Air Tightness Tape in Ireland

In Ireland, air tightness is an essential aspect of building design and construction. An airtight building provides better energy efficiency, a healthier indoor environment, and reduces heat loss. To achieve optimal air-tightness in buildings, it is important to use air tightness tape.

So this as good a time as any to explore what air tightness tape is, why it is important in here in Ireland, and let’s look at the various types of air tightness tapes available here.

What is Air tightness Tape? Air tightness tape is a special kind of tape used to seal any gaps and joints in the building envelope, including windows, doors, and electrical sockets.

The tape is made up of a flexible material that allows it to adhere to the surface tightly. The purpose of the tape is to prevent air leakage and energy loss from the building envelope. It is an essential component in achieving optimal air-tightness in a building.

Why is Air-tightness Tape Important in Ireland? In Ireland, buildings consume up to 40% of the country’s total energy. One of the primary reasons for this high energy consumption is due to air leakage.

According to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), up to 50% of heat loss in buildings is due to air leakage. This air leakage also leads to a reduction in indoor air quality, which can have negative effects on the occupants’ health.

To address these issues, the Irish government has implemented various energy efficiency policies, including the Nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB) standard. This standard requires new buildings to have a high level of air-tightness to minimize heat loss and energy consumption.

Air-tightness tape is an essential component in achieving the nZEB standard and ensuring energy-efficient buildings.

So what is available?

There are various types of air-tightness tapes available in the market, each with its unique properties and uses. The following are some of the most common types of air-tightness tape:

Tescon Vana Number 1 tape:

TESCON VANA is a high tensile strength multi-purpose adhesive tape for indoor and outdoor airtight bonds.

When sealing overlaps between foil and fleece membranes, vapour check barriers and airtightness membranes, roof underlays and wall membranes. TESCON VANA tape creates a permanent and secure seal. It can also be used to create joins between these membranes and smooth surfaces.

TESCON VANA can also be used to seal butted joints between wood-based panels such as OSB or MDF sub-roof panels or wood fibre soft boards. It also bonds overlaps between sheets of vapour check and joints between wood-based panels (such as OSB) also seals service penetrations. Suitable for windows, doors, planed timber, corners and roof windows.

Air tightness tape for doors and windows – Pro Clima Solido

The CONTEGA SOLIDO SL joint adhesive air tightness tape is a full-surface adhesive that can be plastered over. It ensures interior airtight and vapour-retarding sealing of windows and doors to adjacent building components made of wood and mineral sub-surfaces such as concrete and sand-lime brick. The modified waterproof SOLID adhesive ensures quick and permanent joints with the sub-surface. The stuck joint is immediately airtight and can be subjected to loading.

Ultimately, Air-tightness tape is an essential component in achieving optimal air-tightness in buildings here in Ireland. It helps to minimize energy consumption and reduce heat loss, leading to cost savings and a healthier indoor environment.

With various types of air-tightness tapes available in the market, it is important to choose the right tape for the specific application. By choosing the right air-tightness tape, anyone can ensure that they meet the required energy efficiency standards and create buildings that are both energy-efficient and comfortable to live in.

Most people combine these tapes with air tightness membranes, paint, foams and sealants and you can see all of the options here.

As always, our helpful and friendly team are on hand to help and advise as needed – just get in touch!