Field Water Tests

Field water tests are the most common on-site tests. They are used to verify the water tightness of the wall. Since the typical design has already been verified by a successful mockup test, the field test is a verification of factory assembly and field erection quality.

Field water tests can also be used to check special or complex areas that were not verified with a mockup.

A field water tests should be conducted shortly after a type of wall system has started erection. It is important to catch any quality problems before the construction progresses too far. Should the wall fail, erection should stop, the problem located, remedial action taken, and the wall be retested. When the retest is successful, the erection can continue.

At least one follow-up tests should be scheduled, randomly, later in the construction to insure the wall quality is being maintained.

Cladding consultants are an important portion in field water testing. They perform the following functions:

• Direct and/or perform the test
• Insure the test is carried out in conformance to established procedures
• Locate wall leaks
• Identify the reason for leakage
• Assess and recommend corrective measures in the result of a failure

Field Structural Tests

Occasionally, field structural tests are required to verify a suspect area. Usually these tests are done on anchors (as shown to the left). However, in rare instances small chambers must be assembled on site to create a mockup type chamber to test large segments of the wall.