Incorporating Air Barriers in Specifications - Renee Doktorczyk

Renee Doktorczyk, CSI, CCS, AIA, SCIPArchiTech Consulting, Inc.Mount Prospect, IL

Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA) is aRegistered Provider with The American Institute ofArchitects Continuing Education Systems. Credit earned oncompletion of this program will be reported to CES Records for AIAmembers. Certificates of Completion for non-AIA members areavailable on request.This program is registered with the AIA/CES for continuingprofessional education. As such, it does not include content that maybe deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIAof any material of construction or any method or manner of handling,using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. Questionsrelated to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressedat the conclusion of this presentation.

Learning Objectives• Learning what specifications are and are not• Learning how performance requirements of air barriersystems are specified• Learning how properties of air barrier systems,including vapor permeability, air permance, ultimateelongation, and UV-resistance are specified• Learning how field quality control inspections andtests are specified

Specifications - Defined• The Specifications are that portion of the ContractDocuments consisting of the written requirements formaterials, equipment, systems, standards andworkmanship for the Work, and performance ofrelated services. (AIA A201 – General Conditions of the Contract forConstruction)

Importance of Specifications• Specifications are considered part of the ContractDocuments, along with –• Agreement• Conditions of the Contract• Drawings• Addenda• Modifications (ASI’s and RFI’s)

Specifications – CSI & AIA• CSI – Construction Specifications Institute• MasterFormat• SectionFormat• AIA – American Institute of Architects• MasterSpec

MasterFormat• A standard numbering system used for organizingspecifications• Sometimes called the “Dewey Decimal System” ofBuilding Construction• Developed by CSI and CSC (ConstructionSpecifications Canada)• Includes numbers and titles, but no content

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SectionFormat• Standard method for arranging text within aspecification section• First developed in 1969• Part 1 – General• Part 2 – Products• Part 3 - Execution

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MasterSpec• Library of master specification sections published byARCOM• ARCOM uses MasterFormat to develop library sectiontitles and numbers• There is not a MasterSpec section for everyMasterFormat number

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Other Master Specification Systems• Commercially available• BSD SpecLink• E-Specs• SpecText• In-house master specification systems• Association guide specifications, including ABAA• Manufacturer guide specifications

Specifications are not -

Specifications are not -

Specifications are not -

Specifications are not -

Common Air Barrier Types• Spray polyurethane foam insulation air barriers• Building wraps - residential• Modified bituminous sheet air barriers• Fluid-applied membrane air barriers• Air barrier coatings

072000 – Thermal Insulation• Sprayed Polyurethane Foam Insulation Air Barriers• Typically specified in the insulation section• Closed cell spray foam insulation becomes an air barrierat 1-1/2 inches thick.• Installed in a monolithic manner• Need protective suits and respirators to install• NFPA 285

072500 – Weather Barriers• Building Wraps• Commonly used for low-rise residential projects• Do not comply with ABAA requirements for air barrierperformance requirements• Tested to ASTM E 1677 limits of 0.06 cfm/sq.ft. at 0.3-inch wg• One of the biggest problems – installation

072713 – Modified BituminousSheet Air Barriers• Self-adhering sheet products• No special equipment• Consistent thickness• Low-temperature versions (25 to 40 deg F) available

072726 – Fluid-Applied MembraneAir Barriers• Two Types - Vapor-Retarding and Vapor-Permeable• Elastomeric, modified-bituminous or synthetic-polymer• Can be applied by roller or sprayed• Forms a monolithic membrane• UV-resistant products available

072729 – Air Barrier Coatings• Two Types - Vapor-Retarding and Vapor-Permeable• Applied in a monolithic coating• Applied thinner than the fluid-applied membrane airbarrier products• Additional coats may be required depending onsubstrate

Questions to Ponder -• Vapor-retarding vs. vapor-permeable?• Fluid-applied membrane/coating air barrier?• Elastomeric, modified bituminous vs. syntheticpolymer?• UV-resistant or non-UV-resistant?• Roller grade vs. spray grade?• Insulating foam air barrier coating?• Open cell vs. closed cell?• NFPA requirements?

