More than 30 years ago, DuPont virtually invented the building wrap category. Since that time, the family of DuPont™ Tyvek® air and water barrier system products has been an important part of thousands of buildings around the world, helping them cost less to operate, be easier to maintain, and provide better interior comfort year-round.
Why the building envelope matters
The building envelope is an essential line of defense against air, water, and wasted energy. DuPont™ Tyvek® Building Envelope offers solutions that meet or exceed codes, help extend building life, and help reduce fossil fuel consumption. DuPont has played a critical leadership role in building science and the development of smart products in the building envelope portfolio. Today, the company is working with architects, builders, and installers on innovative solutions for the next generation of new construction and renovation of existing buildings.
Commercial weather barrier solutions
One of the products in the DuPont™ Tyvek® portfolio is Tyvek® Fluid Applied WB+. DuPont developed an innovative system of fluid-applied products that work together to provide seamless protection for the building envelope.
DuPont™ Tyvek® Fluid Applied WB+ offers the perfect combination of building and material science. Unlike conventional water-based acrylic weather barriers, this high-solids formulation will not wash off. It also features exceptional elongation and recovery, minimal shrinkage or cracking during curing, and the ideal perm rating for dependable long-term performance.
Ease of application and suitability for a range of substrates
Engineered specifically to meet the needs of commercial construction, the Tyvek® Fluid Applied System delivers the convenience of a sprayed or pressure-rolled application in one coat. In fact, typical coverage is approximately 50 to 65 sq. ft/gal in one coat, depending on substrate conditions (including temperature and moisture), substrate porosity, and the uniformity of application. Tyvek® Fluid Applied WB+ delivers superior protection, offers excellent durability, and saves time by providing two to three times the coverage per gallon of competitive products. A wide range of commercial façades—including brick, metal panels, granite, stucco and synthetic stucco, stone, marble, and exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS)—can be applied once the membrane has cured sufficiently to resist damage during installation.
Improved energy profile for commercial construction
Tyvek® Fluid Applied WB+ offers improved energy efficiency by keeping drafts and wind out of the wall, helping to reduce the energy required for heating and cooling. It can be used alone or combined with DuPont™ Tyvek® CommercialWrap®.
Formulated for performance
Tyvek® Fluid Applied WB+ is based on a unique formulation using silyl-terminated polyether polymer technology. It offers low shrinkage during curing, superior elongation and recovery, and can be easily applied in one coat.
DuPont™ Tyvek® Fluid Applied WB delivers what design/construction professionals need most by supplying superior protection with the ideal combination of air and water holdout, with the high vapor permeability of 22 perms at 25 mils applied thickness. The Tyvek® Fluid Applied System helps protect buildings from water accumulation in walls, which can lead to mold and water damage. By sealing the building envelope, it helps reduce energy use and create a healthier indoor air environment.
DuPont™ Tyvek® Fluid Applied products are formulated to include elastomeric polymers that cure to continuous, fully adhered, tough, durable membranes. The cured membrane exhibits exceptional elongation and recovery properties. When stretched, it acts like a rubber band, allowing the membrane to move with the building. It exhibits extremely low shrinkage during curing, minimizing the risk of cracking and pinholing.
Each of the products in the Tyvek® Fluid Applied WB+ System features low volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In addition, Tyvek® Fluid Applied products may contribute toward Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) points in the areas of Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Credit, Optimizing the Building Envelope, and Indoor Environmental Air Quality (EQ) Credits, Construction Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Management Plan and Low-emitting Materials. In addition, the use of a continuous air barrier is a prerequisite for LEED applications requiring compliance with American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 90.1-2010, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-rise Residential Buildings.
A durable solution
The formulation of Tyvek® Fluid Applied is not water soluble, will not lose physical properties or wash off the wall when exposed to liquid water—even before curing—and can be installed on damp surfaces. Construction project completion flexibility becomes more possible with Tyvek® Fluid Applied WB+, as it withstands up to nine months of ultraviolet (UV) exposure.
Suitable for even the most challenging climates, Tyvek® Fluid Applied WB+ continues to deliver exceptional air and water management performance with enhanced durability.
Building experts available to help make the selection process easier
The DuPont™ Tyvek® Specialist Network provides expert advice on the selection and installation of DuPont™ weather barrier system products for commercial projects. A local Tyvek® Specialist can help professionals stay current on building practices and specifications, and the network offers American Institute of Architects/Continuing Education Seminars (AIA/CES) and Construction Specifications Institute/Continuing Education Network (CSI/CEN) Learning Units (LUs) for a broad range of continuing education requirements.
The DuPont™ Building Knowledge Center is a source for the product information and technical support necessary to build quality, durable, and energy-efficient structures. The DuPont™ Building Knowledge Center leverages the company’s extensive network of experts and more than 25 years of building science leadership to help builders meet the construction challenges of today.
DuPont™ Tyvek® Fluid Applied System products come backed by a limited, product-only warranty from DuPont™, a company that has been dedicated to providing innovative and reliable products for more than 200 years. At 10 years, this limited product warranty is one of the longest in the industry.
DuPont™ Tyvek® Fluid Applied Commercial System
The complete Tyvek®Fluid Applied Commercial System includes:
Design/construction professionals can see the success of Tyvek® Fluid Applied WB+ for themselves with the company’s collection of case studies.
All information listed in this section was submitted by DuPont.
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