Overview
ISO 11600:2002 - "Building construction - Jointing products - Classification and requirements for sealants" defines how sealants used in building construction are classified and tested. The standard divides sealants by application (glazing or general construction), movement capability and performance characteristics, and specifies the required test methods and pass/fail criteria. This edition (second, 2002; corrected 2004) is widely used for specifying sealant performance in façades, glazing joints and building movement joints.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Type classification
- Type G: glazing sealants (obligatory testing on glass; anodized aluminium optional).
- Type F: construction sealants (tested on mortar and/or anodized aluminium and/or glass).
- Movement classes
- Classes are based on movement capability: 25%, 20%, 12.5%, 7.5% (e.g., class 25 = ±25% movement).
- Classes 25 and 20 apply to both G and F; classes 12.5 and 7.5 apply to F only.
- Subclasses
- LM / HM - low or high secant tensile modulus (thresholds: > 0.4 N/mm2 at +23 °C, > 0.6 N/mm2 at −20 °C define HM).
- E / P - elastic (E) or plastic (P) based on elastic recovery (e.g., ≥ 40% for some classes).
- Required properties and tests
- Elastic recovery (ISO 7389), tensile properties and secant tensile modulus (ISO 8339), tensile at maintained extension (ISO 8340), adhesion/cohesion at constant and variable temperatures (ISO 9046, ISO 9047), exposure to heat/water/artificial light (ISO 11431), change in mass/volume (ISO 10563), resistance to flow (ISO 7390), resistance to compression (ISO 11432).
- Specific pass/fail criteria (e.g., minimum elastic recovery, limits on loss of volume and resistance to flow) and conditioning procedures (Method A or B).
- Test protocol and failure definition
- Triplicate specimens per test; if ≥2 fail the specimen fails. Allowed excluded volume at specimen ends (2 mm × 12 mm × 12 mm) and clear rules for depth of adhesion/cohesion loss determine failures.
Applications and who uses it
- Manufacturers - product development, material selection, and labeling (designation format: ISO 11600 - TYPE - CLASS - SUBCLASS).
- Architects, façade engineers and specifiers - selecting appropriate sealants for glazing, expansion joints and façade detailing based on movement capability and modulus.
- Contractors and glazing installers - ensuring correct product choice for intended joint movement and substrates.
- Testing laboratories and certification bodies - performing standardized tests and producing test reports that include conditioning, substrates, primers, batch numbers and the ISO 11600 class achieved.
- Procurement and compliance teams - ensuring supplied sealants meet specified ISO performance classes.
Related standards
Normative references used by ISO 11600 include ISO 6927 (vocabulary), ISO 8339, ISO 8340, ISO 7389, ISO 9046/9047, ISO 10563, ISO 7390, ISO 11431, ISO 11432 and ISO 13640 (test substrates). These documents define the detailed test methods referenced by ISO 11600.
Keywords: ISO 11600, sealant classification, building construction, glazing sealants, movement capability, secant tensile modulus, elastic recovery, sealant test methods.
