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Rigid Air Barrier

The facts of the rigid air barrier: DO's and DON'Ts ? eterpan BASE and eterpan BASE Sealed as Rigid Air Barrier are weathertight and breathable as specified in NZBC E2/AS1 Table 2.3 but offer much more than that.

Choose the product between eterpan BASE and eterpan BASE Sealed

Thickness: 4.5 - 6.0 - 9.0 mm
Dimensions: 2400 - 2700 - 3000 x 1200 mm

eterpan BASE Sealed 
is finished with a durable and breathable water-repellent on the fair face. eterpan BASE Sealed is the most sustainable option to avoid internal condensation, repell water from the cavity and supply a performing air seal. 

eterpan has been assessed by Branz to have in exterior applications

Click here for more information on the product.

 


eterpan BASE selection table

      Windloads (kPa) for ETERPAN Base as Rigid Air Barrier 

     Framing
      centres
       (mm)

   eterpan
   Thickness  
      (mm)

          Rainscreen system

         Brick

    XpressClad
     VentClad

    SLS 

   ULS 

   SLS

   ULS

  Studs @ 600 mm
 Nogs @ 800 mm 

       4.5

    3.50  

  2.69  

   3.50 

   2.69  

       6.0

    3.50

   2.69

  4.93 

   3.79

 Studs @ 400 mm
 Nogs @ 800 mm 

       4.5

    3.50

   2.69

   4.82

   3.21

       6.0

    3.50

   2.69

   6.08

   4.05 


Fire resistance

eterpan BASE thickness

 30/30/30

4.5 - 6.0 -  9.0 mm

 60/60/60

6.0 mm or more and with Etercore insulation


Want to know more about Air Barriers: check out the website of the Air Barrier Association of America. Quote from the site: "Vapor barriers are designed to be installed on the warm side of the insulation"
See more at  - www.airbarrier.org

DO's AND DON'Ts of the Rigid Air Barrier

DO:  a rigid air barrier is a barrier against wind and water infiltration from the  outside to the interior of the building. For the purpose of well-engineered building physics to avoid internal condensation within the wall, a rigid air barrier has to be vapour OPEN. A vapour barrier or vapour seal has to positioned more to the interior of the insulation to avoid condensation. For that reason, using vapour closed or sealed materials asresin based wood products for rigid air barrier, may create problems in the wall when temperatures outside drop. Ask PBS for more information and graphs based on the Glaser method.

DON'T:  paint the rigid air barrier to avoid water absorption. Painting the rigid air barrier will create a vapour barrier and if there is no thermal insulation on the outer side of the wall, will increase significantly the chance for internal condensation within the wall. A far better option is to apply a vapour open water-repellent product to humidity resistant fibre cement.For more information, contact PBS Distributors.

DO:  PBS rigid air barrier will comply with fire resistance requirements and bracing resistance. Contact PBS Distributors for more information.

DOWNLOADS:

eterpan BASE and eterpan BASE Sealed as Rigid Air Barrier:

Contact us for more information on fire resistance