Is ZIP wall sheathing vapor permeable?
I have noticed over the last few months that there seems to be some disagreement about the permeability of the Zip wall system. There are some that say the Zip sheathing is not a vapor permeable product. I have frequently read that the zip system will not allow drying to the exterior of a wall assembly.
What is the permeability of the ZIP system building enclosures?
The permeability of the entire panel is based on the permeability of the OSB (1-3 perms depending on thickness), while the permeability of the integrated protective overlay alone is 12-16 perms. Have more questions? Contact the Huber Engineered Woods Technical Support Team or download the ZIP System Building Enclosures Installation Manual.
Who makes Zipzip system panels?
ZIP System panels are manufactured by Huber Engineered Woods, LLC. The ZIP System assembly includes multiple components: the ZIP System Sheathing Panels, Tape, the updated Roller, and the new Liquid Flash product.
Why is my ZIP system® wall sheathing not holding water?
The bulk water hold-out capability of ZIP System® Wall Sheathing depends on taping of all joints and corners. Improper taping can allow water to enter the system, reducing the performance of the ZIP System® Wall Sheathing and the entire wall system.
Is Zip wall waterproof?
In 2006, Huber Zip System walls were introduced. Zip is OSB sheathing treated with a water-resistant coating that has a 12-16 perm rating. The sheathing is installed butt-jointed, relying on acrylic Zip tape for both airtightness and waterproofing at the board edges.
Is Zip system an air barrier?
ZIP System sheathing and tape creates a durable, rigid air barrier to protect against both air infiltration and exfiltration to help achieve a tight building envelope.
What kind of barrier is zip sheathing?
ZIP System® sheathing and tape is a unique structural roof and wall system with a built-in water-resistive barrier (WRB) and continuous air barrier to keep out water and air, while allowing panels to properly dry.
Is Zip system better than Tyvek?
Tyvek® HomeWrap® The maker of ZIP System® coated sheathing and tape claims that its product prevents water intrusion while installing 40% faster than DuPont™ Tyvek® HomeWrap®.
Is Zip system better than house wrap?
ZIP Sheathing Ensures Best Thermal & Air Resistance! ZIP sheathing works well with the sheathing tapes to create an airtight barrier and to prevent air leakage. It makes the walls more enduring that provide better energy efficiency than other materials.
Is Tyvek a vapor barrier?
That's why vapor permeability, or breathability, is a key benefit of DuPont™ Tyvek® weather barriers. Tyvek® combines the right balance of air and water resistance and vapor permeability. So, when water does find its way into a wall system, the Tyvek® WRB is engineered to allow it to escape as moisture vapor.
What is the R value of zip wall?
ZIP System R-Sheathing provides a combined R-value of 3.6 or 6.6 on the outside of wall framing in addition to wall cavity insulation. One panel delivers thermal, air, and moisture resistance, while providing strength and durability.
How long can zip sheathing be exposed to weather?
In addition, ZIP System sheathing and tape comes with a 180-day exposure guarantee1 during construction.
How long does zip sheathing last?
The UV rating for ZIP System is three months, and Tyvek® is four months. Potential damage due to exposure to the sun's rays is less for Barricade® Building Wrap than ZIP System and Tyvek® HomeWrap®.
Do you need a vapor barrier with zip sheathing?
Are ZIP System sheathing panels a vapor barrier? No, the integrated protective overlay of a ZIP System wall sheathing panel is permeable to allow for drying to the outside.
How much more expensive is zip system?
Plywood can range from $16-$24 per sheet and $2,800-$4,200 for the whole house. While ZIP can be $16-$26 per sheet, leaving you with $2,800-$4,700 for the whole house. Aside from cost, there are also other factors to take into account when debating which type of sheathing will be better for you.
What is better than Tyvek house wrap?
Barricade® Wrap Plus is water and air resistant, cold resistant, and includes drainage against bulk water (unlike Typar®). Barricade® Wrap Plus is also surfactant-resistant (unlike Tyvek®), optimally vapor permeable (unlike Tyvek®) and has a longer UV rating than either Typar® or Tyvek HomeWrap®.
What is zip board made of?
The ZIP System. The ZIP System includes ZIP System sheathing panels and ZIP System tape. The panels are composed of OSB wood structural sheathing with a Grade-D 60 minute WRB exterior facer of medium density phenolic-impregnated polymer-modified material.
Is Tyvek a water resistive barrier?
DuPont™ Tyvek® ThermaWrap™ will still act as a water-resistive barrier without an airspace.
What is Zipboard?
