Georgia-Pacific Gypsum’s DensElement™ Barrier System, an integrated gypsum sheathing water-resistive barrier and air barrier (WRB-AB), has passed testing as a substrate in exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS) with drainage. To be recognized as an approved WRB-AB sheathing, three criteria have to be met for use as an EIFS substrate: building code compliance, meet EIFS water drainage, and adhesion criteria.
The DensElement™ Barrier System was tested with EIFS manufactured by Parex USA, Sto Corp., and Dryvit Systems. In these three cases, it exceeded the requirements.
Building Code Compliant. The DensElement™ Barrier System conforms with IBC, IRC and IECC building code, including National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 285, Standard Fire Test Method for Evaluation of Fire Propagation Characteristics of Exterior Non-load bearing Wall Assemblies Containing Combustible Components.
EIFS Water Drainage. The DensElement™ Barrier System passed the water drainage test where the EIFS assemblies applied to the WRB-AB sheathing require drainage testing in accordance with ASTM E2273, Standard Test Method for Determining the Drainage Efficiency of Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems Clad Wall Assemblies.
Adhesion. The DensElement™ Barrier System passed ASTM C297, Standard Test Method for Flatwise Tensile Strength of Sandwich Constructions (an adhesion-to-sheathing test for compliance with ASTM E2568, Standard Specification for PB Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems ).
DensElement™ Barrier System serves as the building’s water-resistive barrier and continuous air barrier, when the joints, fasteners, penetrations, openings and transitions are properly sealed with PROSOCO FastFlash® liquid flashing. The DensElement™ Barrier System holds an International Code Council Evaluation Service (ICC-ES®) Evaluation Report (ESR-3786) for IRC, IBC, and IECC compliance.
To complete an EIFS installation, insulation should be adhered with vertical ribbons of adhesive applied directly to the DensElement™ Barrier System. Top-coating the sheathing with a fluid-applied membrane, which would have traditionally served as the WRB-AB, is no longer necessary. Contractors and architects benefit with a significantly faster installation time, a lower installed-cost EIFS applications, consistent WRB-AB vapor permeability and consistent moisture resistance when using the 3-in1 DensElement™ Barrier System.
