carry as much weight in this field as classical strength tests.

Tests are separated by material type and each group has its own set of standards: cement and concrete, aggregate, masonry units, wood-based panels, thermal insulation, glass and glazing units, ceramic tiles, floor coverings, screeds, joint fillers and coating systems. Where the product will be installed determines which set applies — the same panel is assessed against different standards on a wall and on a floor.

Factory production control (FPC) is a continuous component of the field. CE marking on a construction product is not obtained with a single test and then left; the manufacturer must set up a system showing that it monitors production consistency, takes samples regularly and intervenes when there is a deviation. Depending on the product group, this system may have to be audited by a notified body.

Site testing is a separate body of work. In the laboratory the product is approved; on site it is checked that the product really is of the declared class and that it has been applied correctly. Fresh concrete slump, cylinder sampling, aggregate sieve analysis and in-situ watertightness tests fall within this scope.

Method groups in this field

Concrete and cement
Slump, air content and unit weight in fresh concrete; compressive and flexural strength, water permeability and freeze-thaw resistance in hardened concrete. For cement, compressive strength, setting time and composition analysis.
Aggregate
Sieve analysis, particle shape, Los Angeles abrasion resistance, freeze-thaw, alkali reactivity and density/water absorption.
Thermal and energy performance
Thermal conductivity and thermal resistance, calculation of thermal transmittance (U value) in glazing units, solar energy transmittance.
Facade and joinery
Air permeability, watertightness and wind load resistance in windows and doors; fire performance in facade systems.
Fire performance
Reaction-to-fire classification and fire resistance tests; these are two separate concepts and are addressed by separate standards.
Masonry, tile and flooring
Compressive strength, water absorption, abrasion resistance, slip resistance, stain and chemical resistance.
Emissions and dangerous substances
Formaldehyde release from wood-based panels, VOC emissions from construction products, leaching behaviour of aggregates and waste.

Commonly confused in this field

REACTION to fire and RESISTANCE to fire are different concepts: one describes the material's contribution to a fire, the other how long a component holds the fire back.
A declaration of performance is not a certificate; it is the manufacturer's declaration. Notified body involvement varies with the product group and the assessment system.
A test result is valid for the mounting arrangement in which the product was tested. A different substrate, a different thickness or a different joint detail may require reassessment.
A site sample and a laboratory sample are not the same thing. A concrete cylinder taken on site also reflects application and curing conditions; it does not replace product approval.
ASTM and EN construction standards measure similar quantities with different specimens and scales; the results cannot be converted one-to-one.

Which decisions these results support

Declaration of performance (DoP) and CE marking
Establishing and maintaining the factory production control system
On-site conformity control of concrete, aggregate and workmanship
Meeting fire and energy performance requirements
Verifying the technical items in the project and tender specification

Related Tests

Frequently Asked Questions About Façade

What details should the mock-up include?

In addition to the typical area, critical details must be present: floor junction, vertical and horizontal joint, corner, opening wing and transition between different panel types, if any. Leaks occur at these points.

Should we have tests specific to the project?

System certification indicates overall performance; However, in high-rise buildings and special geometries, project-specific mock-up testing is a common practice and is frequently requested in the specifications.