Lead Performer: Oak Ridge National Laboratory – Oak Ridge, TN
Partners: 3M – Minneapolis, MN
DOE Funding: $1,155,000
Cost Share: $940,000
Project Term: October 2014 – September 2017
Funding Opportunity: Emerging Technologies / Commercial Buildings Integration Lab Call
Project Objective
The objective of this project is to use test buildings to quantify the energy savings and reductions in air leakage rates due to the implementation of three newly-developed air and water-resistive barrier technologies. These 3M technologies are:
- Self-adhered membrane with low water vapor permeance that can be installed without having to prime the substrate
- Self-adhered membrane with high water vapor permeance that can be applied without having to prime the substrate
- Liquid-applied membrane with high water vapor permeance that requires one 26-mil (wet thickness) pass
All of these materials aim to simplify installation procedures in order to limit potential workmanship errors and improve the performance of air-sealing systems for commercial and multi-family buildings.
Project Impact
Field measurements that demonstrate energy savings due to decreases in air leakage will facilitate future efforts from the Building Technologies Office’s Codes and Standards programs to propose airtightness tests in commercial buildings. Compliance with minimum airtightness levels and the development of cost-effective air barrier materials will enable the reduction of energy used in commercial buildings due to infiltration, which amounts to about 1.29 quads per year based on the 2011 Building Energy Data Book.
Contacts
DOE Technology Manager: Karma Sawyer
Lead Performer: Diana Hun, Oak Ridge National Laboratory