Above and Beyond

In addition, some manufacturers have developed their own testing mechanisms to evaluate acrylic tapes. For example:

Water ponding test. To demonstrate the ability of the acrylic tape and high-performance panels to hold out moisture, the water ponding test was developed to simulate extreme exposure to water. High-performance panels and tape were subjected to a constant head of water for over 20 hours. Both seams and fastener penetrations were monitored for water leakage. Even with this extreme exposure, a tight seal was maintained to achieve moisture resistance.

Rail car. A rail car full of flashing tape was monitored as it traveled through the Arizona desert in mid-summer to assure optimum performance of tape even after being exposed to the most extreme of shipping conditions.

“Black box.” A black metal box filled with tape was placed in an asphalt parking lot and left exposed to the extreme heat of a southern summer, providing further proof the tape can handle extreme shipping and handling conditions

Test hut walls. Cladding was removed from walls (including stucco) after five years of service and the tape examined for any deterioration. The tape showed no negative effects from its entire five years of use.

Accelerated aging. In addition to pertinent code required testing, some manufacturers have conducted tests in which tape has also been exposed to 336 hours in a UV testing chamber (equivalent to 180 days exposure in Miami, Florida) followed by 190 days in an oven at 225°F (equivalent to 30 years exposure as underlayment in Miami).

Long-term outdoor exposure. Tape has been monitored during long-term exposure and durability testing in extreme environmentssuch as Miami, Minneapolis, Australia, and Canada.

Acrylic Tape Makes It To HGTV Dream Home 2013

Building codes don’t get much more stringent than on Kiawah Island, which sits on a flood plain, hurricane alley, and earthquake zone, and is located just south of Charleston, South Carolina. “Our seismic rating is the same as California,” says Chris Rose, AIA, HGTV Dream Home 2013 lead architect. “And the entire building was required to sit at least 8 feet above ground level because of potential flooding.” HGTV Dream Home 2013 offers a lesson in state-of-the-art construction technology. The house is air- and water-tight, thanks to its unusual sheathing, which consists of wood panels that are manufactured with a water-resistive overlay. The crew installed the panels as they would plywood, and sealed the joints with the manufacturer’s acrylic tape to prevent drafts or potential moisture intrusion. The house’s ventilation system will constantly exchange stale indoor air for fresh outdoor air, thereby eliminating any chance of indoor air pollution. This home achieved LEED Platinum certification, and the taped joints significantly added to the stringent ACH requirement. Acrylic tape helps prevent drafts and potential moisture intrusion in the above project, similar to HGTV’s Dream Home 2013. Photo courtesy of Huber Engineered Woods