Evaluation Report CCMC 13659-R
WALLTITE Eco® v.3-Air Barrier System

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MASTERFORMAT:
07 27 09.01
Evaluation issued:
2013-06-04
Re-evaluated:
Never
Revised:
Never
Re-evaluation due:
2016-06-04
Re-evaluation in progress
No



1. Opinion

It is the opinion of the Canadian Construction Materials Centre (CCMC) that “WALLTITE Eco® v.3-Air Barrier System”, when used as an air barrier system for exterior walls of buildings in accordance with the conditions and limitations stated in Section 3 of this Report, complies with the National Building Code 2010:

  • Clause 1.2.1.1.(1)(b), Division A, as an alternative solution that achieves at least the minimum level of performance required by Division B in the areas defined by the objectives and functional statements attributed to the following applicable acceptable solutions:
    • Subsection 9.25.3. Air Barrier Systems

This opinion is based on CCMC's evaluation of the technical evidence in Section 4 provided by the Report Holder.

2. Description

This report addresses the performance of the product as an air barrier system as specified by BASF Canada. The “WALLTITE Eco® v.3 – Air Barrier System” consists of the following components and accessories:

  • principal material in the plane of airtightness: “WALLTITE Eco® v.3” spray polyurethane foam;
  • accessories for continuity:
    • Blue Skin SA®, a modified bituminous membrane (i.e. peel-and-stick or thermally fused) manufactured by Henry® Company for use as a transition membraneFootnote 1 over construction, control and expansion joints, at junctions between different assemblies and at penetrations; and
    • specified sealants that conform to CAN/CGSB-37.29-M89, “Rubber-Asphalt Sealing Compound,” for use at membrane-to-foundation junctions and conforming to CAN/CGSB-19.0-M77, “Methods of Testing Putty, Caulking and Sealing Compounds,” for use on the interior side around window and door openings; and
  • component for strength: structural substrate, such as concrete block, exterior gypsum sheathing, oriented strandboard (OSB), or plywood sheathing, within a wall designed to withstand the anticipated loads.

If installed as part of the designated air barrier system, “WALLTITE Eco® v.3” spray urethane foam serves a dual function in the wall assembly: as the principal plane of airtightness of the designated air barrier system and as exterior insulation. The use of the product as insulation is covered under CCMC 13588-L.

The foam insulation consists of two components: “Elastospray® 8000A” isocyanate and a polyurethane resin identified as “WALLTITE Eco® v.3.”  The two components are mixed on-site by an installer approved by BASF to install the product.  The resulting product is a Type 2 spray urethane with an assigned long-term thermal resistance value of 2.14 m2•°C/W per 50 mm.  If the foam insulation serves as the principal component in the BASF proprietary air barrier system, it must be installed at a minimum thickness and density, which are specified in Section 3 of this Report. As per CCMC 13588-L, the finished product is purple.

Footnotes
Footnote 1

The original full-scale testing was carried out with one proprietary transition membrane. Other proprietary membranes are qualified for use by BASF Canada through a small-scale tension test (i.e. “WALLTITE Eco® v.3” sprayed specimens over various substrates) to ensure the equivalent adhesion is maintained.

Return to footnote 1 referrer

3. Conditions and Limitations

CCMC's compliance opinion in Section 1 is bound by the “WALLTITE Eco® v.3-Air Barrier System” being used in accordance with the conditions and limitations set out below.

Air Barrier System

The air barrier system has demonstrated sufficiently low air permeance when it has a thickness of 25.4 mm and a minimum field density of 39.0 kg/m3, which meets the intent of Section 5.4., Air Leakage, and Subsection 9.25.3., Air Barrier Systems, of Division B of the NBC 2010 for buildings with an indoor relative humidity (RH) of 35% or less.  For buildings with a higher RH (e.g. swimming pools and museums), additional assessment is required in accordance with Part 5 of the NBC.

The structural wind loading conducted qualifies the air barrier system for use in low-rise buildings in geographical locations where the Q50value does not exceed 0.60 kPa (the Q50 value is the hourly wind pressure for a 1-in-50 year return period, which can be found in Appendix C of the NBC 2010).

