Air Barrier Materials

The testing of an air barrier material for air leakage is completed in accordance with ASTM E2178 'Standard Test Method for Air Permeance of Building Materials' or CAN/ULC-S741 'Standard for Air Barrier Materials - Specification'. Air barrier materials (ie. self-adhered sheet air barriers, liquid applied membranes, medium density sprayed polyurethane foam, mechanically fastened commercial building wraps and boardstock air barriers) are defined by their air permeance and the amount of air that passes through them. NABA defines an air barrier material as one that has been tested and has an air permeance less than 0.02 L/(s • m2) @ 75 Pa (0.004 cfm/ft2 @ 1.57 lb/ft2). Keep in mind that air permeance is the amount of air that migrates through a material, whereas air leakage is the air that passes through holes or gaps.

To determine the air permeance of a material, a one metre by one metre piece of exposed air barrier specimen is tested in one of the two following apparatuses:

Test Apparatus for Flexible Air Barrier Materials

Air Barrier Material Test Requirements for NABA Listing

For a air barrier material to be listed on the NABA website, the manufacturer shall complete the evaluation criteria process outlined in the NABA Process for Approval of Air Barrier Materials, Accessories & Assemblies document.

Air barrier materials have product-specific test properties that they have to test to ensuring they will meet rigors encountered during their service life and under the buildings imposed ambient and mechanical loads on the building envelope. These tests gives the designer peace of mind when specifying a "NABA Evaluated Material". For a material to be listed on the NABA website, the manufacturer shall complete the evaluation criteria process which includes a series of test properties including:

Once a manufacturer has demonstrated to NABA that their material meets the established criteria and has completed the process of submitting test reports and supporting documents for their material, they will be listed in the tables below as a "NABA Evaluated Air Barrier Material" and "NABA Evaluated Air Barrier Assembly" and included in the NABA Master Specifications.

NABA Evaluated Materials

Air Barrier Materials which have Completed the NABA Evaluation Process

Self Adhered Sheet Materials
Manufacturer Material Name NABA Master Specification
Bakor
www.henry.com
Blueskin® SA Section 07 27 13
Air Permeance (ASTM E2178):
0.0002 L/(s • m2) @ 75 Pa [0.00004 cfm /ft2 @ 1.57 psf]
Water Vapour Permeance (ASTM E96 - desiccant method):
2.0 ng / Pa•s•m2 [0.03 US Perms]
Water Vapour Permeance (ASTM E96 - water method):
49.0 ng / Pa•s•m2 [0.86 US Perms]
Soprema Inc.
www.soprema.ca
Sopraseal Stick 1100T Section 07 27 13
Air Permeance (ASTM E2178):
< 0.0005 L/(s • m2) @ 75 Pa [0.0001 cfm /ft2 @ 1.57 psf]
Water Vapour Permeance (ASTM E96 - desiccant method):
0.89 ng / Pa•s•m2 [0.016 US Perms]
Water Vapour Permeance (ASTM E96 - water method):
1.8 ng / Pa•s•m2 [0.0031 US Perms]
W.R. Meadows, Inc.
www.wrmeadows.com
Air-Shield™ Section 07 27 13
Air Permeance (ASTM E2178):
0.0015 L/(s • m2) @ 75 Pa [0.0003 cfm /ft2 @ 1.57 psf]
Water Vapour Permeance (ASTM E96 - desiccant method):
1.01 ng / Pa•s•m2 [0.018 US Perms]
Water Vapour Permeance (ASTM E96 - water method):
2.697 ng / Pa•s•m2 [0.047 US Perms]

Fluid Applied Membranes
Manufacturer Material Name Thickness NABA Master Specification
Bakor
www.henry.com
Air Bloc 31MR 120 mils (wet) Section 07 27 26
Air Permeance (ASTM E2178):
0.0012 L/(s • m2) @ 75 Pa [0.00024 cfm /ft2 @ 1.57 psf] @ 87 mils (wet)
Water Vapour Permeance (ASTM E96 - desiccant method):
32.0 ng / Pa•s•m2 [0.57 US Perms] @ 44 mils (dry)
Water Vapour Permeance (ASTM E96 - water method):
2066 ng / Pa•s•m2 [36.12 US Perms] @ 44 mils (dry)
Bakor
www.henry.com
Air Bloc 32MR 75-115 mils (wet) Section 07 27 26
Air Permeance (ASTM E2178):
0.0005 L/(s • m2) @ 75 Pa [0.0001 cfm /ft2 @ 1.57 psf] @ 118 mils (wet)
Water Vapour Permeance (ASTM E96 - desiccant method):
13.0 ng / Pa•s•m2 [0.23 US Perms] @ 118 mils (wet)
Water Vapour Permeance (ASTM E96 - water method):
58 ng / Pa•s•m2 [1.02 US Perms] @ 118 mils (wet)
Bakor
www.henry.com
Air Bloc 33MR 100 mils (wet) [58 mils (dry)] Section 07 27 26
Air Permeance (ASTM E2178):
0.0008 L/(s • m2) @ 75 Pa [0.0016 cfm /ft2 @ 1.57 psf]
Water Vapour Permeance (ASTM E96 - desiccant method):
19.0 ng / Pa•s•m2 [0.34 US Perms] @ 59 mils (dry)
Water Vapour Permeance (ASTM E96 - water method):
652 ng / Pa•s•m2 [11.4 US Perms] @ 59 mils (dry)
W.R. Meadows, Inc.
www.wrmeadows.com
Air-Shield™ LMP 60 mils (wet)
30 mils (dry)
Section 07 27 26
Air Permeance (ASTM E2178):
0.00048 L/(s • m2) @ 75 Pa [0.000096 cfm /ft2 @ 1.57 psf]
Water Vapour Permeance (ASTM E96 - desiccant method):
13.4 ng / Pa•s•m2 [0.235 US Perms] @ 30 mils (dry)
Water Vapour Permeance (ASTM E96 - water method):
400 ng / Pa•s•m2 [7.00 US Perms] @ 30 mils (dry)

Factory Bonded Membranes to Sheathing
Manufacturer Material Name NABA Master Specification
USG/Tremco
www.securockexoair.com
Securock ExoAir 430 In process
Air Permeance (ASTM E2178):
0.0001 L/(s • m2) @ 75 Pa [0.00002 cfm /ft2 @ 1.57 psf]
Water Vapour Permeance (ASTM E96 - desiccant method):
105.24 ng / Pa•s•m2 [1.84 US Perms]
Water Vapour Permeance (ASTM E96 - water method):
279.70 ng / Pa•s•m2 [4.89 US Perms]