BBA confirm thermal benefits

The advanced membranes that comprise DuPont Climate Systems have now received a seal of approval from the BBA (British Board of Agrément) in the form of a “Prototype Product Assessment,” which verifies claims for both performance and compliance.

DuPont Climate Systems consists of three innovative metallised breather mebranes: DuPont Tyvek Enercor (for roofs), DuPont Tyvek Reflex (for walls) and DuPont AirGuard vapour control layer. The materials are designed to work together with traditional insulation to create an airtight building envelope, providing excellent protection against external weather conditions and internal thermal losses – and thereby playing a critical role in the drive towards energy-efficiency in buildings.

This thorough evaluation from a respected independent authority demonstrates compliance to all relevant building regulations and confirms the manufacturer’s performance data. The PPA confirmation will underline the confidence that specifiers can have in these exciting new products in the renowned, market-leading DuPont Tyvek family. The certificate covers both the membrane products and the related accessories such as tape.

Key factors assessed in the process included thermal insulation and risk of condensation. Following rigorous testing and analysis in both warm and cold roof situations, and with the proviso that the products are installed with care to ensure an airtight construction, the PPA summarises the benefits of the systems as follows: 1. The DuPont Climate System provides increased thermal insulation performance due to the low moisture content within the building envelope and the presence of low emissivity membranes.

2. In summer, radiant heat is reflected outside the building.

3. In winter, the risk of condensation is minimised and improvements in the thermal performance levels of traditional types of insulation occur due to airtightness and emissivity of the membranes.

Internal testing by DuPont had already shown that the combination of DuPont Tyvek Enercor, DuPont Tyvek Reflex and DuPont AirGuard boosts the insulation performance by 20% and can make savings of 15% on energy consumption. While DuPont AirGuard protects against moisture penetration from the interior into the building envelope, the superior vapour diffusion capacity of DuPont Tyvek Enercor and DuPont Tyvek Reflex allow any moisture that might have been trapped in the roof or wall space to evaporate. The system helps to reduce heat transfer, improves energy performance and helps to maintain interior comfort levels.

Although sophisticated in terms of technology, DuPont Climate Systems are simple to install and suitable for either new build or renovation projects. Robust and reliably durable, these products from a global science company offer the confidence of long term performance and protection. DuPont Tyvek Enercor, DuPont Tyvek Reflex and DuPont Airguard are currently being installed in a number of forward-thinking projects including hotels, care homes and housing developments – and some projects that have tested air-tightness are already showing excellent results.

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