ASTM E1105 & E783 Field Testing Case Study: Proving Performance, Not Assuming It
When a university residence hall in Chicago underwent a full exterior renovation, including new windows and cladding, the project team needed more than product certifications—they needed confirmation that the installed ribbon window system could perform under pressure. Hightower Labs was brought in to test the entire assembly as delivered: head to sill, jamb to jamb, with all the real-world complexity that brings.
Rather than isolate a single module, we executed ASTM E1105 and E783 tests at full scale—using calibrated spray equipment, a custom-built air chamber, and our own portable water reservoir system to overcome on-site limitations. The result? No leaks, no assumptions, and documented proof that the system performs.
This university residence hall in Chicago underwent a full renovation, including replacement of its fenestration systems. To confirm that the new ribbon window assemblies met project performance requirements for air and water resistance, the design team required third-party field window testing of the installed full opening, not just an isolated module.
Hightower Labs was contracted to perform ASTM E783 air infiltration testing and ASTM E1105 water penetration testing across the entire multi-module assembly—engaging head, sill, jambs, receptor transitions, perimeter sealants, and field splices. This approach aligned the test environment with how the system was actually installed and used, yielding meaningful, project-relevant data—not assumptions.
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While many field tests focus on isolated units (single modules), this test evaluated the full system—head to sill, jamb to jamb—under sustained, repeatable pressure and water loading. The testing process involved:
These methods ensured validity and repeatability—qualities rarely achieved in field testing environments.
On active construction sites, low water pressure frequently limits the ability to deliver ASTM E1105’s required 5.0 gal/ft²/hr. Many test providers address this by reducing spray rack size and testing smaller segments of the opening.
HTL took a different approach:
We deployed dual water reservoirs and independent pump assemblies, enabling full-surface water testing at the required rate without compromise. Spray rack delivery was pre-tested, pressure-verified, and monitored in real time. This method ensured the whole window system was tested in one piece, as installed—not in fragments.
Testing a single window module may pass on paper but fail to reflect how the system performs when integrated. Field testing the complete installed assembly confirms whether product, installation, and detailing align with project intent.
HTL’s testing gave the entire project team something better than a passed checklist: confidence.
At Hightower Labs, we believe a field test is only as valuable as the documentation that follows it. Within 48 hours of test execution, the project team received a clear, professionally prepared report that included:
Whether you're a project manager looking for confirmation, an architect reviewing integration, or an owner seeking assurance, our reports are designed to serve all audiences—without sacrificing rigor. They don’t just tell you it passed. They show you how and why.
Hightower Labs specializes in real-world building envelope performance testing, including ASTM E1105, ASTM E783, and custom field protocols. If you’re designing or delivering a system that must perform under pressure, we can help you prove it.
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| 📍 Office | 78 S. Spring St., Elgin, IL 60120 |
| 🌐 Website | hightower-labs.com |
| ✉️ Email | service@hightower-labs.com |
| 📞 Phone | 312-897-3742 |
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High level envelope performance demands real solutions. Contact Hightower Labs for expert field testing, window leak investigations, & building envelope consulting.
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