Masonry Magazine July 2007 Page. 40
Moisture Management
(ICC) does not require the use of air barriers in building exterior walls, their use has been mandated in Canada as of 1995 [IBC adopts by reference International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) that dictates the use of vapor retarders, but not air barriers]. Subsequently, a few states also required the use of air barriers in exterior walls. In 2006, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc. (ASHRAE) approved a revised version of AHRAE 90.1 "Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings" that requires the use of air barriers. AHRAE 90.1 is adopted by reference in the IECC, which is in turn adopted in IBC. It is likely that the next version of the IBC (to be issued in 2009) will incorporate a new version of ASRAE 90.1 that will make the use of air barriers mandatory. Once various states and municipalities adopt the future versions of the IBC, the use of air barriers will be mandatory in those locations.
Air barriers come in a wide range of materials. The most popular air barriers (also known as building wraps) are mechanically fastened sheets, typically flash spun polyethylene. Other types of air barriers include self-adhered, rubberized asphalt sheets, and liquid-applied membranes of various chemical compositions. Performance criteria for air barriers are specified in various standards, including ASTM E 1677 "Standard Specification for an Air Retarder (AR) Material or System for Low-rise Framed Building Walls." Other standards, such as ASTM E 2357 "Standard Test Method for Determining Air Leakage of Air Barrier Assemblies," help in the evaluation of wall assembly performance in controlling air movements.
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