Pro Clima Wall Underlay Protects SIP Panel House

Mark Waters, owner of Weather Tight Solutions — a building company specialising in the re-cladding of leaky buildings — has used pro clima products for several years now.

Mark recently approached pro clima when he was building his own SIP panel house in a highly exposed location in the Waikato. He required a solution to provide exceptional weathertightness as well as wind tightness. Mark used Formance SIP panels, which offer a high degree of insulation, R5.5, both in the walls and roof. The internal joints of the panels have been sealed to each other and the window liners using pro clima's TESCON VANA airtightness adhesive tape to ensure the building is airtight. The house was recently tested using a Blower Door and achieved an airtightness rating of 1.07 air changes per hour (@ n50). Currently most New Zealand new builds rate at between 4-7 air changes per hour. With deliberate airtightness, the annual energy required to maintain comfortable temperature is dramatically decreased. This is achieved by having control of the flow of air through the structure.

To protect the panels during construction and for the lifetime of the building, Mark also required a solution to provide exceptional weathertightness — including windtightness. Pro clima provided Mark with SOLITEX EXTASANA, a CodeMark certified non-porous wall underlay. This product allows for a complete wrap solution. Being non-porous, the pro clima building wraps do not allow physical water to be wicked through the membrane, but at the same time also offer a low resistance to moisture vapour, actively transferring moisture from within the structure out into the ventilation / drying cavity. Windtightness was achieved by joining all laps and connecting the SOLITEX EXTASANA directly to the floor slab.

While not required (even in a very airtight house), mechanical ventilation was provided by a balanced pressure heat exchange ventilation system by Nuaire. This allows the heat energy to be recovered from the extract air from bathroom and kitchen areas and used to pre-heat colder incoming air.

Insulation, airtightness and ventilation are the trifecta, along with protection from the external environment with SOLITEX EXTASANA.

Wall Underlay (SOLITEX EXTASANA)

pro clima

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SOLITEX EXTASANA is a synthetic flexible wall underlay designed for New Zealand conditions, produced in Germany, and exceeds all of the testing standards of E2/AS1 Table 23.

Has been assessed for use as a flexible wall underlay on timber framed buildings within the following scope:

the scope limitations of NZBC Acceptable Solution E2/AS1, Paragraph 1.1; and,
with absorbent wall claddings directly fixed to framing; and,
with non-metallic, non-absorbent wall claddings directly fixed to frame; and,
with absorbent and non-absorbent wall claddings installed over an 18 mm minimum drained cavity; and,
with masonry veneer in accordance with NZBC Acceptable Solution E2/AS1; and,
situated in NZS 3604:2011 Wind Zones up to, and including ‘Very High’.

Has been assessed for use as a flexible wall underlay on steel framed buildings within the following scope:

the scope limitations of NZBC Acceptable Solution E2/AS1, Paragraph 1.1 with regards to building height and floor plan area; and,
with absorbent and non-absorbent wall claddings installed over an 18 mm minimum drained cavity; and,
with masonry veneer in accordance with NZBC Acceptable Solution E2/AS1; and,
situated in NZS 3604:2011 Wind Zones up to, and including ‘Very High’.

Has been assessed for use as a flexible wall underlay over rigid wall underlays on timber and steel framed buildings within the following scope:

the scope limitations of NZBC Acceptable Solution E2/AS1 (August 2011), Paragraph 1.1 with regards to building height and floor plan area; and,
with absorbent and non-absorbent wall claddings installed over an 18 mm minimum drained cavity; and,
with masonry veneer in accordance with NZBC Acceptable Solution E2/AS1; and,
situated in NZS 3604:2011 Wind Zones up to and including ‘Extra High’

If used, designed, installed and maintained in accordance with the statements and conditions of the Installation Guide and the Codemark Certificate, will meet, or contribute to meeting the following provisions of the NZBC:

Clause B2 DURABILITY: Performance B2.3.1(a), not less than 50 years, B2.3.1(b), 15 years and B2.3.2. meets these requirements.
Clause E2 EXTERNAL MOISTURE: Performance E2.3.2. When used as part of the cladding system, will contribute to meeting this requirement.
Clause F2 HAZARDOUS BUILDING MATERIALS: Performance F2.3.1. Meets this requirement and will not present a health hazard to people.

BRANZ Appraised

CodeMark

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