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Insider Guidance from the Air Barrier Association of America’s Ex-Chairman and W. R. MEADOWS’ Building Envelope Product Group Manager Russ Snow is a proven industry thought leader on air barriers, most recently receiving the distinction of a fellowship induction from the Air Barrier Association of America (more on that here) for his commitment to influencing industry best practices. Russ briefed me today regarding air barrier trends in Q2 of 2021. Here’s an excerpt from our conversation: Q: Are there any new trends in air barriers? Russ: This isn’t necessarily a trend, but I want to point out that within the…
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Air Barrier
Getting Specified for the McCausland Lower School & Commons
W. R. MEADOWS was specified in a project for the McCausland Lower School & Commons. To read the full case study, click here. Tim Durso was the salesperson representing W. R. MEADOWS on the McCausland project. One of the products used on this project was AIR-SHIELD ALUMINUM SHEET MEMBRANE. This product is a self-adhering air/vapor and liquid moisture barrier, and it is part of a total W. R. MEADOWS system used in completing a building envelope. It is a roll-type product that is nominally 40 mils thick, and the membrane’s controlled thickness is fabricated from aluminum bonded to specially modified…
AIR-SHIELD SMP and Product Application
AIR-SHIELD SMP INTRODUCTION AIR-SHIELD SMP is our brand-new product in our line of air shields. AIR-SHIELD SMP is a tough, durable membrane that exhibits excellent resistance to air leakage and liquid water intrusion, while at the same time allow vapor to readily pass through to allow the wall assembly to dry. This product is perfect to fit your above grade waterproofing needs. USES AIR-SHIELD SMP may be applied to most common surfaces and integrated into various wall assemblies. AIR-SHIELD SMP is suitable for both new construction and retrofit applications and works equally well as an air barrier on precast…
How to Get the Most out of Air-Shield SMP
It’s no surprise that having an efficient air and liquid moisture barrier is an important part of the building envelope, but the unique features AIR-SHIELD SMP offers to get the job done may have you rethinking the entire air barrier process. AIR-SHIELD SMP is W. R. MEADOWS’ first and only sheet membrane air and moisture barrier that allows vapor transmission, offering a highly flexible, controlled thickness membrane application option that is also vapor permeable. AIR-SHIELD SMP also uniquely features the ability to self-adhere to the substrate without the use of a primer, saving time and money by removing this additional…
AIR-SHIELD Brochure Available in English and Spanish
W. R. MEADOWS offers a complete line of air/vapor and liquid moisture barriers to assist in preventing against poor indoor air quality, inflated energy costs, mold growth, and other damaging results from an unreliable building envelope. Our AIR-SHIELD line includes fluid-applied air barriers, sheet membranes, providing both vapor permeable and impermeable formulations to suite a wide variety of building envelope application needs. Our comprehensive AIR-SHIELD brochure offers an overview of each product the AIR-SHIELD air barrier family comprises of to better understand their functions and proper use. This brochure is offered in both English and Spanish. It can be viewed…
W. R. MEADOWS Introduces AIR-SHIELD SMP
New from W. R. MEADOWS comes AIR-SHIELD SMP sheet membrane vapor permeable air/liquid moisture barrier. It is a self-adhesive membrane that is designed to be fully bonded to the substrate without the use of a primer, saving time and money by removing this additional step. AIR-SHIELD SMP also offers a vapor-permeable sheet membrane option to complete W. R. MEADOWS offering of above-grade products to the air barriers line. AIR-SHIELD SMP is tough, durable, and exhibits excellent resistance to air leakage and liquid intrusion. AIR-SHIELD SMP installation guidelines are available online to provide information regarding the recommended procedures for proper installation.…
Aluminum Faced Flashing Offers Superior Adhesion and Extended UV Exposure
New from W. R. MEADOWS comes AIR-SHIELD ALUMINUM FLASHING, an innovative alternative to traditional flashing options. This self-adhering, roll-type membrane offers air, vapor, and liquid moisture barrier protection. AIR-SHIELD ALUMINUM FLASHING provides a reduced risk of rot and mold development to critical detail areas when properly applied. This aluminum-faced membrane offers improved sealant adhesion compared to standard self-adhering flashing films. Additionally, AIR-SHIELD ALUMINUM FLASHING can be exposed to sunlight for up to one year. Request a complimentary product sample through our online sample request portal to get a feel for AIR-SHIELD ALUMINUM FLASHING’s unique features and benefits.