To control condensation where the air barrier system’s insulation material has low air and vapour permeance and is installed on the cold side of the wall assembly, the interior vapour barrier must comply with Article 9.25.4.2., Vapour Barrier Materials, of Division B of the NBC 2010.  The insulation material must be installed at a 25.4-mm or greater thickness to comply with Article 9.25.5.2., Position of Low Permeance Materials, of Division B of the NBC 2010 for the respective geographical location.

To control air leakage, the proposed air barrier system must be a minimum 25.4 mm thick and installed as exterior insulation over exterior sheathing or a masonry back-up wall.

The product must be installed on-site by BASF Canada-trained installers following the BASF Canada specified product installation manual entitled “BASF WALLTITE Eco® v.3 Technical Guide,” dated December 1, 1999, which contains detailed construction drawings which must be followed (see Appendix A of this Report for examples). In addition, Morrison Hershfield (MH) Limited carries out follow-up inspections of the installations on a periodic basis.

Air Barrier System - Field Quality Assurance

When the “WALLTITE Eco® v.3” spray urethane is applied as the designated air barrier system, BASF requires that the installer be BASF Canada-trained and that Morrison Hershfield (MH) Limited conduct audits to ensure:

  1. the approved accessories are being used;
  2. proper installation of the transition membrane by conducting periodic tension testing as part of the BASF specified quality control;
  3. proper continuity details and substrate conformance as part of the quality control procedure for the product;
  4. proper application of the “WALLTITE Eco® v.3” spray foam; and
  5. daily work records are maintained for the air barrier system installation.

Insulation - Field Quality Assurance

When the proposed spray polyurethane is applied as spray-foam insulation, the material must be manufactured on-site by qualified installers licensed by BASF Canada with field inspections carried out by MH Limited.  MH Limited certifies BASF Canada’s training program and provides follow-up inspections to ensure installations are in accordance with CAN/ULC-S705.2-98, “Standard for Thermal Insulation – Spray Applied Rigid Polyurethane Foam, Medium Density, Installer’s Responsibilities – Specification.”

The product must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation manual.  A copy of this manual must be available on the job site at all times during the installation.  All installers must present their BASF Canada licensing card and specific site worksheet upon request by the building official.

Note: The BASF Canada field quality assurance program calls for periodic audits of the installers, usually random inspections with some mandatory inspections of larger projects.  Building officials may contact BASF Canada (1-866-474-3538) and request an inspection for a specific job site if they deem it necessary.  In cases where the installation is deemed non-conforming by MH/BASF Canada and is not remedied by the installer, MH/BASF Canada will inform the owner/architect/building official of the non-conforming installation.

See CCMC 13588-L for additional limitations on the installation of the “WALLTITE Eco® v.3” spray-foam product.

“Elastospray® 8000A” isocyanate and the polyurethane resin “WALLTITE Eco® v.3” must have their containers (i.e. drums) identified by the phrase “CCMC 13659-R” and “CCMC 13588-L,” respectively.

4. Technical Evidence

The Report Holder has submitted technical documentation for CCMC’s evaluation. Testing was conducted at laboratories recognized by CCMC. The corresponding technical evidence for this product is summarized below.

4.1 Performance Requirements

The results of testing the product, conducted on four representative specimens, are summarized in Tables 4.1.1 and 4.1.2.  The performance resulting from these tests has been deemed applicable to “WALLTITE Eco® v.3 – Air Barrier System” based on equivalency testing.

The performance of the product has been tested in accordance with the CCMC Technical Guide for qualification for use as an air barrier system.

To qualify, a conforming air barrier system must:

  1. have an acceptable low air leakage rate;
  2. be continuous;
  3. be durable;
  4. have sufficient strength to resist the anticipated air pressure load; and
  5. be buildable in the field.

4.1.1 Air Leakage Rate

Table 4.1.1  Results of Testing the “WALLTITE Eco® v.3 – Air Barrier System”
Type of Wall TestedMaximum Air Leakage RateTable 4.1.1 footnote 1, L/(s·m2) @ 75 Pa ΔP  Result
Masonry walls (see Figures 1 and 2 in Appendix A of this Report) ≤ 0.05Table 4.1.1 footnote 2 0.0054 L/(s·m2)Table 4.1.1 footnote 2
Exterior gypsum/metal stud walls (see Figures 3 and 4 in Appendix A of this Report)
Notes to Table 4.1.1:
Footnote 1

The air leakage rate of the specimens is determined after the structural wind loading (Q50 = 0.6 kPa) in order to represent structural aging of the air barrier system.  The air barrier system was subjected to a loading schedule involving one-hour sustained positive and negative pressure set at 0.60 kPa, 2000 cycles of positive and negative pressure set at 0.80 kPa, and a wind gust of positive and negative pressure set at 1.2 kPa.

