Control airflow with confidence

With 3M™ Air and Vapour Barrier 3015 Products.

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Uncontrolled airflow can be a major problem, especially in cold weather

It’s been estimated that over the course of a heating season about one third of a litre of water can pass directly through gypsum board without a vapour retarder, and that 28 litres of water can pass through the same gypsum wall with just a 1" x 1" hole in that same time period.¹

¹Builder’s Guide to Cold Climates, Joseph Lstiburek

Weather: A factor in construction

Depending on where you build and when you build, moisture can seep into interior and exterior walls. The key to making sure your jobs stay on time and on budget is to use a proper air barrier system.

Winter

In winter, warm, humid air moves naturally from building interiors to colder, drier exteriors. Without air barriers, moisture will condense on the colder, inside surface of the exterior wall.
Summer

In summer, warm, humid air moves naturally from building exteriors to cooler, drier interior areas. Without proper air and vapour control, moisture will condense on the colder, inside surface of the interior wall.

Solve construction-related environmental challenges with the right air barrier

Modern buildings can be affected by many environmental challenges that can significantly affect their performance. Common environmental challenges of buildings include wind pressure, fan pressurization, stack pressure, barometric cycling and thermal cycling. A continuous air barrier helps maximize building efficiency.

Building with and without air barrier system

Choose the right air barrier system each time, every time

An air barrier system is a sheet or spray-applied membrane. It is designed to control the unintended movement of air flow into and out of the building enclosure.

Construction with 3M™ Air and Vapour Barrier products

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Maximize your building efficiency

Protecting buildings with a continuous 3M™ Brand Air Barrier System can provide a wide range of benefits, including:

• Better indoor air quality
• Less risk of mould and mildew compared to most traditional air barrier systems
• Happier, healthier residents
• Extended service life and durability of your building
• Energy savings through the reduction of unintended air movement

Depending on their material characteristics, air barriers can control or block the passage of water vapour. Choosing the right air barrier system is dependent on the kind of wall assembly you are constructing (the primary driver), your climate location (secondary driver), and your goals for sustainable construction.

Once you have selected a wall assembly design, the application temperature and weather conditions will determine the best barrier type. For example, cold or wet weather may eliminate some coatings and sheet membrane systems from consideration.

Vapour permeable air barriers

Air barriers are permeable systems that allow vapour transmission through a wall assembly. The perm rating is typically greater than 10 (“perm rating” is a measure of the diffusion of water vapour through a material).
Air and vapour barriers

These nonpermeable systems stop air and moisture transmission through the wall assembly. They typically have a perm rating of less than 1.0.

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Air barrier solutions you can depend on

Choosing the right system to provide protection from moisture and vapour should not be complicated. Rely on a system that is engineered to control air leakage and have a positive impact on your bottom line.