What you need to know about New AIR-SHIELD ALUMINUM SHEET MEMBRANE
New to W. R. MEADOWS’ extensive line of building envelope products comes AIR-SHIELD ALUMINUM SHEET MEMBRANE. This self-adhering air/vapor and liquid moisture barrier is a roll-type product comprised of aluminum bonded to specially modified asphalt. AIR-SHIELD ALUMINUM SHEET MEMBRANE offers several unique features to the building envelope market, including extended UV exposure time, improved sealant capabilities allowing a greater range or sealants that it will adhere to compared to standard poly films, and resistance to punctures during installation when penetrated with self-tapping screws or nails. A handy, printable 1-page PDF can be downloaded which highlights all of AIR-SHIELD ALUMINUM SHEET…
Case Study featuring the Minneapolis Veterans Home
When the Minneapolis Veterans Home in Minnesota was in their final stage of its multiple phase, 8-year renovation project, W. R. MEADOWS was proud of the role it played in updating and modernizing Building #22, the 141,800 square foot building comprised of 100 private veterans living quarters, a new skilled nursing facility, resident great rooms, a putting green, and many more sought-after amenities. After using W. R. MEADOWS’ MEL-ROL in the past, Todd Smiley, a project manager at Exterior Building Services (EBS) who was in charge of the installation of air barriers throughout every phases of the Minneapolis Veterans Home…
What is Window and Door Flashing and Why Do I Need It?
Planning on having a complete, properly-sealed, and void-free building envelope? Even if everything is perfectly planned and executed, your barrier will still end up with giant holes we more commonly refer to as doors and windows. This is where flashing becomes necessary to properly seal around these unavoidable barrier disruptions to prevent wood rot, mold, structural damage, or insect infestation. Flashing is a thin layer of waterproofing that eliminates upward-facing seams, crevices, gaps, or spaces where moisture could collect and seep past the barrier. Proper flashing ensures a seamless, shingled waterproofing surface that will not interfere with the force of…
How to Install an Effective Underslab Gas Vapor Barrier
When superior resistance to gas and moisture transmission is of upmost importance, the performance of the vapor barrier is only as effective as how well it was installed, no matter the quality of the product. W. R. MEADOWS’ PERMINATOR EVOH is a highly resilient gas/vapor barrier designed to restrict naturally occurring gases from traveling through the ground and into the concrete structure above. When properly installed, PERMINATOR EVOH is an effective barrier against radon, methane, solvents, oils, and hydrocarbons. To ensure the ability for PERMINATOR EVOH to show its strength, step-by-step directions in the form of installation guidelines are available…
How to Repair a Building Envelope Barrier Membrane
A lot of time, money, and effort goes into achieving a leak-free building envelope. Tears, punctures, air blisters, and fishmouths can interrupt the continuity of a barrier in an otherwise properly installed membrane. Accurately repairing these disruptions is essential to achieve the proper bond of a self-adhering barrier membrane. W. R. MEADOWS offers a repair procedure technical bulletin which outlines the steps needed to accomplish repairs needed to maintain the integrity of AIR-SHIELD, W. R. MEADOWS’ high quality self-adhering air/vapor and liquid moisture barrier option. These instructions are also available in a convenient PDF that can be saved to a…
Ensure a seamless building envelope with the proper application of AIR-SHIELD
AIR-SHIELD self-adhering moisture barrier offers a strong and durable option to prevent unwanted air, vapor, and liquid infiltration through the building envelope. This roll-type membrane allows for guaranteed consistent coverage and will adhere to most primed surfaces at minimum temperature of 40° F (4° C). AIR-SHIELD’s self-healing characteristics offer excellent puncture resistance from self-tapping screws or nails during installation. To help with the proper techniques to treat rough openings with AIR-SHIELD, we offer a detailed guide that covers several suitable detailing options. It’s important to install a transition membrane over every rough opening accurately to secure a tight, dependable building…
AIR-SHIELD TMP for Thin yet Durable Air Barrier Protection
As part of W. R. MEADOWS’ fluid-applied air barrier line, AIR-SHIELD TMP offers a thin air and liquid resistive barrier formulated to allow vapor to pass through it. AIR-SHIELD TMP is a great choice when the application does not require a thicker barrier. This single-component, water-based air barrier cures to form a tough, seamless, elastomeric membrane that has been fully tested to comply with all of the performance requirements for an air and water resistive barrier. AIR-SHIELD TMP may be applied to most common rough or smooth surfaces and integrated into various new construction and retrofit wall systems. AIR-SHIELD TMP…