Return to table 4.1.1 footnote 1 referrer

Footnote 2

The air leakage rate requirement is based on the following Permissible Air Leakage Rate Table developed by CCMC/NRC with input from an industry consortium.  The following table is deemed to meet the intent of the NBC 2010 with regard to air barrier system performance.

Permissible Air Leakage Rate
Water Vapour Permeance of Outermost Layer of Wall Assembly
(ng/Pa·s·m2)		Maximum Permissible Air Leakage Rate
(L/s·m2) @ 75 Pa ΔP
15 < WVP ≤ 60 0.05
60 < WVP ≤ 170 0.10
170 < WVP ≤ 800 0.15
> 800 0.20

Return to table 4.1.1 footnote 2 referrer

For more information on the CCMC Technical Guide requirements and how they relate to the NBC 2010 requirements, please see the IRC Publication, Air Barrier Systems for Walls of Low-Rise Buildings: Performance and Assessment.

4.1.2 Durability of Air Barrier System Components

Table 4.1.2 Results of Durability Testing of Components in the “WALLTITE Eco® v.3 – Air Barrier System”
ComponentRequirementResult
“WALLTITE Eco® v.3” urethane insulation air permeance before and after aging (ASTM D 726-84):
< 10% increase		 Passed
thermal resistance after heat aging and weathering:
90% retention		 Passed
Transition membrane: 
Blue Skin SA by Henry® Company		 physical properties before and after aging:
85% retention		 Passed
Sealant at membrane/foundation junctions:
Polybitume 570-05 by Henry® Company		 complies with CAN/CGSB-37.29-M89 Passed
Sealant around warm side of window and door frames:
DyMonic by Tremco		 complies with CAN/CGSB-19.0-M77 Passed

Report Holder

BASF Canada Inc.
10 Constellation Court
Toronto, ON M9W 1K1

Telephone:
289-360-1300

Plant(s)

Toronto, ON
Blackie, AB

Disclaimer

This Report is issued by the Canadian Construction Materials Centre, a program of NRC Construction at the National Research Council of Canada. The Report must be read in the context of the entire CCMC Registry of Product Evaluations, including, without limitation, the introduction therein which sets out important information concerning the interpretation and use of CCMC Evaluation Reports.

Readers must confirm that the Report is current and has not been withdrawn or superseded by a later issue. Please refer to the CCMC web site, or contact the Canadian Construction Materials Centre, NRC Construction, National Research Council of Canada, 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0R6. Telephone (613) 993-6189. Fax (613) 952-0268.

NRC has evaluated the material, product, system or service described herein only for those characteristics stated herein. The information and opinions in this Report are directed to those who have the appropriate degree of experience to use and apply its contents. This Report is provided without representation, warranty, or guarantee of any kind, expressed, or implied, and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) provides no endorsement for any evaluated material, product, system or service described herein. NRC accepts no responsibility whatsoever arising in any way from any and all use and reliance on the information contained in this Report. NRC is not undertaking to render professional or other services on behalf of any person or entity nor to perform any duty owed by any person or entity to another person or entity.

APPENDIX A

Specimens Tested for Qualifying System Details

Figures 1 to 4 outline the original full-scale specimens tested with “WALLTITE Eco® v.3” spray-urethane, which represent typical construction details to be reproduced in the field as part of the installation of BASF's current proprietary “WALLTITE Eco® v.3 – Air Barrier System”  The representative specimens tested also contained defects (e.g. mortar missing, missing primer gap, etc.) to verify the sensitivity of the air barrier system to these possible field defects and allow for tolerances.  See the “BASF Walltite® Technical Guide” for complete details.

