AirGuard Smart, Vapour Control Layer Design, DuPont Product

DuPont AirGuard Smart : Vapour Control Layer

DuPont News – AirGuard Smart Vapour Control

26 Apr 2012

The vapour control layer able to adapt its performance to changes in humidity levels, delivering superior airtightness to buildings.

The widest vapour resistance span known in the market for vapour control layers, the highest ability to adapt to changes of humidity in buildings.

DuPont AirGuard Smart

DuPont launches DuPont™ AirGuard® Smart, a new membrane contributing to the efficiency of buildings and the implementation of sustainable building solutions

DuPont launches DuPont™ AirGuard® Smart in Europe, a new membrane contributing to the efficiency of buildings and the implementation of sustainable building solutions:

April 2012 – In response to the growing requirements for improved energy performance in buildings and the demand for solutions that provide reduced energy consumption and costs, DuPont Building Innovations announces the launch of a new vapour control layer for optimal airtightness in the building envelope, offering excellent ability to adapt to changes in humidity levels, thanks to the widest vapour resistance span (0.26 MNs/g to more than 150 MNs/g), on the market. DuPont™ AirGuard® Smart further extends the existing DuPont™ AirGuard® product range, suitable for both roof and wall applications, which have been successfully used by the building industry internationally. This innovative airtight membrane, developed for new build and refurbishment projects, which has also been specifically designed for renovating roofs from the exterior, will be available from April 2012.

Considerable attention is given today, by architects and builders alike, to the choice of construction materials. Factors such as comfort and sustainability become important during the development of a project. The building energy performance and the right selection of materials and installation techniques have become a necessity.

“DuPont™ AirGuard® Smart is a new, effective solution that delivers superior performance in terms of moisture management through its capacity to “behave smartly” according to weather conditions, relative air and insulation humidity” explains Karel Smolders, DuPont Building Innovations, Marketing Manager Building Envelopes for Europe Middle East and Africa.

DuPont launches in Europe DuPont™ AirGuard® Smart, a new membrane contributing to the efficiency and the implementation of sustainable building solutions:

photo DuPont™ AirGuard®, all rights reserved

DuPont™ AirGuard® Smart has superior properties thanks to the extreme span of sd-values from 0,05m to more than 30m (or expressed as vapour resistance: 0.26 MNs/g to more than 150 MNs/g ) which allows maximum protection against structural damage. It adapts to changes in humidity levels and minimizes or increases the water vapour transmission rate, as needed. It combines a drying-out and vapour control function in one layer. Due to its high mechanical properties DuPont™ AirGuard® Smart outperforms most of its competitors. Its robustness offers a trouble-free installation in rough construction conditions and its transparent appearance allows for an easy installation.

DuPont™ AirGuard® Smart has been especially designed to work as an airtight layer for renovating roofs from the exterior. Applications include above rafter insulation or between rafter insulation, but it can be also used in dry lining applications from the inside.

Technically, DuPont™ AirGuard® Smart shows really high performance: the vapour resistance is always below 5 MNs/g if the insulation is very wet, regardless of ambient air relative humidity. The construction and insulation can dry out to the inside, as well as to the outside via the Tyvek® breather membrane. Very high relative ambient air humidity should additionally be reduced through ventilation and extraction. DuPont™ AirGuard® Smart acts as a typical vapour control layer if the insulation is very dry: It provides a vapour control effect with a high vapour resistance. Diffusion occurs via the external breather membrane, thus the construction and insulation can dry out to the outside.

These features make it an ideal solution for energy saving requirements and contribute to cost reductions related to heating or cooling.

The graph below shows 2 extreme examples: 1. Wet (100%) and 2. dry (0%) insulation and corresponding vapour resistance – depending on ambient air relative humidity. The actual vapour resistance is always a combination of both humidities (insulation and air humidity). DuPont™ AirGuard® Smart offers a high dry out potential to the inside, if needed, at the same time hindering diffusion from the inside to the outside, if the insulation is dry.

In the summer, when the ambient air relative humidity is high (>50%), the outside temperature is higher than inside so the water vapour resistance of DuPont™ AirGuard® Smart is low and water vapour can, if necessary, migrate to the inside, so that the insulation and construction can dry out.

While in the winter, the ambient air relative humidity is much lower with an outside temperature lower than inside. In this case, DuPont™ AirGuard® Smart water vapour resistance is high and helps block water vapour diffusion, so that less humidity can ingress to the insulation and construction.

About DuPont™ AirGuard® – DuPont™ AirGuard® products are air and vapour control layers for roofs, ceilings and walls reducing uncontrolled air leakage and heat losses. The overall balance in drying capacity of the construction is maintained with DuPont™ AirGuard® Smart on the inside and a DuPont™ Tyvek® underlay on the outside.

About DuPont Building Innovations – DuPont™ AirGuard® is a product of DuPont Building Innovations. From innovative energy-saving systems to beautiful and long-lasting surfacing solutions, the extensive offering of DuPont Building Innovations delivers safety, durability, beauty and energy efficiency, providing a major contribution to the modern built environment – across the spectrum of building and architecture, roads, bridges and other infrastructure and also to landscaping and gardens, as well as to the preservation or the renovation of contemporary and historical constructions. The main products and brands managed by DuPont Building Innovations are DuPont™ Corian® (www.corian.com), DuPont™ Energain® (www.energain.co.uk) DuPont™ Tyvek® (www.tyvek.co.uk), DuPont™ Typar® (www.typargeo.com) and DuPont™ Plantex® (www.plantexpro.dupont.com).

About DuPont – DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, non-governmental organizations, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit www.dupont.com

(#) sd = water vapour diffusion resistance – the ability of construction-materials to be permeable to water vapour

DuPont™, AirGuard®, Corian®, Energain®, Plantex®, Typar® and Tyvek® are trademarks or registered trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its affiliates.

Location: London, UK