Why Specify the VB20 Ventilated Batten?

Woodhams Meikle Zhan Architects (WMZA) specialise in the design of retail, commercial, industrial and large-scale residential projects in New Zealand and internationally. With a strong focus on commercial buildings, it's important that the materials used are high-performing, low maintenance and backed by long-term warranties.

For skillion roof ventilation, WMZA regularly turns to VENT’s VB20 Ventilated Batten — a durable purlin cavity batten that enables unimpeded passive airflow through the roof cavity, eliminating the risk of condensation.

“We’ve specified the VB20 for industrial jobs, big distribution centres, shopping centres and office buildings,” says Steve Mark, Director, WMZA. “It’s a very good system for providing airflow through skillion roofs which are notoriously risky for condensation.”

What sets the VENT VB20 apart from other systems is its structure, durability and ease of installation. “It’s got a honeycomb appearance to the batten which gives it more strength,” explains Steve. “It’s very good when we need to fix through sheet metal or roll formed roofing and you want to have it as straight as you can.”

And for commercially-focused architects like WMZA, the fact that the VB20 is backed by a 30-year warranty — double the NZBC’s 15-year durability requirement for roofs — is another critical advantage.

The VB20 Ventilation Batten is easy to install, with 1800mm lengths and a convenient peel-off adhesive backing that eliminates the need for nails or glue. It has also been tested to exceed foot traffic weight requirements on the roof above when used as a purlin batten. “The contractors like it because of the strength and easy to stick down system,” says Steve. ”It takes good traffic, and there are no dips, which is very important,”

The VENT VB20 is now also available as a BRANZ Appraised Wall Batten — a new option which WMZA have already specified on a few projects including shopping centres and high parapet facade walls. “It appears to be equally as good as using on the roof, strong, with longer fixings, and we know that it's pretty popular already,” says Steve.

The success of the VB20, from specification and installation through to end-performance, has given Steve the peace of mind to specify the system on more roofs going forward. “We like using it in our projects because it's got a 30-year warranty, it requires no maintenance and it's got a BRANZ appraisal,” he says. “We know it provides us with a good underbase for our roofing and is extremely good for ventilation cavity airflow. We’ll be specifying it more often in the future.”

To find out more about the VB20, contact VENT.

Ventilation & Drainage Batten 20mm – VB20

VENT

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The VENT Vented Batten is a strong, durable purlin cavity batten that is designed to ensure that unimpeded airflow is guaranteed through the roof cavity of a Skillion Roof design, enabling passive airflow around the entire building envelope.

Roof Ventilation Products have been appraised for use as non-structural roof battens and vents for use with pitched and skillion roof construction on 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 profiled metal roof cladding; and,
situated in NZS 3604 Wind Zones up to, and including Extra High.

The VENT Vented Batten (VB20) is designed for use on all skillion roof designs irrespective of the roof cladding. It can be used in all climates and weather conditions.

The VENT Vented Batten will fix to the top of the roof purlins, the upper edge of the fascia and underneath the barge flashing, and is compatible with steel and timber purlins.

Residential skillion roofing and commercial buildings
Designed to ensure that unimpeded airflow through the roof cavity of a skillion roof design
Also designed as a purlin vent to allow airflow throughout roof area
New build or renovation
VB20 can also be used on walls to create vertical or horizontal ventilation flows

See BRANZ Appraisal 979

In the opinion of BRANZ, Roof Ventilation Products, if designed, used, installed and maintained in accordance with the statements and conditions of this Appraisal, will meet or contribute to meeting the following provisions of the NZBC:

Clause B1 STRUCTURE: Performance B1.3.1, B1.3.2 and B1.3.4. Roof Ventilation Products meet the requirements for loads arising from gravity loads, wind and impact [i.e. B1.3.3 (b), (h) and (j)]
Clause B2 DURABILITY: Performance B2.3.1 (b) 15 years and B2.3.2. Roof Ventilation Products meet these requirements
Clause E2 EXTERNAL MOISTURE: Performance E2.3.2. Roof Ventilation Products contribute to meeting this requirement
Clause E3 INTERNAL MOISTURE: Performance E3.3.1. Roof Ventilation Products contribute to meeting this requirement
Clause F2 HAZARDOUS BUILDING MATERIALS: Performance F2.3.1. Roof Ventilation Products meet this requirement

See BRANZ Appraisal 979 (2023) for full information.

BRANZ Appraised

VB20 Wall Cavity Batten

VENT

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The VENT Wall Cavity Batten consists of extruded fluted battens designed use as non-structural cavity battens in cavity-based wall cladding systems. The VENT Wall Cavity Batten is designed for use with timber framed buildings.

Pre-Consumer Recycled Content

The VENT Wall Cavity Batten has been appraised for use as a non-structural cavity batten for use with non-structural wall cladding systems on timber framed buildings with the following scope:

the scope limitations of NZBC Acceptable Solution E2/AS1, Paragraph 1.1; and
with a risk score of 0-20, calculated in accordance with NZBC Acceptable Solution E2/AS1, Table 2; and
with cavity-based wall cladding systems complying with NZBC Acceptable Solutions E2/AS1 or a valid BRANZ Appraisal that specifies a nominal 20mm (minimum 18mm) drained and vented cavity; and
situated in NZS 3604 Wind Zones up to and including Extra High

Note: The VENT Wall Cavity Batten can also be used on buildings subject to specific weathertightness design. Weathertightness design and detailing of these installations is the responsibility of the designer and is outside the scope of the BRANZ Appraisal.

Also suitable for use in the roof cavity

The VENT Wall Cavity Batten if designed, used and installed and maintained in accordance with the statements and conditions specified in the VENT technical documentation and BRANZ Appraisal 1099, will meet or contribute to meeting the following provisions of the NZBC:

Clause B1 STRUCTURE: Performance B1.3.1, B1.3.2 and B1.3.4 VENT Wall Cavity Batten meets the requirements for loads arising from wind and impact (i.e. B1.3.3 (h) and (j)). See Paragraphs 8.1 - 8.3 of BRANZ Appraisal 1099
Clause B2 DURABILITY: Performance B2.3.1(b), 15 years and B2.3.2 VENT Wall Cavity Batten meet these requirements. See Paragraph 9.1 to 9.3 of BRANZ Appraisal 1099
Clause E2 EXTERNAL MOISTURE: Performance E2.3.2 VENT Wall Cavity Batten when used to form a drainage cavity behind a cladding system will contribute to meeting this requirement. See Paragraphs 12.1 - 12.5 of BRANZ Appraisal 1099
Clause F2 HAZARDOUS BUILDING MATERIALS: Performance F2.3.1 VENT Wall Cavity Batten meets this requirement and will not present a health hazard to people.

BRANZ Appraised

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