This International Standard lays down the principles for the design of the apparatus and minimum requirement that shall be met for determination of the laboratory steady-state thermal transmission properties of building components and similar components for industrial use. It does not, however, specify a particular design since requirements vary, particularly in terms of size, and also to a lesser extent in terms of operating conditions.
This International Standard describes also the apparatus, measurement technique and necessary data reporting. Special components, for example windows, need additional procedures which are not included in this International Standard. Also excluded are measurements of the effect on heat flow of moisture transfer or redistribution but consideration shall be given in the design and operation of the equipment as to the possible effect of moisture transfer on the accuracy and the relevance of test results. The properties which can be measured are thermal transmittance and thermal resistance. Two alternative methods are included: the calibrated hot box method and the guarded hot box method. Both are suitable for vertical specimens such as walls and for horizontal specimens such as ceilings and floors. The apparatus can be sufficiently large to study full-scale components.
The methods are primarily intended for laboratory measurements of large, inhomogeneous specimens, although homogeneous specimens can, of course, also be tested, and these are necessary for calibration and validation.
When testing homogeneous specimens in accordance with this International Standard, experience has shown that an accuracy within ± 5 % can generally be achieved. However, the accuracy of each individual apparatus shall be estimated with reference homogeneous specimens of thermal conductance extending over the range to be measured using the apparatus.
The estimation of accuracy for nonhomogeneous specimens will be more complex and involve an analysis of the heat flow mechanism in the particular types of inhomogeneous specimens being tested. Such analyses are not covered by this International Standard.
The method does not provide for measurements where there is mass transfer through the specimen during the test.
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