Comparative analysis between different facades systems performance within the heat/rain cycles test

Abstract

One of the requirements addressed by NBR 15575:2013, better known as the Performance Standard, is related to the durability of the constructions and establishes as its evaluation method, the Heat/Rain cycles test, which verifies the behaviour of façades in abrupt changes of temperature. The purpose of the study was to compare the methodology of NBR 15575-4:2013 and foreign references for evaluation durability, as well as to compare the results already published of different systems that were tested based on the Brazilian standard. The method involved the collection of data from tests already performed according to the ABNT Standard (2013b) comparing them to the limits proposed by the standard and its capability of validating the durability of a constructive system. Thus, it was verified the existence of several methods being used to perform the same test, including the variation of the sample’s sizes. Compared to other standards, the Brazilian method is more lenient due to the more succinct test, with fewer cycles and duration. It has also been found that it is easy to comply with the performance requirement in the standard and that there are specification gaps that make it difficult to standardize the test procedures, such as sprinkling water time and water temperature.