Figure 1
Figure 1. Specimen No. 1: Example of continuity across joints with transition membrane in masonry block infill wall with a steel frame
  1. 25.4-mm-thick  “WALLTITE Eco® v.3” spray urethane foam installed over surface of wall (not shown)
  2. concrete blocks
  3. steel frame
  4. peel-and-stick bituminous membrane with primer
  5. peel-and-stick bituminous membrane without primer
  6. structural tie
  7. intentional mortar joint defect for testing

All construction, control or expansion joints in an exterior wall assembly must be bridged by a transition membrane as part of the “WALLTITE Eco® v.3 – Air Barrier System.”

Figure 2a
Figure 2a. Specimen No. 2: Example of continuity across junctions and penetrations in masonry block infill wall with a steel frame and at foundation wall
  1. 25.4-mm-thick  “WALLTITE Eco® v.3” spray urethane foam installed over surface of wall (not shown)
  2. concrete blocks
  3. steel frame
  4. peel-and-stick bituminous membrane with primer
  5. window opening
  6. structural tie
  7. concrete footing
  8. galvanized steel duct
  9. steel pipe
  10. electrical conduit
  11. reinforcing ties
  12. brick veneer anchors

Since the foundation wall is designated as part of the air barrier system in this case, a transition membrane with sealant (see cross-section details) must be sealed to the foundation wall to maintain the continuity of the plane of airtightness.  In addition, note that mechanical fasteners for brick veneer and penetrations from electrical wiring, pipes or ducts must be sealed through the use of a transition membrane.

Figure 2b
Figure 2b. Details of transition membrane at joints between masonry wall and steel frame
  1. 25.4-mm-thick  “WALLTITE Eco® v.3” spray urethane foam installed over surface of wall
  2. concrete blocks
  3. steel structure
  4. self-adhesive membrane section with primer
  5. opening
  6. polymer base caulking strip
  7. 8 in. x 10 in. concrete footing with reinforcement
  8. 4 in. x 4 in. galvanized steel duct
  9. 1 ½ in. dia. steel pipe
  10. foam seal gasket
  11. caulking
  12. glass fiber
Figure 3
Figure 3. Specimen No. 3: Example of continuity across joints with transition membrane in gypsum and metal stud infill wall with a steel frame
  1. 25.4-mm-thick  “WALLTITE Eco® v.3” spray urethane foam installed over surface of wall
  2. exterior gypsum board
  3. steel frame
  4. peel-and-stick bituminous membrane with primer
  5. peel-and-stick bituminous membrane without primer
  6. 20 ga. steel stud

All construction, control or expansion joints in an exterior wall assembly must be bridged by a transition membrane as part of the “WALLTITE Eco® v.3 – Air Barrier System.”

Figure 4a
Figure 4a. Specimen No. 2: Example of continuity across junctions and penetrations in gypsum and metal stud infill wall and at foundation wall
  1. 25.4-mm-thick  “WALLTITE Eco® v.3” spray urethane foam installed over surface of wall
  2. exterior gypsum board
  3. exterior gypsum board
  4. peel-and-stick bituminous membrane with primer
  5. window opening
  6. 20 ga. steel stud
  7. concrete footing
  8. galvanized steel duct
  9. steel pipe
  10. electrical conduit
  11. gypsum panel joint
  12. Dur-o-wall anchor
  13. Bailey brick connector
  14. steel frame

Since the foundation wall is designated as part of the air barrier system in this case, a transition membrane with sealant (see cross-section details) must be sealed to the foundation wall to maintain the continuity of the plane of airtightness.  In addition, note that mechanical fasteners for brick veneer and penetrations from electrical wiring, pipes or ducts must be sealed through the use of a transition membrane.

Figure 4b
Figure 4b. Details of transition membrane at joints between exterior sheathing wall and penetrations
  1. 25.4-mm-thick  “WALLTITE Eco® v.3” spray urethane foam installed over surface of wall
  2. exterior gypsum board
  3. steel structure
  4. self-adhesive membrane section with primer
  5. 20 ga. steel stud
  6. polymer base caulking strip
  7. 8 in. x 10 in. concrete footing with reinforcement
  8. 4 in. x 4 in. galvanized steel duct
  9. 1 ½ in. dia. steel pipe
  10. foam seal gasket
  11. caulking
  12. glass fiber
  13. opening