Ensure a Dependable Building Envelope with AIR-SHIELD LSR
When versatility, simplicity, durability, and cost-efficiency are all top priorities for choosing the proper barrier for your building envelope project, look no further than AIR-SHIELD LSR from W. R. MEADOWS. AIR-SHIELD LSR offers a fluid-applied liquid synthetic rubber barrier option capable of air, water, and vapor protection. AIR-SHIELD LSR possesses many fluid-applied material benefits, such as ease of application, seamless protection, and superior performance. AIR-SHIELD LSR is appropriate to use on most common surfaces, various wall systems, and suitable for both new construction and restoration. Non-toxic and with low VOC content, AIR-SHIELD LSR is environmentally compatible, produces no harmful odors,…
AIR-SHIELD LMP Air and Liquid Moisture Barrier Offers Tough Resistance Combined with Vapor Permeance
AIR-SHIELD LMP water-based air and liquid moisture barrier cures to form a tough, seamless, elastomeric membrane specifically formulated to allow vapor to pass through it. Its high permeability allows the transmission of water vapor, while exhibiting excellent resistance to air leakage. AIR-SHIELD LMP’s versatility offers superior adhesion to most common new construction and retrofit applications even when applied over damp surfaces. AIR-SHIELD LMP’s water-based formula features low VOC content allowing for simple, safe application and easy cleanup. Use nails and fasteners without compromising performance with AIR-SHIELD LMP’s self-sealing functionality. AIR-SHIELD LMP comes in standard gray which is UV resistant up…
AIR-SHIELD LIQUID FLASHING for Rough Opening Detailing
When rough openings and detail joints between exterior gypsum boards are in need of detailing, AIR-SHIELD LIQUID FLASHING is the general-purpose, wet flashing membrane needed for the job. This high-quality, gun grade flashing and detailing membrane by W. R. MEADOWS is low-odor, elastomeric, polyether, and compatible with the entire line of AIR-SHIELD air, vapor, and liquid moisture barriers. Perfectly designed for window and door flashing applications, AIR-SHIELD LIQUID FLASHING will not harm foam insulation. AIR-SHIELD LIQUID FLASHING is tough and versatile, able to be applied in damp conditions, bonds to most construction materials, and will not peel back when left…
W. R. MEADOWS hosts ABAA Installer Training Course
W. R. MEADOWS was very pleased to host an Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA) installer certification training course at our location in Hampshire, Illinois for 15 contractors from across the country. ABAA is the national voice of the air barrier industry, setting a high standard for building envelope excellence through their Quality Assurance Program. ABAA President Russ Snow is also Building Science Specialist at W. R. MEADOWS. This 3-day training program, taught by Peter Spafford, the Director of Quality Assurance from the ABAA, focused on both theory and practical instruction for self-adhered and fluid applied air barriers. The classroom…
ABAA Conference: April 18th-20th
ABAA Air Barrier Association of America will be hosting their 6th annual Conference & Trade Show this Tuesday through Thursday, April 18th-20th, in Reston, VA. This conference provides three days of comprehensive learning taught by some of the most innovative minds in building science with a focus on air barriers and building airtightness. Come visit W. R. MEADOWS at booth number 4 to see our Air Barrier products and speak with our experienced sales personnel. W. R. MEADOWS offers quality air barrier protection with our AIR-SHIELD air barrier line. W. R. MEADOWS’ own AIR-SHIELD has completed the ABAA evaluation process…
Our Interview with Masonry Magazine
At W. R. MEADOWS, we’re proud to be a part of relevant construction-related associations and agencies. We feel that being active members of these communities allows us to see all issues in the field and allows us to be a part of conversations as we progress in the many areas of construction, architecture, and engineering. One of the associations we work with the closest is the Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA). The association seeks to raise the standard of proficiency in the air barrier industry through the ABAA On-Site Quality Assurance Program, based on the principles outlined in ISO…
ASTM E 2178 Standards Explained
The use of the proper air barrier material is an integral part of achieving a resilient and efficient building by protecting it from unwanted air and water penetration. In order for this necessary protection to take place, it is critical that the material be fully tested to ensure that it is able to perform in the environment that it is going to be exposed to. It is key that the selected air barrier material has low air permeance and high resistance. The most common test method to ensure this is ASTM E2178, the Standard Test Method for Air Permeance of…
Check out our AIR-SHIELD LSR promotional flyer!
