Introduction to Water

Resistive Barriers
(WRBs) & Air Barriers

SCIENCE. SERVICE. SOLUTIONS. | 800.527.7092 | CARLISLECCW.COM

c

Air, Vapor or Water Resistive Barrier?

Even industry experts confuse air, vapor and water resistive barriers. Let’s
define the terms:

Air Barriers resist air leakage and form a continuous plane around a
building to prevent uncontrolled air movement in and out of the building
envelope.

Vapor barriers limit the amount of water vapor diffusion through the wall
as a result of different vapor pressures. Vapor barriers still have to be
continuously sealed, and free of holes.

Water Resistive Barriers keep liquid water from entering the building
enclosure. Combined with flashing and other materials, WRBs ensure that
there is a completely sealed assembly to direct liquid water to the exterior.

A single material can function as all three, an air, vapor and water resistive
barrier. There are also materials that function only as a water resistive
barrier that are not air barriers. Understanding the functions of the ma-
terials used is critical, so that the building performs in accordance to the
SCIENCE. SERVICE. SOLUTIONS.

design intent. This e-booklet focuses on requirements for WRBs.

WRBs : 1
c

Table of Content

Pg. 3  Defining barrier cladding; membrane-drained cladding;

and drained and back ventillated cladding

Pg. 8 What is the function of a Water Resistive Barrier?

Pg. 9 Types of materials marketed as WRBs

Pg. 22 What is the purpose and signficance of flashing details?

Pg. 24 WRBs that can be air barriers

Pg. 24  Air barrier requirements and how WRB air barriers fulfill
these requirementsc

SCIENCE. SERVICE. SOLUTIONS.

WRBs : 2
c

Mass wall sections showing

barrier cladding function –
water shedding
at exterior

Direct-applied stucco over single wythe concrete Masonry mass wall – 19th
block wall Century

Systems Defined: Barrier cladding, Membrane-drained

cladding, Drained and back ventillated cladding
A barrier-wall system should be matched with cladding material that’s
resistant to water and vapor. Poor cladding can be detrimental to the
envelope of a building, so be sure to select a material that is impervious
to the elements. Many cladding materials tend to respond differently to
environmental factors.
Barrier Cladding Systems

• Mass wall construction – masonry or concrete. • Maintenance of the exterior is critical for longevity. Caulking,
• Rain water is managed on the exterior surface tuck pointing.
• Water intrusion past the exterior surface is absorbed • Old technology. It works, but it’s costly, requires skilled tradesmen
and released – wall materials are moisture-tolerant and cannot be used in taller buildings.

WRBs : 3
c

Substrate
(e.g., plywood)

Adhesive/Attachment
Fluid-applied WRB and
air barrier membrane on
exterior gypsum sheathing
(Barritech VP)
Insulation Board

Reinforcement Mesh
Base Coat w/
Reinforcement Mesh
Embedded
Finish Coat
Barrier EIFs design

1980s system
Exterior insulated finish systems (EIFs) gained popularity in the 1980’s
and but experienced a significant number of serious failures, mostly due
to rain penetration. Early EIFS face-sealed systems that by definition had
no provision for drainage. Early EIFS facade systems neglected to include
Barrier EIFs – A Failed Barrier any provision for drainage.
Cladding System

• An EIFS is reinforced synthetic stucco applied over • Leaks occurred, primarily through window assemblies and
foam board. window-cladding interface.
• Designed to manage water at the exterior surface • Moisture intruding behind cladding caused significant damage to
• Often installed over moisture-sensitive materials like sheathing, studs, stud cavity insulation and even interior finishes
gypsum, OSB, wood studs and steel studs • To prevent future failures, EIFS systems marketed for sheathing-
over-stud walls are now membrane-drained (must have an
underlying WRB)

WRBs : 4
c

Unlike face-sealed barrier systems, drainable EIFS can be successfully

used as an exterior cladding system in most climates and exposures.

