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:
- Self-adhered Sheet Air Barriers are tested for air permeance, water vapour permeance, resistance to puncture, tensile strength, water resistance, peel or stripping strength of adhesive bonds, lap adhesion, low temperature flexibility, nail sealability, pull adhesion, tear Initiation and tear propagation and crack bridging.
- Liquid Applied Membranes are tested for air permeance, water vapour permeance, nail sealability, pull adhesion and crack bridging.
- Medium Density Sprayed Polyurethane Foam (SPF) are tested for air permeance, water vapour permeance, flame spread characteristics, thermal transmission, compressive strength, density, tensile strength, dimensional stability, water absorption, open cell content, pull adhesion and crack bridging.
- Mechanically Fastened Commercial Building Wraps are tested for air permeance, water vapour permeance, dry tensile strength or dry breaking force, pliability and water resistance.
- Boardstock - Rigid Cellular Thermal Insulation Board are tested for air permeance, water vapour permeance, compressive strength, thermal resistance, flexural strength, water absorption, dimensional stability and tensile strength.
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] |
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| 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) |
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| 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) |
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| 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) |
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| 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) |
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| 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] |
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