Designation: E 1980-01 6

!
o
cp
{t{!:EEr{44q44!
q
UJ
Standard Practice for t

Calculating Solar Reflectance lndex of Horizontal and Low- f

Sloped Opaque Surfacesl h
Thjs standard ir issued under the lixed desigration E 1980: the numhcr imediately lbllo\ving the designarion indicates the year of
origina) adoption or- in the case ol relision. the vear of last reli-{ior. .4. number in parenilreses indicates the year ol last reapproval- A
superscript epsiJon (e) indicates an editorial changc since the last revision or reapproval.

INTRODTJCTION

The steady-state surface temperature (I,) under the sun is strongly correlaied to solar reflectivity
and thermal emissivily of tl.re surf'ace. For equivalent conditions, the I, of dark surfaces (with low solar
leflectance) is liigher than light-colored surfaces (with high solar reflect.ance): and sur{aces with low
thermal emissivity have higher 7,'s than surlaccs with high therrnal emissivity. The procedure
recommended in this standard w-ill al1ow a direct comparison of l, of surfaces under the sun. The
procedure defines a Solar Refleciance Index (SRI) that measures the relative { of a surl-ace rvith
respect to the standad white (SR.i = 100) and standard black (SRI =0) under the standard solar and
ambient condilions.

1. Scope Horizontal and Lolv-Sloped Surfaces in the Field

i.1This practicc covers the calculation of the Solar Reflec-
tance Index (SRl) of horizontal and low-sloped opaque sur-
thces at standard conditions. The method is intended to
calculate SRI tbr surfaces with emissivity greater than 0.i.
1.2 'fhis st{tndard does tot p$port to address aLl o.f the
saJbi' t-orrcerns, if' rury,, cssocialetl yith its use. {t is the
responsibili4, of tlre user of this stcmdatd to esrblish appro-
priote sa.fer:' and healtlt prat'tice.s and deteruine the applica-
bilin o.[ regulaton lintitatiotrs prirtr lo use.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standu'ds: 2 solar and aurbient conditions.
E 408 Test Methods for Total Norual Emittance ol'Surfaces
Using Inspection-Meter Techniques
E 772 Terminology Relating to Solar Eneryy Conr,ersion
E 891 Tables lor Tcrrestrial Direct Nomal Solar Irradiance
lor Air Mass 1.5:i
E 903 Test Method for Solai Absorpiion, Reflectance. and
Transmittance of Nlaterials Using Integrating Spheres
E 1918 Test lr{ethod for Measurine Solar Reflectaace of
r
This test Bethod is uneler thejurisdiction ofASTM Conrmittee D08 on Roofing
and Waterproofing md is the direct responsilrilitv o{ Subcommittee D08.18 on
\, 'nbitunrirroui Orrf,nic Ro,,l Cur enn-o..
Curent edition approved April I0. 1001. Published .April 1001. Ori-rinallr,
!ublished as E 198O-98. Last prer,ious editjon E 1980-98=r.
I For rcferenced ASTiV standards. \,isit
thc ASTM lvebsite. w1\,B,.astm.org. or
;ontact.AST1\{ Customer Sen.ice at sen,iceG.astnlorg- For Arryzpul Book of ASTti
\:tndards voiume infomtution, refer to tie standard's Document Suntnrary page on
i:e.lSTlvI \rebsite.
I \\'irhdra\r!.
3. Terrninology
3.1 DeJinitions:
3.1.1 cotn,et-tit,e coefr.cietfi (&..)-the rate of hear transl-er
from the surlace to air induced by the air movement- expressed
in wat(s per square metre per degree Kelvin. W.rr l-K-r.
3.1.2 lotv-sloped su{cces-surfaces u,ith a slope smal}er
than 9.5" fiom the horizontal.
3.1 .3 rcference blttck surface te+ry)eratlrre 1lu7-is the
steady-state temperature ol a black sud'ace with solar reflec-
tance of 0.05 and thermal emissivity of 0.9. under the standar-d
3.1 .4 reference x,hite surface te,nperuture il,,.)-is the
steady-state temperature of a rvhite sudace with solar reflec-
tance of 0.80 and thermal emissivity ol'0.9. under the standard
solar and ambient ct,nditions.
3.1.5 sfo, temperarure (I"rr.)-is the temperature of a black
body that u,ould radiate the same porver toward the earth as
does the sky.
3.7.6 solar absrn'ptttttce {n)-the fraction of solau' flux
absorbed b.v a surface. Fol an opaque surlace u = I - a.
3.1.7 salar fur (IJ-is the direct and diffuse radiant porver
from the sun received at -sround ler,el over the solar spectrum.
expressed in watts per squafe nretre, w'm ?.
3.1.8 solar refefiance (a)-the fraction of solar flux re-
flected by a surface.
3.7.9 solar ]e.flectance index (SRI)-is the relative T, of a
suriace rvith respect to the standard \i,hite (SR[ = 100) and
standard black (SRI = 0) under the standard solar and ambient
conditions.