If you’re a seller, specifier, or installer of AIR-SHIELD LSR, we have a new item for your construction material collateral – our new informational flyer. This flyer features full-color photos and product information for our AIR-SHIELD LSR liquid membrane air/vapor and liquid moisture barrier. AIR-SHIELD LSR (liquid synthetic rubber) is an asphalt-free, single-component, synthetic rubber based liquid air/vapor and liquid moisture barrier. AIR-SHIELD LSR cures to form a tough, seamless, elastomeric membrane, which exhibits excellent resistance to air and moisture transmission. AIR-SHIELD LSR has been specifically formulated to act as an air/vapor and liquid moisture barrier within the building envelope.…
W. R. Meadows makes AIR-SHIELD TMP samples available
We are back at it again – making adjustments on the fly to better serve our customers. We’ve recently added yet another product to our growing inventory of samples: AIR-SHIELD™ TMP. AIR-SHIELD TMP is a water-based air/liquid moisture barrier that cures to form a tough, seamless, elastomeric membrane. It exhibits excellent resistance to air leakage. Furthermore, when properly applied as a drainage plane, it prohibits liquid water intrusion into the substrate. This product, part of our AIR-SHIELD is formulated to act as an air and liquid moisture barrier, allowing vapor to pass through it. It may be applied to most…
Protect Your Structure against the Ingress of Moisture with Air-Shield LM
Air-Shield LM by W. R. Meadows is a single-component, liquid-applied, water-based, polymer-modified air/vapor and liquid moisture barrier, formulated to prevent the transmission of air and inhibit vapor and moisture from passing through porous building materials. The liquid-applied characteristic of Air-Shield LM makes for a simple application, while it is also a sprayable product. It is suitable for both new construction and restoration projects. To assist with joint treatment of exterior sheathing panels when using Air-Shield LM or Air-Shield LM (All Season) fluid-applied membranes, W. R. Meadows has published a set of installation instructions. This document outlines recommend instructions put forth by…
Our New AIA Presentation on Controlling Moisture Movement Is Now Available!
At W. R. Meadows, educating the community on best practices and available technology is important to us. To educate our clients and help them learn more about the construction industry, we have several different American Institute of Architects (AIA) accredited continuing education lunch-and-learns available. These courses are a fantastic way to earn continuing education for your firm to keep up your AIA accreditation while also learning more about the construction industry, adding to your knowledge base and arming you with more information, allowing you to do your work better. We recently rolled out a new AIA-accredited presentation to pass on…
Check out our new AIR-SHIELD LMP animation!
