New ASTM International Standard Helps Monitor Building Sealants

A new ASTM International standard will help manufacturers and regulators better understand how building sealants change once they have been compressed or stretched. The new standard (C1815) was developed by ASTM International’s committee on building seals and sealants (C24).

"Think about the last time you rolled out pizza dough," says ASTM International member Christopher White, a research chemist at the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology. "You would stretch the dough and it would change shape some, but then spring back as well. If you held it stretched out, it would spring back a smaller amount. This is exactly what some sealants do when installed in a building."

 

White says that new standard helps quantify that behavior.

 

"This is important, as the sealant will fail when the internal stress is greater than the tear strength," notes White. "This standard allows the community to start to understand and quantify the time-dependent response of the sealant."

 

The new standard will be used by manufacturers to measure the residual stress in various sealant formulations. In addition, regulators will use the standard to modify existing sealant standards to more realistically incorporate sealant compression behavior. 

 

To purchase standards, contact ASTM International’s customer relations (tel 1.877.909.ASTM; sales@astm.org).

 

For more information on building sealants and other relevant standards, visit the ASTM International construction standards overview.

 

Committed to serving global societal needs, ASTM International positively impacts public health and safety, consumer confidence, and overall quality of life. We integrate consensus standards – developed with our international membership of volunteer technical experts – and innovative services to improve lives... Helping our world work better.