
EN 1931: Water Vapor Permeability and Waterproofing for Building Materials
The EN 1931 standard specifies methods for determining the water vapor permeability and waterproofing characteristics of building materials, especially those used in construction membranes and insulating products. This standard is essential for assessing the moisture barrier properties of materials used in construction, which directly impacts energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and overall building durability. Compliance with this standard ensures that materials meet the necessary benchmarks for moisture control and waterproofing in various building applications.
Main Testing Methods in EN 1931
The EN 1931 standard outlines several testing methods for evaluating water vapor permeability and waterproofing:
Water Vapor Transmission under Specific Conditions
This method measures the rate at which water vapor can pass through a material under controlled humidity and temperature conditions. It provides precise data essential for understanding a material’s permeability level.
Resistance to Water Vapor Diffusion
This method determines the resistance of a material to water vapor diffusion, which is crucial for selecting materials that serve as effective moisture barriers, especially in insulation applications.
Waterproofing Evaluation
This method evaluates a material’s waterproofing properties to ensure it provides adequate protection against moisture ingress, an important feature for roofing membranes and outdoor applications.
Application Areas of the EN 1931 Standard
The EN 1931 standard is widely applicable across various sectors of the construction industry:
Building Envelopes
Materials used in building envelopes must have reliable moisture control properties to regulate indoor humidity, prevent mold, and improve energy efficiency. The EN 1931 standard provides critical testing methods for these materials.
Insulation Systems
For insulation products, especially those exposed to moisture-prone areas, compliance with the EN 1931 standard ensures that materials maintain thermal performance while providing necessary water vapor resistance.
Roofing and Waterproof Membranes
The standard is essential for evaluating roofing materials and waterproof membranes to ensure they meet durability and moisture resistance requirements in both indoor and outdoor environments.
EN 1931-Certified Machines
Here are five machines that comply with the EN 1931 standard, suitable for testing water vapor permeability and waterproofing properties:
- With GraviTest the determination of water vapour transmission rates of polymeric films and other sheet materials by gravimetric method becomes mere child’s play.
- The new Automatic Gravimetric WVTR Tester GINTRONIC GraviTest 6250 comes with a 0.01mg balance as a standard feature. The 0.01 mg balance makes WVTR measurements of low perm materials 2-3 times faster than the previous generation systems.
- The same instrument like GINTRONIC GraviTest 6300/6400, but also for samples with a thickness up to 50mm.