Driving rain moisture source

[chiaraFIW]

Hello,

in order to simulate the driving rain leaks, WUFI requirs to insert the percentage of fraction of driving rain in the moisture source. The automatic value in the program is equal to 1% due to the requirement of the American standard ASHRAE 160. I would like to know why this value from ASHRAE 160 is taken and if some studies were performed to confirm that the value is also appropriate for Europe.

Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Chiara

[Manfred Kehrer]

That number comes originally from brick veneer studies where rain intrusion in terms of water leakage performance according to ASTM C1601 and ASTM C1715 (See Note 6 in there) has been tested.
In lack of any information for other claddings, SSPC 160 decided to make this the default number.

[chiaraFIW]

Thanks for your quick reply.

If I understood correctly no other tests were performed to confirm the value of 1% in European climatic conditions.

[Manfred Kehrer]

I am not aware of any. European claddings certainly differ to North Americans' and probably do also differ within Europe country by country