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How AeroBarrier works

  • How AeroBarrier works

    • How does AeroBarrier work?

      AeroBarrier is an interior applied air sealing system that seals building envelope leaks up to 12mm. The waterborne sealant is applied as a mist coat into a pressurised home. The sealant is self-guided to the edges of visible and invisible leaks to create a seal by accumulating across any surfaces.

      The sealant is applied within 60-90 minutes, and post-seal completion and certification is completed quickly, often within 60 minutes. This ensures construction can resume shortly after the process is complete with little to no impact on standard construction schedules.

      The AeroBarrier system measures envelope leakage in real-time, enabling the system to dial-in specific air leakage requirements with precision and consistent results.

    • What is the ‘big building fan’ used for?

      The large external fan, known as a ‘modified blower door’, is used to put positive pressure into the building with the addition of a heater, so the system can achieve optimal room temperature and humidity during the air sealing process, allowing more sealant to be sprayed into the space for a faster, more efficient sealing process.

      Similarly to the way air escapes from holes in a bicycle tyre, when there’s pressure inside a building, air leaks out uncontrollably through breaks in the building envelope.

      AeroBarrier’s Connect air sealing system and our technicians use this process to their advantage by monitoring the escaping air in real time to draw the sealant to actual areas of leakage.

    • What happens once the sealant is released into the building?

      Once released, AeroBarrier’s sealant hangs in suspension inside the building envelope, much like mist on a winter’s morning, and is then drawn to leakage points by the positive pressure from the big building fan located outside.

      If there are no leaks, then no sealant is wasted on the area. This means you’re not paying for work that has already been done!

    • Is AeroBarrier applied like a paint sprayer?

      Instead of going up and down each wall as you would do manually holding a paint sprayer, AeroBarrier’s water-borne sealant is misted inside the building via strategically placed automatic air sealing stations with nozzles which release it to 10 micronsaround the same size as a human hair).

      These stations are controlled by AeroBarrier’s ‘Connect air sealing system’ – a smart and computer-driven system, which is set up, operated and monitored by our certified technicians outside the building on the day of an air tightness seal.

      The Connect system has up to six sealing stations per system. Depending on the size of the building being sealed, this works out at around x1 station per 75 m2.

  • Savings and costs

    • How much does AeroBarrier cost?

      The cost of our air quality testing and air sealing service depends on what stage your build is at and your targeted air tightness level(s).

      Once we have your project’s specifications, we can provide you with a written quote.

      Enquire now at www.aerobarrieruk.co.uk or call 01432 353 353 to speak with an AeroBarrier representative.

    • Where is AeroBarrier available?

      AeroBarrier is available throughout the United Kingdom Mainland, Northern Ireland, Highlands/Islands (additional fees), and the Republic of Ireland. Enquire now at www.aerobarrieruk.co.uk or call 01432 353 353 to find out more.

    • Can AeroBarrier be used as a vapour barrier?

      No. The AeroBarrier sealant allows water vapour to pass through the sealant. AeroBarrier is not a primarily air or vapour barrier.

    • How long does the AeroBarrier seal last?

      Third-party lab testing reveals AeroBarrier withstands a simulated 50-year durability test, with little or no seal degradation.

    • What is a good air tightness test result?

      Current Building Regulations England, Wales and Northern Ireland) recommend a Designed Air Permeability of 5 as a base to start from. Average airtightness from the ATTMA’s 2020 database suggests block & brick buildings achieve around 4.64, with the best result being concrete frame buildings with an AP50 airtightness of 3.31. See our blog post “What is airtightness?” for a full explanation of the units and measuring!

      Best practice for airtightness depends on the type of ventilation used – uncontrolled or controlled. If uncontrolled ventilation is used (trickle vents etc), then the best allowable is an Air Permeability of 3. For controlled ventilation (MVHR or similar), then the building can often be as airtight as possible – down to or below Passivhaus levels if required!

    • How will AeroBarrier improve EPCs?

      Part of giving an EPC score is calculating how much air leaks through draughts in the building – much like having the heating on in the car with the windows open, leaks through walls, floors and the roof reduce the efficiency of a building, giving a worse EPC score. The AeroBarrier system is able to guarantee and efficiently reduce leakage through the building envelope, improving EPC scores by a significant margin, often up one grade, such as from EPC ‘D’ to ‘C’ or ‘C’ to ‘B’.

    • How will AeroBarrierUK reduce my household bills?

      Sealing your future home with AeroBarrierUK and achieving your air tightness level will reduce your energy usage by 40% – reducing your household bills so your home works hard for you, not the other way around.

    • How much does AeroBarrierUK cost?

      The cost of our air quality testing and air sealing service depends on what stage your build is at and your targeted air tightness level(s).

      Once we have your project’s specifications, we can provide you with a written quote.

  • Air leakages and AeroBarrier's sealant

    • Is the sealant formula safe?

      It is a water-soluble organic compound and is proven safe.

      The sealant has ultra-low VOC (volatile organic compounds) and as it is inactive, there is no chemical reaction needed to form a seal. This means there is no off-gassing or air-borne release of harmful chemicals, such as some VOCs, into building envelopes.

      With more than 150,000 projects sealed to date, Aerosol-based sealing has helped hospitals, surgery centres, schools, and public buildings ensure their air is clean, healthy, and comfortable – and has saved them energy and money in the process.

      AeroBarrier’s sealant is GreenGuard Gold Certified, meeting the stricter certification requirements used in schools and healthcare facilities. It has been tested according to various American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards and National Fire and Protection Association’s NFPA 285 for fire spread, smoke production, adhesion, antifungal properties, and tensile strength.

    • What is AeroBarrier’s sealant made from?

      It is based on water-borne acrylic that has been used as a fluid-applied permeable air barrier for many years.