We’re proud to offer a new installation animation for our AIR-SHIELD LMP air barrier! This installation animation shows the proper application of the product with the use of our AIR-SHIELD LIQUID FLASHING for rough openings, such as windows. AIR-SHIELD LMP is a water-based air/liquid moisture barrier that cures to form a tough, seamless, elastomeric membrane. AIR-SHIELD LMP exhibits excellent resistance to air leakage. When properly applied as a drainage plane, AIR-SHIELD LMP prohibits liquid water intrusion into the substrate. AIR-SHIELD LIQUID FLASHING is a high-quality, gun grade, low-odor, elastomeric, polyether, liquid-applied flashing and detailing membrane. It bonds to most construction…
Air Barrier Association of America Evaluates W. R. MEADOWS Products
One of the areas in which W. R. MEADOWS® hangs its hat is its building envelope products, including its AIR-SHIELD® line of air barriers. Recently, the Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA) evaluated two of those products – AIR-SHIELD and AIR-SHIELD LMP – and listed them on its website. AIR-SHIELD is a roll-type product that is nominally 40 mils thick. Its self-adhesive membrane is strong and durable, yet remains flexible when surface mounted. It provides excellent protection that won’t shrink, sag, dry out, crack, or rot, and it will resist punctures during installation. AIR-SHIELD is packaged in rolls of 38.5″…
New CAD Details for Air-Shield LMP
We’ve just updated our CAD details for Air-Shield LMP! Click here to view the newly updated details. For a full list of all CAD details, please click here. Air-Shield LMP is a water-based air/liquid moisture barrier that cures to form a tough, seamless, elastomeric membrane. Air-Shield LMP exhibits excellent resistance to air leakage. When properly applied as a drainage plane, Air-Shield LMP prohibits liquid water intrusion into the substrate. In addition to the CAD details available on our site, we also have an air barriers contactors handbook that lists several of our top details in a spiral-bound detail book. This…
Handbook from W. R. Meadows Spotlights Air Barriers Product Line
W. R. Meadows is widely recognized as a top producer for quality products in the construction industry, including its complete line of air/vapor and liquid moisture barriers. The Air Barriers Handbook by W.R. Meadows is the best place to find information on the many different components that make up an air barrier system. This user-friendly, 186-page handbook is complete with installation instructions, guidelines, and information akin to a data sheet. The following products are included: AIR SHIELD ™, AIR SHIELD ™ LM, AIR SHIELD ™ LMP, AIR SHIELD ™ LSR, and AIR SHIELD ™ TMP. These products are designed to…
Request a Sample of Air-Shield Liquid Flashing!
One of W. R. MEADOWS’ newest additions to our diversified air-barrier line is AIR-SHIELD LIQUID FLASHING. Newly launched in 2013, it has become an important piece of our complete line to help reduce the penetration of air, liquid, and moisture into the building envelope. AIR-SHIELD LIQUID FLASHING is a high-quality, gun grade, low-odor, elastomeric, polyether liquid-applied flashing and detailing membrane. It bonds to most construction materials, such as aluminum, brick, concrete, wood, and vinyl, and exterior gypsum board. We’ve heard positive feedback from the construction and design communities on AIR-SHIELD LIQUID FLASHING. If you haven’t seen the product for yourself, we have samples available…
We Have a New Air-Barrier Code Compliance Page
We’ve developed a new Air Barrier Code Compliance page to help you navigate W. R. MEADOWS products in relation to code compliance regulations in your area. It includes the testing requirements for air barriers for air permeance, air leakage, and fire resistance, including use of air barriers in NFPA 285 assemblies, as well as updated information about air barrier requirements in national codes and standards. With the continued rise in energy costs and the concentrated design of structures that are more energy efficient, the industry has continued to revise codes and standards to provide minimum requirements that need to be…
New AIR-SHIELD Installation Guidelines Available
The AIR-SHIELD line of air barriers continues to lead the industry in protecting the building envelope from the intrusion of air and moisture. Used throughout the world, our line includes sheet membranes, fluid-applied membranes, and all-weather material. To help our customers with the installation of the product in specific applications, we’ve created installation guideline documents that will educate those involved in the installation of the products. Our two newest guidelines are now available – Plywood Sheathing Joint Detail Installation Guidelines and Rough Openings Installation Guidelines. You will also find our other existing guidelines as well as links to our CAD…
PMPC Stands the Test of Time