ZIP System® sheathing and tape is an innovative structural roof and wall system with an integrated water resistant and air barrier that streamlines the weatherization process and transforms it with a simple two-step installation.
Does blueskin stick to Tyvek?
There's also a superior product — Blueskin house wrap. It has an adhesive, so instead of needing to be fastened to the sheathing, like Tyvek or Typar, it sticks to it, which minimizes punctures in the membrane.
What are ZIP System sheathing panels made of?
ZIP System wall sheathing panels are made of a high-quality, water-resistant OSB (oriented strand board) that is rated Structural 1 for increased shear capacity. A protective water resistive barrier is integrated into the panel during the panel manufacturing process.
How long can ZIP System sheathing and tape be exposed to weather?
ZIP System building enclosure products have a 180-day Exposure Rating.
Does ZIP System need to be covered with housewrap?
Not in most cases . The integrated protective overlay on the ZIP System sheathing panel along with panel seams flashed with ZIP System flashing tape or ZIP System liquid flash can meet the WRB code requirement and eliminate the need for housewrap as a primary WRB in most circumstances.
Can you install housewrap over ZIP System?
Yes. Some exterior claddings (such as stucco) require multiple WRB layers. ZIP System sheathing and tape counts as one WRB layer, so in assemblies in which an additional WRB layer is required by code or the cladding manufacturer, housewrap or another WRB layer will need to be installed. More information on ZIP System and stucco can be found in the Technical Library.
What fasteners can be used with ZIP System wall sheathing?
Code-recognized fasteners that would typically be used to attach conventional OSB or plywood sheathing panels to the framing are acceptable for use with ZIP System wall sheathing. Screws are not recognized as an acceptable fastener for installing structural sheathing like ZIP System to wood framing.
Is ZIP System an air barrier?
Yes. ZIP System sheathing when combined with ZIP System flashing tape (and/or ZIP System™ liquid flash) form a rigid air barrier and acts as an effective component of a continuous air control layer. In addition, ZIP System flashing products can be used in some details to tie in other components of the air control layer for the building.
How many rolls of ZIP System flashing tape are needed per panel?
On average, one 90’ roll of ZIP System flashing tape can flash the panel seams of six to seven standard 4’x8’ panels on a flat wall, depending on the experience level of the framer.
What is zip system?
ZIP System is easily identified by its green colored panels that are attached and sealed with black ZIP tape on all the exterior seams of the home.
How does water vapor build up?
As water vapor builds up, it creates droplets, and those water droplets need a way to escape. This is called the “drainage plane.”. To keep water from entering a building, it needs to be directed away from the building; any gaps or holes will allow water to enter.
What does a lower perm rating mean?
In order for water vapor to escape, there must be a certain level of air flow in the building wrap. A lower perm rating number means a tighter seal. Compare a building wrap to a food-saving plastic wrap where a tight seal prevents air and moisture from getting to the protected food.
Is wool insulation good for insulation?
Being biodegradable, sustainable and recyclable, natural wool insulation is highly effective for acoustic and thermal insulation purposes and its ability to absorb and release moisture. When it Comes to Verifying Good Building Practices, Trust Först Consulting Group.
Is ZIP system good for weatherization?
ZIP System has been gaining ground in the homebuilding market due to an aggressive marketing program, and because it is growing in popularity, homeowners can mistakenly think that it is a good product for streamlining weatherization and creating an air- and water-resistant barrier.
Is ZIP system plywood?
The ZIP System product is about the same thickness as plywood and when subjected to a buildup of moisture, can deteriorate at a much quicker rate than plywood. It is not recommended for use as a durable sheet panel product. Faulty Cost Savings.
What is a structural rating for a ZIP system?
ZIP System ® panels are available with a Structural 1 rating, so you can get shear strength to meet seismic and high-wind-zone requirements.
What is zip sheathing?
A revolutionary new approach to building enclosures, ZIP System ® sheathing and tape streamlines the weatherization process with an integrated air and water-resistive barrier that delivers moisture and air protection in one easy-to-install system.
How long is the warranty on ZIP system?
The ZIP System product line is backed by a 30-year limited warranty and 180-day Exposure Guarantee [1].
What is ZIP system wall sheathing?
ZIP System® Wall Sheathing is constructed of an oriented strand board (OSB) structural panel with a resin-impregnated Kraft paper overlay. So, it must be handled with care to avoid taking on moisture before installation. Failure to do so can result in damage to the panels, potentially compromising the integrity of the wall system, if not carefully repaired.
Why do you need to tape a seam on a zip system?
