HOW WEATHER AFFECTS AIR BARRIER INSTALLATIONs IN THE Pacific northwest

The moisture and temperature limitations of some air barriers can each be problematic enough on their own. But the combination of the two, can wreak havoc a construction schedule.

The impact of moisture and temperature on the construction schedule

Percentage of days with either 0.1" of precipitation or temperatures below  40°F in the past year.

Moisture and temperature are a rough combo for job sites in the Pacific Northwest

We looked at data from across the country to see how many days out of the year have either 0.1" of precipitation or has a temperature that reaches 40°F or lower (see below on why that temperature limit is important). Here is what it looks like in the Pacific Northwest.

  • Air barrier installation in cities across the Pacific Northwest are impacted by moisture and temperature an average of 57% of the year.
  • Seattle, widely known for its wet weather, has one of the lowest rates of impact in the region. That is in part due to its relatively warmer temperatures.
  • For cities east of the Cascade Mountains, while their impacts from moisture are less, their overall impact are siginificantly higher since temps reach 40°F or lower roughly 50% of the time. 

Most air barriers cannot be installed in wet conditions

What to look out for

Traditional air barrier chemistry, like acrylic emulsion technology, is made to keep water out when fully cured. But any introduction of moisture into the process before the air barrier is fully cured can cause lots of problems. Here is a common statement from acrylic emulsion air barrier literature stating that not only can they not be installed in wet conditions but cannot be installed if there is a chance of rain in the forecast. If it does happen to rain within the 16-hour window listed on the technical data sheet below, the air barrier can literally wash right off the wall.

Excerpt from a leading acrylic emulsion air barrier
Excerpt from a leading acrylic emulsion air barrier

To avoid moisture limitations

PROSOCO's FastFlash system is a complete, monolithic building envelope system that can be applied in damp conditions and it is immediately waterproof so it can withstand rain right after application.

Most air barriers cannot be applied to damp surfaces

What to look out for

Watch out for air barriers that can only be applied on a dry substrates. In reality, if an air barrier can only be applied in dry weather conditions to completely dry substrates, you may have to wait several days or even several weeks to make sure everything the substrates are dry, current conditions are dry and the forecast is dry as well.

Excerpt from a leading acrylic emulsion air barrier
Excerpt from a leading acrylic emulsion air barrier

To avoid moisture limitations

PROSOCO's Fast Flash system is a complete, monolithic building envelope system that can be applied in damp conditions and it is immediately waterproof so it can withstand rain right after application.

The impact of moisture on the construction schedule

Percentage of days with at least 0.1" of precipitation in the past year

Most air barriers have low temperature limitations that aren't that low

What to look out for

Many air barriers like this acrylic emulsion air barrier state that the product should not be applied when temperatures are below 40°F.

Excerpt from a leading acrylic emulsion air barrier
Excerpt from a leading acrylic emulsion air barrier

To avoid temperature limitations

PROSOCO's FastFlash system is a complete, monolithic building envelope system that can be applied even in temperatures below 32° F.

The impact of temps below 40° on the construction schedule

Percentage of days with temperatures below 40° in the past year

All the data we analyzed shows that the combination of temperature and moisture limitations of many air barriers can add up to big problems.

Editor's Note: This tool was originally the brainchild of Noah Kind. Working with his father, Scott Kind of Spirit Sales Group, they developed an early version of this tool. PROSOCO worked in conjunction with Scott, Noah, and the team at Spirit Sales Group to further develop and complete this tool.

How weather limitations impact air barrier projects across the U.S.

West Coast

Avg. 28% of the year impacted

East Coast

Avg. 59% of the year impacted

Great Lakes

Avg. 66% of the year impacted

Midwest

Avg. 63% of the year impacted

Southeast

Avg. 35% of the year impacted

Mid-Atlantic

Avg. 49% of the year impacted

South

Avg. 41% of the year impacted

Rocky Mountain

Avg. 61% of the year impacted