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The Air Barrier Association of America Inc.Air Barriers: What Contractors needto know in order to decrease their riskThe Air Barrier Association ofAmerica (ABAA) consists of variousstakeholders in the building enclosureindustry.Our focus is to promote the use andbenefits of air barrier systems, and tolead our industry into the future in aprogressive and professional manner.Be part of those leading the industry.Why not lead your competition instead offollowing? Several states have alreadyadded air barriers in their building code,such as Georgia, New York, Massachusettsand many more States are following.These developments, along with the recentaddition of air barriers into standardssuch as ASHRAE 90.1, IECC and IRC willundoubtedly result in a significant increasein air barrier assemblies being installedin our buildings. In addition, the currentversion of LEED references ASHRAE90.1-2010 as the baseline standard forLEED buildings. This means that all LEEDbuildings will require air barriers as amandatory component.Air Barrier Association of America, Inc.1600 Boston-Providence HwyWalpole MA 02081Email us: abaa@airbarrier.orgCall us: 1-866-956-5888

www.airbarrier.orgWhat the ABAA Quality AssuranceProgram does for your Project.The damages resulting from an improperly installedair barrier can be enormous, including but not limited toexterior wall deconstruction and restoration, possiblemold remediation, and damages due to the loss ofbuilding use. For the General Contractor and/orConstruction Manager, participation in the ABAA QualityAssurance Program (QAP) is a prudent risk managementstrategy that can reduce liability and exposure for costsresulting from building envelope failure.All aspects of ABAA’s QAP, including installer trainingand certification, contractor accreditation, audits, conflictresolution and paperwork review are handled throughan independent and impartial professional organization.The QAP consists of many assurance components insequence, all working together to provide a high level ofconfidence that the air barrier will be installed correctlyand to the applicable industry standards.ABAA contractors must undergo training, anddemonstrate a high quality of workmanship andprofessionalism in order to be associated with theprogram.ABAA licensed auditors are assigned to inspect eachproject to ensure that the installed air barrier meets orexceeds standards set by the designers, manufacturers,and ABAA specifications. Upon completion of eachaudit, an audit report is provided to the Air BarrierContractor, General Contractor/Construction Manager,and the Design Professional to verify the installation anddocument the Auditor’s observations, testing results,and identify any corrective actions that may be required.Identifying potential problems during the inspection stagereduces, if not eliminates future, more costly repairs.Specifying ABAA is a win-win for all parties involved,including building owners, design professionals,contractors and end users.Benefits of the ABAA program to your projectinclude:• Experienced subcontractors• Enhanced schedule• Risk management• Field inspection, testing and auditing• Documentation of delivery of contractual requirementsNow what really matters: The CostThe costs are $0.085 per square foot of installedmaterial for an Industry Development Fund Fee, and$2,000 per audit. These associated ABAA costs areincluded in the ABAA contractor’s bid.Required site audits can be calculated as follows:Square Footageof ProjectUp to 10,000 110,001 to 35,000 235,001 to 75,000 375,001 to 125,000 4125,001 to 200,000 5200,001 and over 6What you can expect from yourABAA Contractor.• Daily work reports indicating location of work, testresults, environmental conditions, etc• Daily quality control measures including visualinspection, adhesion/cohesion testing, thicknessand/or density testingNumber ofAudits Required• Highly trained and credentialed installer(s) on siteoverseeing all aspects of the installation• Knowledge to work out air barrier constructiondetails and sequence scope of workTips for a successful Air BarrierInstallation1. Conduct pre-construction meetings2. Ensure proper scheduling and sequencing ofwall assembly3. Coordination of all pertinent trades4. Construct mock ups of building wall sections5. Oversee testing and inspection6. Protect assemblies and materials duringconstructionNeed project specific assistance? ABAA provides free Technical Support!Call: 1-866-956-5888ABAA 115-101 Rev 1