Part 1 - General• Summary• Identifies type of air barrier• Pre-Installation Conference• Covers special details, mockups, testing, scheduling• Action Submittals• Product Data• LEED – IEQ 4.2• Shop Drawings

Part 1 – General (cont’d)• Informational Submittals• Qualification Data – Includes list of ABAA installers• Product Certificates• Product Test Reports• Quality Assurance• Installer Qualifications – Includes ABAA QualityAssurance Program licensing requirements• Mockups

Part 1 – General (cont’d)• Preconstruction Testing• Necessary?• Expensive• Tests that could be included -• Qualitative Air-Leakage Testing• Quantitative Air-Leakage Testing• Adhesion Testing• Delivery, Storage, and Handling

Part 1 – General (cont’d)• Field Conditions• Warranties• Material – 3 years• Installer – 2 maximum

Part 2 – Products• Materials, General• Source limitations• VOC content• Performance Requirements• Air barrier• Liquid-water drainage plane• Air-Barrier Assembly Air Leakage• Maximum is 0.04 cfm/sq.ft. of surface area at 1.57 lbf/sq.ft. (75Pa) per ASTM E 283, ASTM E 783 or ASTM E 2357

Part 2 – Products (cont’d)• Fluid-Applied Membrane Air Barrier• Vapor-Retarding or Vapor-Permeable• Elastomeric, modified bituminous or Synthetic Polymer• Air Barrier Coatings• Vapor-Retarding or Vapor Permeable• Synthetic Polymer

Part 2 – Products (cont’d)• Product Specific Performance Requirements• Air Permeance – Tester per ASTM E 2178• Maximum 0.004 cfm/sq.ft of surface area at 1.57 lbf/sq.ft.• Vapor Permeance – Tested per ASTM E96• Vapor-Retarding - Maximum 0.1 perm• Vapor-Permeable – Minimum 10 perms• Ultimate Elongation – Tested per ASTM D412, Die C• Vapor-Retarding – Minimum of 500%• Vapor-Permeable – Minimum of 200%

Part 2 – Products (cont’d)• Accessory Materials• Primers• Counterflashing strip• Butyl strip• Modified Bituminous strip• Joint Reinforcing strip• Substrate-patching membrane• Adhesive and tape• Stainless-steel sheet

Part 2 – Products (cont’d)• Accessory Materials (cont’d)• Sprayed polyurethane foam sealant• Modified bituminous transition strip• Adhesive-coated transition strip• Elastomeric flashing sheet• Preformed silicone-sealant extrusion• Joint sealants• Termination mastic

Part 3 – Execution• Examination• Concrete has cured• CMU has flush joints• Surface Preparation• Clean, dust-free, dry substrate• Joint Treatment• Concrete and Masonry• Gypsum Sheathing

Part 3 – Execution (cont’d)• Transition Strip Installation• Roof membranes• Foundation wall waterproofing• Floor-to-floor transitions• Exterior glazing and window systems• Curtain wall systems• Storefront systems• Wall openings

Part 3 – Execution (cont’d)• Air Barrier Installation• Primer• Membrane Air Barriers – 40 mils dft, minimum.• Air Barrier Coatings - + 20 mils dft

Part 3 – Execution (cont’d)• Field Quality Control• Inspections• Testing• Qualitative Air-Leakage Testing – ASTM E 1186• Smoke Pencil with pressurization or depressurization• Chamber pressurization or depressurization with smoketracers• Chamber pressurization or depressurization with detectionliquids

Smoke Tracers in Whole BuildingPressurization or Depressurization

Chamber with Detection Liquids

InfraredScanning

Part 3 – Execution (cont’d)• Quantitative Testing – Per ASTM E 783• Adhesion Testing – Per ASTM D 4541• Minimum 30 lbf/sq.in. per every 600 sq. ft. installed• Cleaning and Protection• Protect from UV light

Quantitative Air-Leakage Testing – ASTM E 783

Architectural TestingPhotos contributed by the following:

Renee Doktorczyk, CSI, CCS, AIA, SCIPRenee@ArchiTechSpec.com224-345-3450