Air Barrier Systems

Energy conservation is paramount in our minds today. About 50% of our fossil fuel consumption goes toward heating and cooling our buildings. AIA and The Department of Energy have set a goal of reducing energy consumption in buildings by 50% by 2010. Oak Ridge National Lab recently completed a study that concluded that between 25% and 40% of the energy used to condition our building’s interiors was being lost on moving air. An Air Barrier System is the conglomeration of materials that separate the interior environment from the exterior. This is most often not accomplished by the use of one product but by the effective connecting of different elements to achieve that “enviroplane”. Hundreds of times more moisture travels on moving air than can permeate through the wall assembly. So, an effective Air Barrier System not only contributes to energy conservation but also is integral in controlling moisture in the wall assembly. This will improve the indoor air quality and prolongs the life of building components.