Several reasons were cited, including the need for every seam of ZIP System® Wall Sheathing to be taped and rolled; the need to maintain precise 1/8” spacing between every seam; and the need fordry conditions and surfaces before taping.
How many perms are needed for a weather barrier?
For a weather barrier to be considered vapor permeable, it must have a vapor permeance of at least 5 perms (IRC) or 10 perms (IBC) as tested per ASTM E96 B (desiccant method).
What is Tyvek weatherization?
The unique material and building science behind Tyvek® weatherization products provides the optimal balance of protection against air and bulk water infiltration and vapor permeability. And Tyvek® weather barriers deliver superior overall performance, compared to ZIP System® Wall Sheathing, in five key areas:
What is ZIP sheathing?
ZIP Systems® Wall Sheathing is wood-based sheathing with a water-resistive overlay, a type of material not designed to provide the optimal balance of air and water protection and breathability.
What is the IECC code for Tyvek?
When installed as an air barrier, Tyvek® materials meet Sections R402.4 and C402.4 of the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code, as well as the 2009 IECC. These sections require airsealing methods that allow for expansion and contraction of building materials.
Can you install Tyvek sheathing?
By comparison, Tyvek® products can be installed under most weather conditions, and underlying sheathing can be installed more quickly, because every corner and seam does not need to be taped and rolled.
Who makes ZIP system?
In this article, we will be providing an update on our original pros and cons article published in 2016 that compared the ZIP System ® developed by Huber Engineered Woods, LLC to the HomeWrap ® system, manufactured by Dupont TM Tyvek ®. The purpose of this article is to provide an unbiased comparison of these leading weather-resistive barrier (WRB) systems while uncovering the latest updates to each of these competing products and their corresponding manufacturer specifications.
What is a zip tape roller?
Huber’s latest Liquid Flash product is a silyl-terminated-polyether liquid-applied flashing material. The ZIP System Roller has now been designed to emboss a pattern into the ZIP System Tape when sufficient pressure has been applied.
What is home wrap?
For areas of the structure that call for sheathing on the exterior walls, the installation of HomeWrap is a second step that must occur after the sheathing is installed. In some cases, this is inspected by the local jurisdiction for compliance with the braced wall plans and schedules. This additional step prolongs the construction process in contrast to that of the time savings provided by the Huber ZIP System that has the WRB already applied to the sheathing.
How long is the warranty on a zip system?
The ZIP System offers a 30-year warranty which is three times longer than the ten-year warranty offered by Tyvek for their HomeWrap product. However, there are contingencies that can make the warranty unable to be transferred. See the “Huber ZIP System - Cons” section below for more information.
How to repair a hole in a ZIP system sheathing?
Holes in the ZIP System Sheathing that are too large to be repaired with tape (or covered by sheet-applied WRBs) must be repaired by cutting out the damaged area and replacing it with a sizable piece of ZIP System Sheathing. Blocking must then be installed to support the patch. In the case of shear wall assemblies, the blocking must allow edge nailing of the patch and the existing panel to match the shear wall schedule. Minor repairs such as damage caused by over-driven fasteners can be addressed using Huber’s ZIP System Tape or Liquid Flash.
How much overlap is needed for Tyvek home wrap?
One important distinction between Huber’s ZIP System and Tyvek’s HomeWrap is that HomeWrap is required to have six inches of overlap (top layer over bottom layer) in a weatherboard fashion.
What is liquid flash?
ZIP System Liquid Flash provides an alternative to the ZIP System Tape at seams and penetrations. This product reduces the risk of leaks from improperly taped joints and penetrations, especially at horizontal joints. Liquid Flash simplifies the flashing of circular or irregular shaped penetrations. The product also has a thickness verification standard that is easy to follow, i.e. proper thickness is achieved when the substrate is no longer visible.
How many perms is vapor permeable?
Vapor permeable: greater than 10 perms. For example, an assembly using foil-faced isocyanurate rigid insulation is classed as vapor impermeable regardless of the cladding type installed external to the foil-faced isocyanurate.
Why are wet cup permeances used?
Wet cup permeances are used because it is the performance of the assembly under "wet conditions" that we are concerned with.
Is stucco vapor semi-impermeable?
However, when the vinyl siding is replaced with a traditional three-coat hard-coat stucco the combined wet cup permeance of both stucco, building paper and OSB (or plywood) sheathing is below 1.0 perm and therefore, this assembly is classed as vapor semi-impermeable. The application of the stucco in this manner clearly affects the drying characteristics of the wall; the stucco is relatively "airtight" whereas the vinyl siding is "air leaky."
