Advancing energy efficiency:

Thermal performance of walling material and wall construction.

1. Comparison of BIS and measurement standards followed by

CARBSE for testing.
The following is a comparative study of BIS and measurement standards followed by CARBSE. This
document was requested by GKSPL for evaluation purposes during the meeting conducted on Nov 14th,
2018 at CEPT University. The comparison was made for the following parameters as discussed during the
meeting;

• Thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and specific heat

• Permeability
1.1. Thermal conductivity, diffusivity, and Specific heat
1.1.1. Thermal Constant Analyzer
• BIS standard for Thermal Constant Analyzer
o No standard is available.
• ISO DIS 22007-2 for Thermal Constant Analyzer, followed by CARBSE.
o It is applicable for thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and volumetric specific heat
capacity characterization and uses transient plane source method.
o As this test method covers various groups of materials, no pre-conditioning requirement is
mentioned in the standard but depending on specimen the operator/user can define pre-
conditioning requirement based on the application of the specimen.
o This test method is applicable to characterize bricks and blocks for their above mentioned
thermal properties.

1.1.2. Heat Flow Meter

• Comparison between ASTM and BIS standard for Heat Flow Meter

IS 9489 ASTM C 518

This method is applicable to characterize
thermal conductivity of specimens having
conductivity, not more than 0.29 W/m·K.
Hence this test is not applicable for bricks and
blocks due to their higher thermal
conductivity.
The Instrument used at CARBSE complies
with this standard.
No conditioning detail is provided.
This method is applicable to characterize
thermal conductivity of specimens having a
thermal resistance greater than 0.10 m2·K/W.
Hence this test is not applicable for bricks and
blocks due to their higher thermal
conductivity.
Specimen should be conditioned at 22°C and
50 % R.H. for a period of time until less than
a 1 % mass change is observed over a 24 hour
period.

Centre for Advanced Research in Building Science & Energy, CEPT University
1.2. Permeability
• Comparison between ASTM and BIS standard for Water Vapor Permeability

IS 11239 Part 4 ASTM E96/E96M

This method is applicable to characterize water This method is applicable to characterize water
vapor transmission rate/water vapor vapor transmission rate/water vapor
permeability of the rigid cellular thermal permeability of materials such as paper, plastic
insulation materials films, other sheet materials, fiberboards,
gypsum and plaster products, wood products,
and plastics having a thickness less than 32mm.

Specimen should be conditioned at 27 ± 2 °C Specimens of wood and paper products should

and 65 ± 5 % RH for at least 16 hours. be conditioned to constant weight in a 50 % RH

Only Desiccant Method method is covered in Both Desiccant Method and Water Method is
this standard covered in this standard
Not applicable for bricks and blocks Applicable for bricks and blocks
This is the method followed at CARBSE for
testing.

1.3. Water Absorption, Dry density, and Compressive strength

• For testing other parameters such as water absorption, dry density, and compressive strength
CARBSE uses the following Indian Standards(IS);

o IS 5454 (1978) for sampling and, IS 3495 for testing

o Please note that dry density will be measured as per the procedure mentioned in the "Part
-2 Determination of water absorption" under preconditioning section 4.1.2, page 3 of IS
3495. The step involves measurement of the dry mass of the brick, which when used with
L x B x H of the brick, will give the dry density. This process is also in accordance with
methods suggested in IS 13030, ASTM C 20: 2010 and IS 2185 which mentions dry
density measurement derived from dry weight and volume.

Centre for Advanced Research in Building Science & Energy, CEPT University