    • How is leakage measured?

      Our team uses the ‘big building fan’ or ‘modified blower door’ (please see our ‘How it works’ FAQs above) to measure building envelope leakages. When they undertake a pre-seal air tightness test, the building’s initial leakage value will be recorded.

      The blower door is calibrated to meet ASTM Standard E779, E1554, CGSB-149.10- M86, EN 13829, ATTMA Technical Standard 1, NFPA 2001, RESNET, and USACE.

    • What size leaks will AeroBarrier seal?

      AeroBarrier seals holes as large as 12mm (0.5″), and as tiny as a human hair.

      Aerosol sealing is extremely effective at sealing narrow gaps and extremely small holes that are typically not cost-effective to seal manually, or that are missed using manual sealing techniques.

  • Building air tightness requirements

    • When is the best time to conduct an air tightness test?

      The ideal time to conduct an air tightness test is towards the end of the construction or renovation process when all doors, windows, and sealing work have been completed. This ensures that the test accurately measures the air-tightness of the finished building.

    • What happens if my property fails an air tightness test?

      If your property fails an air tightness test, you will need to identify and rectify the areas causing air leakage. AeroBarrierUK provides a quick and simple solution to provide air tightness that exceeds requirements.

    • Can I conduct an air tightness test myself?

      A qualified professional must undertake all tests following CIBSE TM23 to ensure accurate results and compliance with building regulations and issue the correct certifications. Before any work begins, AeroBarrierUK tests all properties and then continues to test throughout the treatment before performing a final test to verify the results.

    • How long does an air tightness test take?

      An air tightness test typically takes between 1-3 hours to complete, depending on the size of the property and any specific requirements.

    • How much does an air tightness test cost?

      The cost of an air tightness test can vary depending on the size and complexity of the building.

      AeroBarrierUK does not offer standalone airtightness testing for projects, but a guaranteed air tightness level through our patented air sealing system. We can include an official airtightness test with our works, which is undertaken by independent third party partners.

    • I've heard that sealing a building too airtight is bad?

      A building that is too tight is a bad thing if the space hasn’t been designed for that level of air tightness.

      The popular saying “build tight, ventilate right” applies here and works both ways. Building airtight without proper ventilation could cause issues with indoor air quality in the space. On the flip side, a leaky building with proper ventilation could cause the mechanical ventilation and heat recovery (MVHR) system to not work as it is designed.

      AeroBarrier can achieve any desired air tightness level, subsequently removing the guesswork and ensuring the spaces are as air tight as they have been designed for.

    • How airtight can AeroBarrier actually seal a home?

      AeroBarrier has sealed houses to as low as 0.11 ACH50. The value is in the system’s ability to seal a home as tight as it is designed for.

      AeroBarrier can meet any Building Regulations Requirements, from England & Wales, Scotland, or N. Ireland regulations, right down to Low Energy/Net Zero Levels, such as International Energy Conservation CodeIECC), Passivhouse / Passivhaus Trust, EnerPHit, and the AECB Building Standards.

  • Application of AeroBarrier

    • Can AeroBarrier sealing be performed in cold weather?

      The AeroBarrier process requires temperature control and pressurising the areas to be sealed. The ideal condition is an outdoor temperature over 5˚C. Sealing can be done below this temperature, but may require additional steps for on-site preparation and a longer time for the install process.

    • How long after the sealing process can work resume in the space?

      The area needs to be aired out for 30 minutes after the sealing is complete. Our team will do this by opening doors and windows while running our big building fan. During this time, we will also remove our sealing equipment and coverings.

    • How many workers does a typical AeroBarrier seal require?

      Two members of our team will typically carry out your AeroBarrier seal. One is responsible for monitoring and setting up the computer and AeroBarrier system, while the other supports with seal preparation, clean-up, and other tasks throughout the seal.

    • Is it safe to breathe during application?

      No. During application, if one of our technicians needs to enter the space while it is being sealed, they will wear personal protective equipment. After the sealing is complete, the area is safe to enter without protective gear within 20-30 minutes.

    • What happens if the sealant was to accidentally get on something?

      AeroBarrier can be cleaned off surfaces. We recommend using a standard citrus-based cleaner as soon as possible.

    • What surfaces do I need to protect inside my building before the day of the seal?

      If AeroBarrier is applied at the optimal time, i.e. between weathertightness up until after plasterboard is installed, there is very minimal preparation required.

      Vertical surfaces like walls, doors, and windows require no covering. All designed openings, such as ducts, electrical and plumbing need to be covered before sealing by the AeroBarrier. All finished horizontal surfaces need to be covered – depending on the scale and number of finished surfaces installed, then there may be additional prep work required before the AeroBarrier team arrive.

    • How large of a space (sqm) can AeroBarrier’s system be used on?

      AeroBarrier has been used in apartments as small as 46 sqm and homes over 1,000 sqm.

      As long as the space can be pressurised, it can typically be sealed. Additional blower doors can be added to increase the pressure in larger spaces.

    • How long does it take to apply?

      The entire AeroBarrier process, from setup to completion, takes approximately four hours for a typical 3 bedroom home. When targeting reduced envelope leakage levels of Passivhaus, additional time may be required.

    • At what stage of my build can AeroBarrier be applied?

      AeroBarrier can be applied at a range of points during the building process, usually between the ‘dry shell’ stage, where all external windows and doors are fitted, up to finished flooring and carpet fitout. As AeroBarrier is applied as a mist, the further along a build is means there is additional prep work, which is reflected in the cost.

      The type of building materials and style are also important – if there is or isn’t a ‘cold’ loft or attic, a basement or a ‘warm roof’ construction. When providing a quote, our team will ask for all relevant information – don’t worry if you don’t have it to hand, we can still give an initial estimation!

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