Pushing the envelope in commercial construction

According to the American Institute of Architects, up to 80% of building envelope failures are moisture-related, with water infiltration being the main culprit.

Against that statistic, Atlanta-based Georgia-Pacific has developed a patent-pending DensElement Barrier System with AquaKOR Technology, a new water-resistive and air barrier (WRB-AB) system solution for the installation of exterior walls in commercial construction.

The high vapor permeability of the DensElement Barrier System helps mitigate moisture issues in the wall cavity -- walls are able to dry out if water is introduced, rather than trapping it inside the wall cavity, the company claims.

“With skilled labor being difficult to find, this new system solution significantly reduces the amount of time it takes to install exterior walls and the associated water and air barrier, ultimately saving time and labor,” said Brent Paugh, president of Georgia-Pacific Gypsum.

The new product builds on the legacy of its Dens brand portfolio of fiberglass mat gypsum products, introduced 30 years ago.

To tightly seal the system, Georgia-Pacific collaborated with Prosoco, Inc. A quick application of Prosoco’s R-Guard FastFlash liquid flashing fills and seals all joints, fasteners and other penetrations to finish the system with no need to fully cover or coat the entire wall, the company said.

The DensElement Barrier System offers architects, specifiers and contractors a performance-tested solution for building envelope construction. In rigorous lab testing and several southeast job sites, the system has proven time savings, reduced skilled labor needs and saved bottom-line costs.