When a demolition team went to tear down a gymnasium containing W. R. MEADOWS PMPC at Ursilane College on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio, they found something remarkable. While demolishing the building, the workers found that the PMPC, placed below the building’s concrete foundation in 1973, was still intact–looking as if it had been placed this year: solid, no cracks, with its plastic release sheet still intact. PMPC or, PREMOULDED MEMBRANE VAPOR SEAL WITH PLASMATIC CORE, is a patented (#US 7,179,761) seven-ply, weather-coated, permanently bonded, semi-flexible vaporproofing/waterproofing membrane. It is composed of an exclusive plasmatic core suspended mid-point between two…
W. R. MEADOWS Goes to Building Envelope Boot Camp
On April 30th-May 2nd, eleven members of our W. R. MEADOWS sales team took part in our first ever two day building envelope boot camp. The boot camp consisted of a combination of technical and hands-on training where the participants took part in product demonstrations, practiced presentations, and were brought up to speed on all the new happenings within the W. R. Meadows line of building envelope products. In the classroom, our sales team was provided with technical knowledge on air barriers, waterproofing, and underslab moisture protection in order to provide a greater level of technical support to all members…
Eyes on the Sites – McKinley Elementary School
This is the first project profile on the newest addition to our line of air barriers, AIR-SHIELD LSR. Products: AIR-SHIELD LSR, SEALMASTIC TYPE II DC Byers and Mike Davis worked closely with to get AIR-SHIELD LSR approved for this particular project. AIR-SHIELD LSR is a new product from W. R. MEADOWS so conversations were held about the features and benefits of using this new technology. AIR-SHIELD LSR was not originally included in the project’s specifications, but after hard work from our sales department and contractor, AIR-SHIELD LSR was approved for the project. DC Byers’ trust in the product, coupled with our team’s product knowledge,…
Introducing Air-Shield LSR
We recently introduced the air/vapor and liquid moisture barrier AIR-SHIELD™ LSR (liquid synthetic rubber) to our air barrier lineup. Single-component and asphalt-free, AIR-SHIELD LSR cures to form a tough, seamless, elastomeric membrane, which exhibits excellent resistance to air and moisture transmission. AIR-SHIELD LSR can be applied to most common surfaces and integrated into various wall systems of new construction and restoration. Its sprayable application allows for simple, safe application and easy cleanup. AIR-SHIELD LSR is also part of our GREEN LINE®of VOC-compliant products and complies with all VOC regulations across the United States and Canada. Check out our other air-shield…
Air-Shield Transitional Membranes
This document has been created as an addendum to our Air-Shield technical data sheets to provide some additional information regarding the application of transition membranes for rough openings, such as windows and doors. To remain current in the industry and provide our customers with an economical and user-friendly air barrier assembly, we would like to provide two different application procedures to address the use of transition membranes. The first is the use of our Air-Shield self-adhesive membrane as we have always used, and the second is the use of our Air-Shield LMP vapor permeable fluid-applied membrane. Either of these systems…
NFPA 285-2006
A fire test is a means of determining whether or not fire protection products meet minimum performance criteria as set out in a building code or other applicable legislation. There are a number of fire test methods that have been developed over the years. One of these that have become more recognized recently is the NFPA 285: “Standard Fire Test Method for Evaluation of Fire Propagation Characteristics of Exterior Non-Load-Bearing Wall Assemblies Containing Combustible Components.” This standard was developed by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), an international non-profit organization established in 1896. In 1998, the NFPA developed this standard…
W. R. Meadows offers AIA-Credited Lunch-and-Learn Presentations
As part of our efforts to educate the architectural community on the newest product technology, W. R. Meadows offers a series of lunch-and-learn seminars to discuss and present this material. We’ve been doing these presentations for years now, and have conducted hundreds of presentations throughout the U.S. and Canada. And, of course, our presentations help earn architects learning units (LU). The following are our most popular topics: Above-Grade Wall Air Barrier Systems (1 LU) Concrete Polishing (1 LU) Concrete Restoration (1 LU) Controlling Moisture Movement (1.5 LU) Treatments to Improve the Performance of Concrete (1 LU) Underslab Waterproofing and Vaporproofing (1 LU)…
Updated List of Protect From Freezing Products
During the cold season, many W. R. Meadows construction products need to be protected from freezing. These include our water-based construction liquids, our water-based building envelope products, some of our Deck-O-Seal pool products, etc. Below is a list of products that need to be protected from freezing. We ask that you store these products above 32° F (0° C) and refer to each product’s data sheet for more information. 1100-Clear 1200-White 1300-Clear 1600-White 2200-White Acry-Lok Air-Shield LM Air-Shield LMP Bellatrix CC-309-1WS CC-309-2WS Cem-Kote CW Plus Component B Cem-Kote Flex CR Component B Cem-Kote Flex ST Component B Deck-O-Grip W/B Deck-O-Shield…