2024/04/22 by Rousseau, M. Z.
#Air and vapour barriers #Murs à écran pare-pluie #Pare-vapeur et pare-air #Rainscreen walls #air barriers #cavity walls #charge de vent #mur creux #murs #pare air #pare pluie #rain screens #walls #wind loads
paper · doi:10.4224/40003307
Pressure equalization across the exterior cladding of exterior walls is an important feature for the application of the rain screen principle which aims at minimizing rain entry into exterior walls. Confusion exists in the industry about the difference between cavity walls and rain screen walls. The paper focuses on the wall components that contribute to obtain pressure equalization across the outside cladding, that is, a compartmented cavity behind the cladding, a rigiid air barrier assembly, and adequate venting area of the cladding in relation to the leakage area of the air barrier. The results of IRC laboratory testing and field monitoring of two buildings of different construction for pressure-equalization performance are briefly presented, with discussion of possible reduction of the design wind loads for rain screen cladding.