The durability assessment of building systems involves the identification of the environment degradation factors. In tropical countries, the action of degradation factors, such as high temperature, humidity, ultraviolet radiation and biologic agentstends to be significant. The action of these factors is more significant on the facades of buildings, because of continuous heating updue to ultraviolet radiation; and cooling due to rain or thermal oscillations, a phenomenon known as thermal shock. In Brazil, facade resistance to heat and thermal shock is addressed by the NBR 15575-4 (ABNT, 2013) technical standard from 2013. However, in certain aspects, the testing method proposed in this standard differs from foreign testing methods. The aim of this paper is to discuss and propose a revision of the Brazilian test method to assess light facade systems' resistance to heat and thermal shock. It is based on a literature review, and also on the tests conducted according to NBR 15575-4 (ABNT, 2013). The following changes have been proposed: time of permanence of the sample inthe heated phase, and sample dimensions and restrictions imposed to the sample. Further studies need to be conducted to examine others aspects, such as duration and number of cycles.
Durability; Facade; Thermal shock; Constructive system; Performance