Membrane-Drained Cladding

•  he primary barrier to rain water is the

T • Leaks occurred, primarily through window assemblies and
exterior cladding window-cladding interface.
• Wall is designed with a drainage space between • The WRB prevents exterior water, which breaches the cladding,
exterior cladding and next layer from further intruding into the assembly
• A secondary system – the water resistive barrier • Water is drained on WRB plane and diverted out through
(WRB) is installed flashing and weeps

WRBs : 5
c

Exterior
Air space Insulation Cladding attachment
hardware

Non-sealed,
shiplap joints

A drained and black ventilated terra cotta

cladding system

Drained and Back-Ventilated Cladding

• Called “Vented Cladding” in Building Code. • Cladding has weeps and ventilation
• Improved moisture management versus — Allows ready drainage of water
membrane drained cladding — Allows free circulation of air to facilitate drying of cladding,
• Cladding has open joints or vents. Intentionally exterior insulation,attachment hardware and WRB
leaky to air (and water) • WRB system must be water tight AND air tight
• An air space (typically 3/8” to 2”) is provided between • Also called a “rain screen” cladding
cladding and next layer (exterior insulation or WRB)

Another Benefit:
Per IBC 2009, 2012 and 2015, increased drying potential provided by vented cladding negates the requirement for vapor
retarder installation in Climate Zones Marine 4, 5 and 6.

WRBs : 6
c

CLADDING EXAMPLES
Membrane Drained EIFS Membrane Drained
system: Masonry Veneer:
CCW-705 over exterior sheath- Barritech VP over exterior
ing, self-furring metal lath, EPS sheathing, 1-2” air space
insulation board, synthetic
stucco

SCIENCE. SERVICE. SOLUTIONS.

Drained and Back-Ventilated Membrane Drained Siding –

Composite Panel Cladding:
Textured building wrap over
Self-adhered VP sheet over OSB sheathing.
exterior sheathing, mineral
fiber insulation, girt attachment
hardware to maintain
air space

WRBs : 7
c

Grade D Paper (EIFS

Equivalent) mechanically-attached
over exterior sheathing.

Roll of No. 15 Felt (formerly 15# Felt)

What is the function of a Water Resistive Barrier?

The design and construction of the exterior wall must include a
water-resistive barrier behind the exterior veneer that prevents the
accumulation of moisture within the wall assembly. The exterior wall
must also include a way for water/condensation that enters the wall
assembly to drain/evaporate.

Building Code WRB Requirements

•  inimum 1 layer of WRB is required to be installed

M • WRB also has to be integrated properly with flashings in
over exterior sheathing or on the exterior building details.
side of studs. • Stucco claddings require 2 layers of WRB
• WRB needs to be EIFS Felt meeting ASTM D 226, • WRB is not required over concrete block or concrete walls
or other approved material
• Approved material is demonstrated to perform as
well or better than EIFS felt as a WRB. ** REF: Chapter 14 of International Building Code (IBC) 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015

WRBs : 8
c

Types of materials marketed as WRBs

Referred to in the building code as a “water-resistive barrier,” the main
goal is to keep liquid water out of the structural part of a building. At the
same time, the WRB must allow water vapor to pass through so the
framing and sheathing can dry to the exterior if it gets wet.

Choosing a Water Resistive Barrier

• Paper or Felt Type • Neighboring sheets are lapped

• Polymeric Type • Lap onto flashings
• Mechanically-attached to the exterior side of stud • Laps may be taped or caulked
walls – Stapes, nails, capped screws, battens

WRBs : 9
c

BARRIER TYPES
Grade D paper with stucco lath

Paper or Felt Type WRBs

• 15# Felt
— Historic: Cotton fiber felt saturated with coal tar • Grade D Paper Asphalt-saturated Kraft paper
pitch or pine tar Weighed 15 lb per 100 SQ FT. — Specification: ASTM D 226 or D 227Resists water
— Current: Called “No. 15” felt, promoted mostly for for 10 min to 60 min
roofing underlayment.Organic felt — Specification: ASTM D 226 or D 227Specification:
 made from recycled paper and/or fabric, saturated “Code Approved” (ICC-ES AC-38 or UUB 790a)
with asphalt or coal tar. No longer weighs 15 lb • Materials are Vapor Permeable
per 100 SQ FT. • Materials are NOT Air Barriers
— Specification: ASTM D 226 or D 227

