2026 BES Session: Fenestration Air Leakage Testing: Questioning the Nuances of the Interior Tape Tare (Gupta D., Norten M., Ardelean A.)

2026 BES Session: Fenestration Air Leakage Testing: Questioning the Nuances of the Interior Tape Tare

(Gupta D., Norten M., Ardelean A.)

Course Overview
This session was originally presented at the 2026 IIBEC Building Enclosure Symposium in Indianapolis, Indiana.  This course includes the following components:

• recording of the live session
• a summative assessment consisting of 10 multiple-choice questions
• two surveys required to claim continuing education credit

Description

Testing agencies across the country are increasingly using the “interior tape tare” method for field quantitative testing of fenestration air leakage, which involves sealing the fenestration’s air leakage paths with tape from the interior side to isolate them from extraneous test chamber leakage. While acceptable by ASTM E783, we hypothesize that an interior tape tare cannot isolate air leakage pathways through storefront and curtainwalls as effectively as a sheet covering the exterior side of the fenestration. Therefore, using an interior tape tare could lead to false-passes. Also, testing agencies that use an interior tape tare disrupt the test chamber to remove the tape, violating ASTM E783 procedures and invalidating the test. This session will focus on providing enclosure consultants and field testers insight on what air leakage paths each method can and cannot measure, how removing the interior tape tare can interfere with the test, and how to evaluate whether test results are representative of actual system performance. We will review assumptions and findings from ongoing research by Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH), comparing the quantitative fenestration air leakage results obtained by using the interior tape and exterior sheet tare methods in accordance with ASTM E783 on active projects.

Speaker/Author
Derek Gupta, PE; 

Mark Norten, E.I.T.

Alex Ardelean, PE, PEng

Course Access
Courses are accessible in LearnUpon for one year from the date of purchase.

Course Recommended Prerequisite(s)
Knowledge of the components of curtainwalls and storefront systems and familiarity with the quantitative field test for fenestration air leakage, as typically defined by ASTM E783 or AAMA 503, including witnessing or performing the testing.

IIBEC Core Competencies: 

Exterior Walls

Knowledge Level: 

Intermediate (5–15 years)

Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in the session content at the 2026 IIBEC Building Enclosure Symposium are those of the content author(s)/speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC). IIBEC makes no warranty, whether express or implied, as to the completeness, accuracy or validity of the information provided.

Credit Start Date August 10, 2026            
Credit Expiration Date  August 10, 2029

Continuing Education Credit Statement
This course is approved for 1.0 IIBEC CEH
This course is approved for  1.0 AIA LU/Elective
AIA Course Number: BES26_18_OD
AIA Provider Number: G024

Continuing Education Credit Claim Information

To claim IIBEC CEHs and download a Certificate of Completion, learners are required to complete all components of the course, including a passing score of 70% or higher on the summative assessment.  Participants are provided unlimited attempts to complete the summative assessment with a passing score of 70% or higher.

• After completing the course requirements download a Certificate of Completion. 
• Participants are responsible for self-reporting IIBEC CEH credit by uploading their Certificate of Completion to their IIBEC Portal. For assistance in self-reporting CEHs, please reach out to: cehs@iibec.org
• If you are a member of AIA and would like IIBEC to report your participation in the course to AIA, there is a place in the course evaluation survey to input your AIA member number.

AIA CES Provider statement

IIBEC is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider G024. All registered AIA CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs.  Any questions or concerns about this provider or this learning program may be sent to AIA CES (cessupport@aia.org or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3).

This learning program is registered with AIA CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.