An air barrier stops air from moving in or out of the conditioned space, effectively blocking the air pressure differences that drive the stack and wind effects. Air barriers can be in place anywhere in the building envelope, and there can be more than one air barrier. Air barriers can...
Blog » QUICK PRIMER
QUICK PRIMER: Drainscreens vs. Rainscreens
Shawna HendersonDecember 22, 2014
A drainscreen is a self-draining material (often a proprietary mesh or netting) between between stucco or cement cladding and the drainage plane/waterproof layer, especially common with insulation finish system (EIFS) wall assembly (which is often also the exterior air barrier in EIFS assemblies). Drainage paths allow the water to get...
Tags: cladding, drainscreen, QUICK PRIMER, rainscreen, siding
QUICK PRIMER: Thermal Bridging, Dew Points, and Exterior Insulation/Air Barriers
Shawna HendersonDecember 17, 2014
Insulated sheathing materials can provide an air barrier along with a thermal barrier, and solve the biggest challenges of thermal bridging. The challenge of using insulating sheathing as an air barrier is to ensure that the R-value of the sheathing is high enough that it moves the dew point outside...