WRBs : 10
c

BARRIER TYPES
Building wrap on a Building wrap on a
commercial building commercial building

Building wrap installation Building wrap installation

on a home on a home

Building Wraps

• Spun Bonded Polyolefin (non-perorated) — Engineered Fabric

— Tyvek — Vaproshield
— Typar — Cosella-Dorkin
— Woven or Perforated Polyolefin
— NovaWrap
— Green Guard

WRBs : 11
c

ADVANTAGES
A number of materials, including traditional asphalt felt (tar paper) have
this ability to stop liquid water while remaining “permeable” to water
vapor.

Building Paper, Wrap and Felt Advantages

• Lighter weight, more flexible than paper or felt WRBs • Can be installed by unskilled labor
• Installs over sheathing (Spec: ICC-ES AC 38) • All-Season Installation (adhesion to substrate
• Materials are vapor permeable not required)Long Track Record (Some Products)
• Conventional, Well-Known • Relatively Low Cost

WRBs : 12
c

LIMITATIONS
Failure of Grade D paper
– reverse lap at window
sill flashing

Building wrap fluttering loose from

substrate on commercial project

Common mistake – reverse

lap of window head flashing
and building wrap

Building Paper, Wrap and Felt Limitations

• Not fully adhered to substrate – water and air can • Can be damaged or destroyed by contact with :
travel between WRB and substrate – Residue from wood products, detergents
• Proper lapping with adjacent flashings is critical – Stucco and Mortar
• Often tears, rips and comes loose during exposure • Not effective air barriers
– Fluttering away from substrate
– Leaky terminations and penetration

WRBs : 13
c Are WRBs and Building Wraps Air Barriers?

Fluid-applied WRB and

air barrier membrane on
exterior gypsum sheathing
(Barritech VP)

Self-adhered sheet WRB and air

barrier membrane on exterior gyp-
sum sheathing (CCW-705)

WRBs as Air Barriers

• The WRB location (exterior side of wall) is also an • Strategy – Use a WRB material that is also airtight
ideal location for the air barrier – “Beefed up” building wrap with sealed laps,
• On the exterior side of the wall, achieving continuity penetrations and terminations + enhanced fastening
of the air barrier is most practical – Fully-adhered membrane on rigid substrate
– Wall to window/door frames • Fluid-Applied
– Inter-story continuity • Self-Adhered
– Roof-wall tie-in • Closed Cell Spray Foam
– Wall-foundation tie-in – Sheathing boards with factory-applied WRB and
– Transition to dissimilar wall assemblie field-sealed joints, penetrations & terminations
• Closed cell foam rigid board: EPS with facers, XPS,
Foil-faced Polyiso
• Gyp sheathing with factory-applied WRB

WRBs : 14
c

What is an Air Barrier?

Air barriers are critical to achieving building energy efficiency and
indoor environmental quality, as well as satisfying code requirements. It’s im-
portant to remember, an air barrier is not a single product, but rather a system of
products that produce an air barrier assembly.

Air Barrier Requirements

• Materials must be impermeable to air
• Withstand combined wind, stack and
fan pressures
• Accommodate differential movements, including
dissimilar materials & assemblies, control,
expansion and seismic joints
• Be durable or maintainable
• All penetrations made through the air barrier shall
be sealed
• Continuous installation over whole building en-
closure--air barrier on exterior walls with durable
tie-in to:
– Windows & doors
– Wall-to foundation
– Wall-to-roof
– Flashings at openings, terminations and
transitions
– Termination at existing construction
– Transition to neighboring assemblies, exam-
ples: deck, balcony, canopy, dissimilar wall
assemblies

REF: 2012 & 2015 IECC, 2010 & 2013 ASHRAE 90.1
This requirement is so important that model energy codes (IECC and ASHRAE 90.1) reference the system as the “Continuous Air Barrier”

WRBs : 15
c

Tyvek Commercial Wrap

ASTM E 2357 (Air Barrier
Assembly) Mockup. Taped
laps, close spacing capped
screw fastening. Flashing
tape at all penetrations.
Product is not typically
installed this way.

