Tested and Approved Wall Assemblies – the Top 3 of Our Experts

Published by Catherine Lavoie Canuel

When designing a building, several factors need to be considered. One of them is the design of the exterior wall assembly of the building. Several questions may arise at that time:

How to reduce thermal bridges in the assembly?
How to reach the effective R-values required by the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings?
How to build better buildings with high energy value?
Which insulation technology to choose? Which air barrier to choose?
When should a vapour-permeable air barrier be used?
Does the assembly create risks of moisture accumulation in the cavity?

Soprema BUILD BETTER Guide

Since SOPREMA is the manufacturer of several products used in building assemblies, it is very important for us to understand the interaction between materials in order to offer solutions to build better. The energy used to heat or cool a building should not be lost due to poor thermal insulation strategies, significant air leaks, or thermal bridges.

We are proud to present the BUILD BETTER Guide, which introduces SOPREMA’s wall systems. This guide is intended for professionals involved in the design, implementation and construction of commercial buildings. It will support them in the creation of high-energy buildings meeting the requirements of the NECB.

This guide will help professionals choose the perfect SOPREMA solutions for designing exterior wall assemblies, whether they’re selecting an air barrier, insulation technology or accessory products compatible with other materials.

Top 3 assemblies

The approved and tested wall systems offered by SOPREMA presented in BUILD BETTER Guide use different combinations of insulation and membranes. This guide covers most wall assembly applications and provides a wide range of assemblies for all market requirements.

From the wide range of systems offered in BUILD BETTER Guide, here are the top 3 tested and approved wall assemblies from our SOPREMA experts:

1 - Exterior Continuous Insulated Walls – Steel Structure

This exterior continuous insulated walls, commonly referred to as a perfect wall, is so named because it eliminates the risk of condensation, as the insulation is placed entirely on the outside of the air and vapour tight plane. Although steel is 400 times more conductive than wood, this material is widely used as a component in the structure of commercial buildings on the Canadian market. Obviously, any building material that passes through an assembly separating the interior from the exterior of a building can create a thermal bridge, especially if it is a good heat conductor. As a result, continuous exterior insulation is very important in that case to minimize the impact of thermal bridges created by steel studs.

Assembly Composition

Gypsum board
Steel studs
Exterior sheating
Primer
Air/vapour barrier
Continuous exterior insulation
Attachment system: rails and clips or brick ties
Exterior cladding

2 - Hybrid Insulated Wall - Wood Structure

In hybrid insulated walls, adding insulation in the cavity can increase the energy value of the assembly for the same wall thickness. The efficiency of the insulation added in the cavity will have reduced efficiency due to thermal bridges caused by studs. However, despite this limitation, cavity insulation allows some constructions to reach the target energy value while maintaining the continuous exterior insulation to a thickness manageable for construction. Choosing a wooden structure instead of a steel structure will also contribute positively to the energy value of the assembly.

Assembly Composition

Gypsum board
Vapour barrier
Wood studs with cavity insulation (R-19)
Exterior sheating
Vapour-permeable air barrier
Continuous exterior insulation
Attachment system: brick ties
Brick cladding

The materials in blue are offered by SOPREMA. In this assembly, a vapour barrier is installed behind the interior gypsum board. This way, it is impossible for the moisture present in the cavity to diffuse inwards. Therefore, the recommended air barrier membrane should be permeable to water vapour because it must allow the moisture in the cavity to diffuse outwards from the assembly. As for cavity insulation, it can be provided using different materials such as cellulose (SOPRA-CELLULOSE) or sprayed polyurethane foam made for application in a cavity (SOPRA‑SPF 500). Despite the presence of insulation in the cavity, continuous exterior insulation is still required to ensure the assembly is compliant. SOPREMA then recommends the use of SOPRA-ISO V PLUS or SOPRA-SPF 100.

3 - Exterior Continuous Insulated Walls – Concrete Structure (Concrete Masonery Unit)

Assembly Composition

Gypsum board
Concrete masonery unit
Primer
Air/vapour barrier
Continuous exterior insulation
Attachment system: rails and clips or brick ties
Exterior cladding

The materials in blue are offered by SOPREMA. When properly installed, the air/vapour barrier will ensure the optimal thermal performance of the assembly. Whether to use a liquid membrane, a self-adhesive sheet membrane or a welded membrane remains the decision of the designer. When used in combination with sprayed polyurethane foam, the air/vapour barrier should only be applied around details, penetrations and openings. In this application, SOPREMA recommends the use of SOPRASEAL STICK 1100T with the SOPRASEAL STICK PRIMER. Regarding insulation materials, as each has their own nominal R-value; the choice of technology will determine the recommended thickness for the assembly. SOPREMA recommends the use of SOPRA-XPS, SOPRA-SPF 202, SOPRA-SPF 100 or SOPRA-ISO V ALU.