::rr-!ri O ASTId lniernaiic.al. 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, Wesl Conshch@ken. PA 19428-2959, United States
 {$p r 1e8o-01
3.1.10 solar spectntm-spect.ral distribution of typical ter- timce, that is. u grearer than 0.8 and e iess than 0.2). Eq 4
restrial suniight at air mass 1.5 as defined in Tables E 891. estimates SRI with an average error of 0.9 and maxintunt crror
3.1 .11 starulard .tolor antl ambient r:ontlitions- lor the of 2.
purpose of this cajculation, is defined as a solar flux of 1000
W.m-r, ambient air tentperature of 310 Kelvin (K), and sky 5. Significance and Use
temperature of 300 K. Tfuee convective coefficient of 5, 12, 30 5.1 Solar reflectance and thermal emittance are important
W.m-2.K-r, coresponding ro low- (0 to 2 ms-r), medium- (2 to factors affecting surlace and nearsurtace ambient air tempera-
6 ms-11, and high-wind (6 to i0 nts-r) conditions. respectively. ture. Surfaces with low solar reflectance, absorb a high liaction
3.1.72 steadl,-state surface tempe,-ature (I,)-is the tem- of the incon.ring solar energy. A tiaction of this absorbed energy
perature of the surlace, in K, under the standar-d solar and is conducted into ground and buildings, a l'raction is conr.,ected
ambient conditions. to air (leading to higher air temperatures), and a lraction is
3.1 .13 tltern*l emi.ysit,iU (ej-the ratio of radian{. flux radiated to the sky. For equivalent conditions. the lower the
emimed by a surface at a given temperatule to that emitted by emissivity of a surlace the higher its steady-state temperature .
a black body radiator at the same temperature. For this Surfaces tlith low emissir.ity cannot eff'ectively r-adiate to the
calculation. the thermal emissivity is for a temperature below sky and, therefore. get hot. Determination of solar reflectance
1,50.C. and thermal emjttance. and subsequent calculation of the
reiative temperature of the surlaces rvith respect to black and
4. Summary of Practice u,hite reference temperature (defined as Soiar Relleclance
4.1 For a surlace exposed to the sun. ivhen the conduction Index, SRI), may help designers and consumers to choose the
into the maierial is zero, the steady-state surJ-ace tcmperaturc is proper materials to make their buildings and communities
obtained by: energy eficient. The method described here gives the SRI of
surfaces based on measured solar reflectances and thermal
o.I:etr(?.4*Lo.'') + h.{T,-T',,) (l) ernissivities of the surfaces.
r,vherc:
6, Procedure
ry = soiar absorptance = 1 - solar reflectance.
| = solar flux. \Y.m r, 6.1 Given the solar rel'lectance and thermal emissivity of a
= rhermal emissivity. test surface, calculate the SRI lor three convective coefflcients
tr = Stefan Bollzmann constant" 5.66961 x 10-s of 5. 12,30 W.m-2.K-1, correspondin-9 to low-. mediurn-. and
w.m-r.K+, high-wind conditions. respectively. The {bllorving alternate
I" = steady-state surface temperature" K, approaches can be used to calculaie SRI:
L.. = skY temPerature, K. 6.1.1 Approar:/z 1-Caiculate the steady-state surface tem-
h, convective coefficient. W.m -2.K-1. and
= peratures for the test surface and black and rvhite reference
T ,, =
air temperature, K" surfaces. Either Eq I (rvith iterarive approach) or Eq 2 cur be
4.2 Gir,en the solal reflectivity and thermal emissivity of a used. Calculate the SRI fi'orn Eq 3.
surlace. and the convective coefficient, Eq 1 needs to be solved 6.1.2 Appxtuclt II- Calculafe SRI from Eq 4.
iteratively for surface iemperature. Altematively, one car use
the follorving equation to obtain the surface temperature: 7. Report
(!9 ii'98'' 7.1 The report shall include the fbllowing:
/, ,ue.o7
ll+o -laJxel/r,
97"- rl) 7.1.1 The solar reflectance and the ihernral ernittance of the
test surface.
+ 2153.860)
_ {890.940r 7 .1.2 Tbe calculated SRI for three conve ctivc coefficients of
(6.78e + 17,1'
5. 12, 30 W.m-2.K-1, correspondin-r to lorv-. meciiurn-. and
Surlace ternperatule estimated by Eq 2 is accurate rvithin 1 high-wind conditions. respectively.
K.
4.3 In this practice. Solar Reflectance Index is defined as: 8. Precision and Bias

