Georgia-Pacific Building Products, a leading manufacturer of high-quality building products with an eye toward innovation, recently enlisted the help of Intertek to conduct three water penetration resistance tests in accordance with ASTM E331, Standard Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain Walls by Uniform Static Air Pressure Difference. All three tests measured the effectiveness of DensElement Barrier System from Georgia-Pacific as the primary water-resistive barrier (WRB) in rainscreen assemblies; complete results are detailed in a new white paper entitled Evaluating the Effectiveness of the DensElement Barrier System as the Primary WRB in Rainscreen Assemblies.
To simulate severe wind-driven rainy weather conditions, three separate wall assemblies utilizing DensElement Barrier System as the primary water-resistive barrier (WRB) were subjected to high volumes of water on the surface of the wall while simultaneously applying uniform static pressure to the opposite side of the wall for a specified period of time. In all three separate high-pressure water penetration tests, DensElement Barrier System proved successful in withstanding bulk water with a variety of rainscreen attachment systems.
The same high-stress water penetration tests were conducted on DensElement® Barrier System with Knight Walls ThermaStop System, ECO Cladding Alpha V and Alpha H aluminum brackets, and fiberglass Cascadia Clips.
Considering weather events, changes in temperature, and building movement, it is unlikely that any building will remain 100% weatherproof. But with the right materials and assembly, extra steps can be taken to reduce the risk of damage under both normal and severe weather conditions. With all three assemblies passing the tests, the results showed the ability of each assembly to prevent water from reaching the interior cavity, which demonstrates their capacity to stand strong against potential weather-related water leaks.
To review the complete white paper and three complimentary tech notes, click here. For complete information on Georgia-Pacific building products, visit www.buildgp.com.
