It’s a brand new year, and we’re excited to announce that soon we will be unveiling a brand new web site!
We’ve seen some great photos on your own sites of our equipment in use, and we’d like to display our gear in the widest possible variety of situations…so we have a proposal for you.
If you send us photos that feature our gear in use and we post them on our new web site, we’ll list your company’s name and link to your site.
Take advantage of our web presence and marketing reach --- send us your photos via email, and if we use them we can help drive traffic to your business.
The RM Group now offers the type of vinyl you need when making an air chamber around a window.
This 6 mil stretchy vinyl is easy and quick to work with --- using it is the only way to wrap your chamber tight, yet still be able to see through it. This is the same type of vinyl used for windows on canvas boat covers and convertible roofs.
Appropriate for use with both water(ASTM E331, E1105, E547, AAMA 502, 511) and air (ASTM E783, E283) infiltration testing, this vinyl is smooth, air tight, and transparent so you can easily see the water penetration around the window.
Q: At what pressure should we run our Rain Maker spray rack when we're conducting a standardized spray test?
A: You should run it at the same pressure it was calibrated at (12psi). Otherwise you're not within the parameters of the ASTM standard, whether it be the E1105, E331, or E547. Furthermore, if you're not within those parameters, you're also not within the AAMA 502 or 511 parameters.
The Rain Maker spray rack will calibrate anywhere between 8 and 15 psi. We calibrate them at 12 psi, so that's what you should run yours at in order to stay within any spray test standard's rules. Use the water intake ball valve to adjust the precise pressure. When you buy a Rain Maker you receive a calibration sheet you should keep with you on the job in the field.
The Rain Maker calibrated spray rack has indeed become the standard in the industry. It's been around for seven years and is recognized in court cases worldwide as a provider of consistently reliable spray test results.
The Rain Maker spray racks also come with a five year limited warranty. You have enough to worry about, so let us provide the equipment that delivers the results you need.
Question:
"I have read both ASTM E 331 and ASTM E 1105 and can't find any difference between the two test methods. It stands to reason that there is a difference, otherwise why two test methods? Can you please explain the difference between them?"
Answer:
There are fundamental differences that are revealed in the titles of each standard.
These are identified with italics below:
ASTM E 331 -- Standard Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain Walls by Uniform Static Air Pressure Difference
ASTM E 1105 -- 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
Other differences:
The E 331 describes the test specimen being affixed to the air chamber
The E 1105 describes the air chamber being affixed to the test specimen
Hence the 1105 adding the specification of Installed test specimens, and specimens in the field. Included diagrams show these differences. In short, the 1105 is easier to comply with in the field.
It is difficult to find these and other differences without actually placing the two standards next each other, page by page. There is another very similar test method, ASTM E 547, which only allows for the cyclic air pressure procedure. It is also interesting to note that there are two AAMA standards that refer to these ASTM standards for most of their procedures and are performed in nearly identical fashion.
Question:
"If we put a vacuum on the entire opening but don't have the equipment to spread water across the entire frame when performing the 502.08 test, can you divide the test into three sections of 15-minutes each?"
Answer:
No.
The AAMA 502-08 refers to the ASTM E1105 in more than two paragraphs: AAMA 502-08, 4.3 Water penetration resistance performance shall be determined per ASTM E 1105... AAMA 502-08, 4.3.3 With all operable portions of the specimen closed and locked, the specimen shall be subjected to a water penetration test in accordance with ASTM E 1105...
So, if you refer to ASTM E1105: ASTM E1105, 6.2.4.1 The water-spray system shall have nozzles spaced on a uniform grid, located at a uniform distance from the test specimen and shall be adjustable to provide the specified quantity of water in such a manner as to wet all of the test specimen, uniformly and to wet those areas vulnerable to water penetration. If additional nozzles are required to provide uniformity of water spray at the edge of the test specimen, they shall be equally spaced around the entire spray grid.
Many test standards reference each other. A black and white answer can always be found, but it's often a complex search.
Here at The RM Group, we provide comprehensive training so you can always know how to find the black and white answer. We can also set you up with any amount of extensions to make your Rain Maker spray rack large enough to evenly spray the entire surface area of any size test specimen.
The RM Group has been the industry’s first choice for water intrusion testing products since 2004 and we sincerely thank all of our customers for our continued success.
We are also an American small business that utilizes only local fabricators and American suppliers in the making of our entire line of products.
We are committed to providing effective, durable, and easy-to-use products that make your job easier. As we strive to meet the needs of this industry, we will continue to do our part to strengthen our nation’s economy by offering only products that are made in the USA.
Starting in November of 2009, all Rain Maker spray racks now come equipped with a newly designed telescoping support leg. The new leg utilizes a clamping system with durable and easy-to-use clamp levers. This replaces the older leg that relies on spring pins for the telescoping function. Some customers experience problems with these spring pins becoming bent or jammed. The RM Group will continue to make replacement spring pins available, but we’re also offering current Rain Maker owners the opportunity to purchase the new leg at cost. The price of the leg for current owners is just $675.00
