Enershield Test Data 

Critical building materials like air/water-resistive barriers must meet building code requirements. Many materials, like Grade D building paper, are specifically listed in the International Building Code (IBC). For critical product not listed in the IBC, the International Code Council Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) has developed Acceptance Criteria that can be used to qualify products as acceptable alternates to code-listed materials.

Since most air barriers must also function as water-resistive barriers, ENERSHIELD^® assemblies have met the rigorous requirements of the ICC-ES AC 212 Acceptance Criteria for Water-Resistive Coatings used as Water-Resistive Barriers on Exterior Sheathing. The AC 212 test protocol specifies testing that simulates wind and earthquake loading and accelerated aging prior to testing for water penetration. It also evaluates resistance to freeze-thaw cycling and several additional parameters. Products that meet ICC-ES AC 212 requirements can be expected to provide superior long-term durability.

Recently, ICC-ES added the ASTM E 2178 Air Permeance of Building Materials test to AC 212, enabling products that meet AC 212 to comply with the requirements of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).

The International Code Council, in partnership with the American Architectural Manufacturing Association (AAMA), has also defined performance requirements for flexible flashing materials under the AC 148/AAMA 711 Acceptance Criteria for Flexible Flashing Materials. This set of criteria was developed because “…the cited (building) codes do not provide procedures for evaluating flashing materials for use at wall penetrations…”. ENERSHIELD^®-HP and ENERSHIELD^®-I reinforced with SHEATHING FABRIC meet all of the AC 148 requirements, including the modified ASTM D1970 Nail Sealability after Thermal Cycling test.

For air barrier materials, the Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA) has defined another set of test requirements, which have been recently updated to include the ASTM E2357 Air Leakage of Air Barrier Assemblies test. ASTM E2357 measures the air leakage of a mockup that incorporates a number of common wall penetrations and joint treatments. Assemblies based on ENERSHIELD^®-HP and ENERSHIELD^®-I have demonstrated exceptional results in E2357, substantially exceeding maximum air leakage allowed by the ABAA.

Taken together, the testing described above validates use of ENERSHIELD^®-HP and ENERSHIELD^®-I as single material air/water-resistive barrier assemblies for all wall claddings. Window openings, wall penetrations, sheathing joints and the field of the wall can now work together to provide seamless building protection.