Taped building wrap in-

stallation in progress on a
commercial building

Building Wraps as Air Barriers

Although building wraps are marketed as air barrier materials, their primary
function is to act as a water-resistive barrier (WRB). Building wraps can be an
air barrier, but careful attention must be placed on keeping the assembly airtight
around seams, transitions and window openings. Most building wraps are best
used to protect the wall sheathing from any wind-driven rain that gets past
• the cladding.
Building wrap is most commonly used as an air barrier & WRB in residential
Disadvantages and ow-rise commercial construction

• Most are not air barriers •  ven with air barrier building wraps, it is challenging to effectively install
E
• Sheet materials are permeable to air them as a continuous air barrier in commercial construction

WRBs : 16
c

Self-adhered
sheet membrane

Foil-faced PIR with taped joints (R2+

SHEATHE & FG-1402 Tape)
Fluid-applied membrane
(Barritech VP)

Commercial Building WRBs which are also

Effective Air Barriers
• Specialty sheathing boards with sealed joints,
terminations and penetrations
– Rigid foam board: XPS, Faced EPS or foil-faced PIR
– Gypsum sheathing with factory-applied membraneClosed cell
spray polyurethane foam: exterior application with
detail flashings
• Self-adhered sheet membranes
• Fluid-applied membranes

WRBs : 17
c

WRB gyp sheathing with

caulked joints. GP
DensElement with Prosoco
Fast Flash

Foil-faced polyiso board with

taped joints. R2+ SHEATHE
with FG-1402 tape

“Boards and Tape” Systems

• Application on exterior stud walls. • Spec for factory-applied WRB to sheathing is AC 310
• Spec for board insulation WRBs is ICC-ES AC 71 • Boards are fastened to studs. Joints, penetrations and terminations
• Spec for flashing tape on boards is AC 148 are sealed with flashing tape or liquid material
• Spec for caulking or liquid flashing on boards is AC 212 • Insulation board products are also continuous insulation (CI).

WRBs : 18
c

Completed installation, brick

veneer being installed over
spray foam WRB

Spray installation in progress

Spray Foam Systems

• Specs are ICC-ES AC 377 and ICC-ES AC-71 • Fully-adhered to the substrate
• Installed on the exterior side of the wall • Non-permeable system
(not between the studs) • Is also continuous insulation (CI)
• Medium density closed cell foam and flashing
membrane or liquid flashing details

WRBs : 19
c

Barriseal (non-permeable,
asphalt-emulsion based)
with caulked board joints

Barritech VP (permeable,
latex-based) with DCH Reinforcing
Fabric over board joints

Fluid-Applied Membrane Systems

• Application on exterior sheathing. Spec is • Varying chemistries: asphalt emulsion, latex, synthetic rubber, silicone,
ICC-ES AC 212 silane-terminated polymer (STP)
• Can be Vapor-Permeable or Non-Permeable • Spray, roller or trowel applied
• Products range from 7 to 125 mils dry film thickness • Fully-adhered to substrate
• Reinforcement or caulking required in board joints

WRBs : 20
c

CCW-705 (non-permeable)
on a commercial building

705 VP (permeable) on a
commercial building

Usually require contact adhesive surface prep for good adhesion

Fluid-Applied Membrane Systems •
• Fully-adhered to substrate
• Neighboring sheets are lapped
• 
Application on exterior sheathing. Specs are ICC-ES •  P sheet product is 20 to 25 mils thickness, non-permeable
V
AC 38 and ICC-ES AC 148 product is 40- mils thick
• Can be Vapor-Permeable or Non-Permeable • Non-permeable product is also water proof

WRBs : 21
c

Through-Wall
Flashing

Window Base of
flashing wall flashing

Critical for performance of the WRB system!

