New Durability Findings from Air and Water Barrier Testing
Track 4: Testing, Analysis & Quality Assurance
Wednesday, April 19, 08:00 – 09:30
The Durability Lab has tested dozens of air barriers and accessory products, including hundreds of combinations of adhesion testing of one product to another, fastener sealability, crack-bridging ability, coverage rate on sheathing, UV resistance, and water resistance. New findings will be presented on these subjects, including remarkable findings regarding durability behind cladding. Some products re-emulsified and washed away behind cladding, and others fused to the cladding so that it could not be removed.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the factors that affect initial performance of air barriers, including coverage
rate on different sheathings and fastener sealability. - Understand the factors that affect durability of air barriers before cladding, including UV
resistance and crack bridging. - Understand the factors that continue to affect durability of air barriers after cladding,
including heat resistance, water resistance, and long-term adhesion of tapes and
accessories. - Understand different ways of testing tapes and self-adhered flashing products, and why
the industry-adopted pull-off method is the least predictive of durability.
David H. Nicastro, P.E., F.ASTM
David H. Nicastro, P.E., F.ASTM, is a licensed professional engineer specializing in the durability of building materials. He analyzes existing buildings and designs remedies. He
is the founder of Building Diagnostics, Engineering Diagnostics, and The Durability Lab, a testing center housed at The University of Texas at Austin to study the durability of
building components, identifying factors causing premature failure. Mr. Nicastro is the past chairman of ASTM Committee C24 on Building Seals and Sealants, and has published over 50 articles and books on durability and failure of building materials.