Installation Methods and Techniques
Any membrane that is installed around windows, doors and interfaces is only as effective as the quality of the installation, so any offers of on-site training from manufacturers need to be welcomed and best- practice techniques implemented.
For a good membrane installation, it is very important to adopt appropriate installation methods and techniques, including the following;
• Compatibility - Firstly, all products should be compatible, and individually tested for their fire classification. • Primer - Porous surfaces such as concrete should be treated with a fire-classified Primer before the paste adhesive is applied. • Paste Adhesive - A fire-classified paste adhesive should be applied to the substrate so that when spread to an even layer it covers the full area to be bonded. A full spread of paste adhesive is also critical in the event that membranes are penetrated with fixings for items such as cladding support brackets, cavity fire barrier brackets etc. If the adhesive isn’t fully spread underneath the membrane, then it will allow water to penetrate underneath, leading to water ingress and a gradual de-bonding of the installed membrane. • Membrane - The membrane is applied to the adhesive and pressed on using a membrane roller to ensure an even bond. • Bond Widths - Membranes that are bonded onto non-porous surfaces such as the side of an aluminium window frame, should have a bond width of at least 20 - 30mm. Membranes that are bonded onto porous surfaces such as concrete should have a bond width of at least 100mm. • Corner Sealing - Particular attention needs to be paid to the sealing of window corners as this can be the most vulnerable point for water ingress. The use of pre-moulded corners gives the best seal, rather than relying on manually cutting and folding the membrane around the corner detail. • Capped Edges - Once the membranes and corners have been installed, all edges need to be capped with a bead of paste adhesive and spread to form a perfect seal. This also prevents open edges from getting snagged or ripped which could compromise the seal.
Version: 06.U.06.10.01.01
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