This report will bring owners and residents up to date on the progress thus far of the project to replace the window curtain wall system, provide the results of the tests conducted on the new curtain wall system by Fenestration Testing Lab (FTL) from January 20 through 28, and provide an estimate of start dates for construction activities for February.

As shown in the table below, five (5) different tests were conducted and included the effectiveness of the curtain wall system to keep out infiltration by both air and water. The areas tested included the operable windows, the fixed, non-opening windows, and the seal between the building and curtain wall system. The water test simulated 8” of rainfall under 60 mph wind conditions for 15 minutes. The air test put the window system under 6 pounds per square foot (PSF) of pressure.

While the FTL tests are the most effective, they cost $4,000 per test, so it is not feasible for them to test every window. However, Nautilus will be conducting the Dollar Bill Test for every operable window. This is a simple way to check whether a window is properly sealed and operable. The test consists of the following:

Placing a standard dollar bill (or any similar-sized piece of paper) between the open window sash and frame.
Close and latch the window securely.
Try pulling the dollar bill out without opening the latch.

If the bill slides out easily, the window is not sealing properly, which could indicate issues such as poor weatherstripping, warping, or a misaligned frame. If there is resistance or the bill is firmly held in place, the window has a good seal, meaning it's operating correctly. This test helps identify potential air or water leaks without hiring a 3rd party testing company to perform a more extensive and expensive test.

Notes:

Water leakage was detected along the horizontal joint below three windows. After re-caulking these three windows, there were no leakage in subsequent re-tests. Moving forward, the window installers - Long Glass and Doors (LGD) - have refined their caulking procedure to eliminate this source of water leakage. An additional series of window testing is planned to confirm the refined caulking procedure is effective.
LGD will complete all necessary repairs to affected areas of Locations 3 – 8 at their own expense.
LGD will conduct a spray wand test at 30 psi for select sites in Locations 1 – 8 at various floor levels. This is like the spray wand test used by FTL at the perimeter sealants but will be used on the fixed curtain walls to help identify if there are any leaks. Nautilus will be on the interior of the unit for observation and will coordinate access with individual homeowners whose units are selected for testing.
FTL is scheduled to retest (Nautilus/LGD is covering the cost of the retest).

Special Assessment Progress Report #12