sRr no++ (i)

8.1 The SRI of a test surface r.aries u,ith trvo marerial
properties. solar reflectance and thermal emissiviqv, and fbur
where: I, and {,. are the steady-state temperature of black environmental conditions. solar flux, convection coeficient, air
temperature. and sky temperature. A detailed sensitivity analy-
and white surf'aces.
sis for the variation of SRI u,ith respect to the above envir.on-
Under the standiud solar and ambient condifions. Eq 3 is
regressed to:
nrental conditions has been reported-4 The follorvilg is a
summary of the results and may be used as a guideline fbr
SRt : 123.97 - l.{1.351 .r 9.(>551r (4) practil ioners.
rvherc:

- {cr 0.029e)(8.797 + h,) 'Akbari. H.. Il. Levilsori. and P- Ber<iahl. "ASTivl Standards 1.or lvleasuring
x=--lS2GIrI. (5)
Solar Rellectance and lnliared Enrinance of Construcrion Materials and Comparing

For n
greater than 0.1, and excluding collector surfaces
- tlrcir Steadv-State Surface Tentperatures." Proceedings oJ ihe ACEEE ]996 Sunncr
.\rutlt ott Encrgr Elficitnct itr liuiltli*gs, Vd. 1. p. I. Paciilc Grove. CA. August
(surface with hi_sh solal absorptance and iorv themral emit- I 996.

:,:rt:t::tal i,:t : l-:i: ,. :rli:,: -,.1::l aia,i:r: ,,: itij.j :r i., j i

I
itiia ;il t i :!a i at. )''j :a a i i:,a..: 4
 {ffi e teao-ol
8.1.1 SRI is an excellent predictor of solar reflectance lor with the choice of convection coefficient. Hence. the SRI
matedals ivith high emissivity (e > 0.8), that is. non-metals. should be reported for three convective coeflicients corre-
Under these condiiioas, a =l 7a error in solar refleciance will sponding to low-, medium-. and high-rvind conditions.
result in a maxinum etror of + L4 in SRI. Similariy. a =1 7a 8.1.4 SRI is insensitive to choice of sky aemperature"
error in e rvill result in a rnaximum etror of :10.6 in SRI. amblent temperafure. and solar flux.
8.1.2 For non-metallic surlhces, SRI is insensitive to choice
of convective coefficient. 9. Keywords
8.1"3 For rnetallic sui'faces that are characterized with lorv e, 9.1 solar fluxi solar ref'lectance; solar reflectance index;
the SRI calculated by the above procedure varies significantly thermal emittance

ASTM lnternationat takes no position respecting the vaildily ol any patent rights assefted in connection with any item mentioneci
in af this standard a{e expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the risk
this standard. f.)sers
of infringement of such rights, are entiely their own responsibility

This standard is subject to revision at any time by ihe respansible technical comrnittee and musi be reviewed every five years and
if notrevised, either reappraved or withdrawn. Your comments arc invited either for revision of this standard or fot additional standards
and should be addressed to ASTM tnternationat Headquafters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of lhe
responsible technicat committee, which you may anend. lf you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you should
make your views known to the ASTM Committee an Standards, at the address shown below.

This standard is copy{ighted by ASTM lntemational, 1AO Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959,
united States. lndividual reprints (single or rnultiple copies) of this standard may be obtained by contacting ASTM at the above
address or at 610-832-9585 (phone), 610-832-9555 (fax), or seytce@astm.org (e-mail); or through the ASTM website
(M.aslm.arg).

i.::irii:', a1ir,:ii it,2:;l-,)lt i; i r ,,ll',1 .j a:,:jii :r!i:r :ii;atrl:ia :'r j,