What can be used as an air barrier?

A variety of materials make good air barriers. Some of the most common are drywall, plywood, polyethylene sheeting, oriented strand board (OSB) sheathing, and rigid foam insulation. Although air cannot leak through these materials, air can travel through openings and seams.

What is a sheet air barrier?

MEADOWS is proud to offer the AIR-SHIELD line of sheet-applied air barriers. These self-adhesive membranes are designed to control air leakage and moisture movement in all types of wall assemblies. AIR-SHIELD membranes are strong, durable and remain flexible, even in cold temperatures (see our low-temp products).

What are air barrier materials?

Air barrier materials – Building materials that are designed and constructed to provide the principal plane of airtightness through an environmental separator, which has an air permeance rate no greater than 0.02 L/(s•m²) at a pressure difference of 75 Pa when tested in accordance with ASTM E 2178.

Is blueskin an air barrier?

Henry® Blueskin® SA is a self-adhered water resistant air barrier consisting of an SBS rubberized asphalt compound laminated on a blue polyethylene film surface. Impermeable to air, moisture vapor and water, Blueskin® SA is designed to install easily on a variety of prepared substrates.

Where is an air barrier required?

Seal all seams, gaps, and holes in the air barrier. ENERGY STAR requires that an air barrier be installed at the exterior vertical surface of the wall insulation in all climate zones and also that an air barrier be installed at the interior vertical surface in Climate Zones 4-8.

Is a house wrap an air barrier?

Although house wrap can qualify as an air barrier material, it usually doesn’t behave as an air barrier when installed. Here’s why: All seams must be sealed. After installing the layers of housewrap, they go back and tape the seams.

Is concrete an air barrier?

A. A wide variety of materials make good air barriers, including poured concrete, glass, drywall, rigid foam insulation, plywood, and peel-and-stick rubber membrane. Although air can’t leak through these materials, it can definitely leak at the edges or seams of these materials.

Is drywall considered an air barrier?

Gypsum board drywall is, itself, a suitable air barrier material. The taping of drywall seams results in a plane of airtightness at the field of the wall. However, several steps must be taken to use this material property to create a continuous and complete air barrier system.

How thick should an air barrier be?

AIR-SHIELD self-adhering air/vapor and liquid moisture barrier is a part of a total system to complete the building envelope. It is a roll-type product that is nominally 40 mils thick.

What are the fundamentals of air barrier design?

It explains the air pressures on buildings, the fundamentals of controlling those pressures, air barrier material requirements, combination “air and vapor barriers,” and the required properties of air barriers systems. Specific designs will be reviewed, and warm-side air and vapor barriers vs. cold-side air barrier systems compared.

Why use non-permeable air barriers?

The rationale for non-permeable air barriers (fluid-applied or self-adhered sheet) is based on a number of factors. The most notable of these is the code-driven mandate for exterior continuous insulation in many climate zones.

What is the best material to use as an air barrier?

Rigid materials such as gypsum board, exterior sheathing materials like plywood or OSB, and supported flexible barriers are typically effective air barrier systems if joints and seams are sealed.

Where should the air barrier be located in the enclosure?

The air barrier, unlike the vapor retarder, (since its function is to stop air movement, not control diffusion), can be located anywhere in the enclosure assembly. If it is placed on the predominantly warm, humid side (high vapor pressure side) of the enclosure, it can control diffusion as well,…