Flashing as specified in Building Code
• Installed to prevent water from entering, or to re-direct water
to the exterior
SCIENCE. SERVICE. SOLUTIONS.

• Perimeters of exterior window and door assemblies

• Exterior wall Penetrations and Terminations
• Exterior wall intersections with roofs, chimneys, porches, decks,
balconies and similar projections
• Flashing with drip edge required on both sides of roof coping, under
sills and continuously above projecting trim
• In masonry veneer – through-wall flashing required anywhere there is
an interruption in the cavity – window head, window sill, relieving
angle, base of wall, roof line

WRBs : 22
c

Proper shingle lap of felt

WRB onto base of wall
flashing

Barritech NP. 705 FR-A & Barribond-

Flashing detail installed over fluid-applied
WRB. Reverse lap is sealed with caulking.
This is OK, because all components are
fully-adhered.

Fully-Adhered Membrane WRBs Have a More Robust Tie-in to Flashing Details

•  elf-adhered flashing must go on solid substrate, not

S • Self-adhered flashing can go over or under fully-adhered WRBs!
over mechanically-attached sheet WRBs! Otherwise,
any breach in the WRB would completely undermine
the flashing

WRBs : 23
c

Liquid air/vapor barrier &

WRB membrane enhanc-
es air & water tightness of
concrete block wall

SCIENCE. SERVICE. SOLUTIONS.

More Advantages of Fully-Adhered Air Barrier WRBs

•  elf-adhered flashing must go on solid substrate, not over mechanically-at-
S
tached sheet WRBs! Otherwise, any breach in the WRB would completely
undermine the flashing

• Self-adhered flashing can go over or under fully-adhered WRBs!

WRBs : 24
c

DETAILS
Exterior Continuous Fully-Adhered
Cladding Insulation Sheet WRB

Through-Wall
Flashing

Drainage
composite

Foundation waterproofing
membrane

Under-slab waterproofing
membrane

Self-adhered Wrapped openings ready

sheet membrane to receive window and
perimeter caulk

Continuity is Essential to wall foundations

•  dhere TWF to fully-adhered sheet membrane WRB –

A • Lap fully-adhered sheet membrane WRB over below-grade waterproofing
note proper lap and termination.

WRBs : 25
c

JOINTS
Bulb joint

SCIENCE. SERVICE. SOLUTIONS. Bellows joint

Continuity is Essential for drift joints

• Standard detail in fluid-applied and sheet-applied systems
• Accommodate movement while maintaining air and water tightness

WRBs : 26
c

PENETRATIONS
I beam penetration

HVAC penetration

SCIENCE. SERVICE. SOLUTIONS.

Continuity – Pipe, Duct & Beam Penetrations

• Standard detail in fluid-applied and self-adhered
sheet systems
• Membrane is wrapped onto penetration when possible

WRBs : 27
c

TIE-INS
SCIENCE. SERVICE. SOLUTIONS.

Tie-In to Single-Ply Roof at Parapet

• Lap of fully-adhered wall membrane and fully-adhered roof membrane

WRBs : 28
c

PERFORMANCE
Repair and replacement of
through-wall flashing
(TWF) at window head. Cost to
install TWF in new construction:
$4-5 per lineal foot. Cost to re-do:
$150-$200 per LF

Repair and replacement of window

flashings. Requires scaffolding and
removal of cladding
SCIENCE. SERVICE. SOLUTIONS.

WRB and Flashing Details are critical to

building performance.
• Failed WRB or flashing detail can cause damaging leaks
• Repair often requires removal of the cladding and repair/replacement
of WRB and flashings.

WRBs : 29
 c

SCIENCE. SERVICE. SOLUTIOS.