The mounting of the specimens

The following is an excerpt from the Guidelines for the construction of the specimens, which was distributed to the laboratories involved in this I.L.T., at a first time in a draft version in order to receive possible suggestions and observations; after a month the final version was sent.
All the mountings were carried out by local teams, in presence of the supervisor of the laboratory and of the I.L.T. supervisor Roberto Foddis (except for British Gypsum where the ILT supervisor was Patrizio Fausti).
The pictures refer to the mounting in DELTA LAB (Lyngby - Danemark).

Construction of the first specimen

Fig. 1 - First specimen - Horizontal section

1) Location of the specimen in the test opening

The specimens isinstalled in the test opening according to the normal procedure of each laboratory, which however must comply with the indications given in Paragraph 5.2.1 of ISO 140-3 (1995). Each laboratory will clearly state in a report the conditions and the position of the specimens in the test opening.

2) Mounting of the perimetrical frames

As the first specimen is a double wall, two independent metal frames are built.
At first the four horizontal U-channels are fixed to the floor and to the ceiling of the test opening. This operation isdone without interposition of resilient material and according to the fixing system used by the laboratory itself, if possible with a screw mutual distance of 700 mm starting at a distance of 100 mm from the border.
Accurately cut studs to fit into floor and ceiling U-channels: fix the four vertical studs to the lateral support of the test opening. Even this operation isdone without interposition of resilient material and according to the fixing system used by the laboratory itself, if possible with a screw mutual distance of 700 mm starting at a distance of 100 mm from the border.
To seal any possible airpaths at the perimeter of the two frames, the acrylic sealant provided is used.

     Fig. 2 - Position of the perimetrical frames in the test                   opening

   Fig. 3 - Lower corner of the perimetrical                 frames
3) First metal frame

The first frame is built on the receiving room side. Vertical C studs are cut according to the height of the test opening minus 10 mm to facilitate their mounting, and then inserted in a regular manner at a distance of 600 mm. The studs must not be fixed to the channels with screws or any other methods.

4) Mounting of the first wall

First the plasterboards are accurately cut according to the height of the test opening, minus 10 mm to facilitate their mounting.

The first panel is fixed on the first frame (receiving room side) starting from the left side; the mounting continues until the last panel is fixed to close the wall. This last panel is cut according to the width of the test opening. All the panels are fixed with screws at a mutual vertical distance of 200 mm.

Fig. 4 & 5 - Mounting of the first wall

5) Insertion of the glass wool panels

After the completion of the first wall, the glass wool panels is cut according to the dimensions of the test opening and inserted between the vertical C studs.

Fig. 6 - Insertion of the glass wool panels

6) Second metal frame

The second frame is built as described in Par. 3, but in this case the second C stud is inserted at a distance of 300 mm from the stud attached on the left side of the test opening. The other C studs are positioned in a regular manner at a distance of 600 mm until the opposite lateral side is reached. This mounting procedure is intended to reduce the differences between the specimens, due to the different dimensions of the laboratory test openings.

7) Mounting of the second wall

Starting from the left side of the test opening, fix the first plasterboard previously cut with a width of 300 mm (if possible, otherwise cut it at 900 mm); then continue until the opposite side of the test opening is reached using standard plasterboard width (1200 mm). The last panel is cut according to the width of the test opening. The plasterboards are fixed on the second metal frame with the same procedure described in Par. 4.

8) Joint treatment of the plasterboards

All the vertical junctions between the panels are closed using plaster and tape, following the steps listed below:

  1. Prepare the plaster by following the instructions indicated in the package;
  2. Smear the plaster on the junctions with a 10-15 cm width flat trowel;
  3. When the plaster is still soft, put the tape along the junctions for the whole length with the same flat trowel;
  4. When the tape sticks to the wall, smear another layer of plaster on it to level the surface;
  5. If necessary, touch up the junctions by using a larger flat trowel and a bit of plaster.
9) Treatment of the fences around the test opening

Plaster is used to fill in every fence in the contact area between the specimen and the test opening, all around the frame.

Fig. 7 & 8 - The specimen as view in the source and receiving rooms.

Construction of the second specimen

Fig. 2 - Second specimen - Horizontal section

1) Construction of the second specimen

Specimen n.2 is simply obtained by dismounting the second wall of specimen n.1 (plasterboards, glass wool panels and frame). This operation is performed by the laboratory itself without the supervisor presence.

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