Partel’s airtight membranes now certified for passive house construction

This article was originally published in issue 43 of Passive House Plus magazine. Want immediate access to all back issues and exclusive extra content? Click here to subscribe for as little as €15, or click here to receive the next issue free of charge

Partel said that achieving high energy savings in buildings is based on three factors: integrating highly efficient building systems, careful planning, and highly efficient components.

“Through these certified membranes, Partel is ensuring industry professionals can plan their projects with confidence, ensuring the delivery of necessary energy parameters for their use in passive houses and energy efficient buildings,” said Partel director Hugh Whiriskey. Partel said the tests took place under the most realistic possible conditions.

The tests on the Exoperm Mono SA 250 system resulted in an air permeability value of 0.01 (±0.004) m³/hr/m2, standardised for a test pressure of 50 Pa. This phA class component is classified as a self-adhered weather membrane with high resistance to penetration of water and wind, and can be used to achieve an external airtight layer in the building envelope.

In addition, Exoperm Mono SA 250’s performance was tested based on the latest applicable fire test methods by an independent authority and achieved reaction to fire classification B-s1, d0. This means it is suitable for use on external walls of high-rise buildings, in line with current building regulations for Ireland and the UK, specified in Approved Document B (Fire Safety).

The Vara Fluid Spray product system test resulted in an air permeability value of 0.00 m³/hr/m2 (±0.003), again standardised for a test pressure of 50 Pa. This ready-to-use phA component is a smart fluid-applied membrane that can be sprayed, providing advanced protection, allowing vapour to escape and dry the wall assembly during the whole year.

The baseline requirement for phA – the highest level of certification for airtightness components – is ≤0.10 @50 Pa [m3/(hm2)]. Both Partel airtight systems exceeded this significantly with a test result that demonstrated their performances. The highest phA Class ensures designers, construction companies and building owners the best energy efficiency standard for their sustainable projects, and an increased level of certainty for the successful development of passive house or low energy building.

“Our ongoing commitment to reducing energy consumption in buildings is now sustained by the new Passive House Institute certifications,” said Whiriskey. Both Exoperm Mono SA 250 and Vara Fluid Spray have already been successfully installed in residential projects around Europe and the USA, demonstrating their real efficiency in use.”

The two recent certifications are in addition to the certification Partel already obtained for the Izoperm Plus internal product system.

For more information see www.partel.co.uk or www.partel.ie