A stronger building wrap to keep construction moving

Case Study

November 15th, 2022

The family of UNI® Flexible Air Barriers by Masons keep the elements out, so your building project can continue despite bad weather and materials delays.

Time overruns are probably the biggest contributor to increased project costs. By installing a UNI Flexible Air Barrier, you get at least 90 and up to 150 days of rain and UV protection for unclad framing. Building teams can continue working inside, even when the cladding is delayed due to supply disruption or labour shortages.

But that’s not UNI’s only advantage. These heavy-duty Flexible Air Barriers are an excellent second line of defence – they are vapour permeable, allowing moisture vapour to pass out of the building envelope for the life of the building, achieving results well above minimum standard according to SCION tests.

3-ply structure brings multiple benefits

The UNI family of Flexible Air Barriers are nonwoven synthetic wall underlays that come in three grades: UNI, UNI PRO and UNI PLUS. Thicker and stronger than conventional building wrap materials, UNI’s 3-ply structure is a barrier to both air and water, while still allowing water vapour to diffuse.

Once fitted, UNI’s sandwich construction – two outer layers of non-woven polypropylene with a middle layer of a functional-technical film – resists UV degradation for 90 days. UNI PRO offers protection for up to 150 days. And they are installed at a fraction of the cost of rigid air barriers, such as plywood or cement board. UNI PLUS offers 90 days UV protection and is fire retardant.

A superior building wrap

UNI is a quality wall underlay once the structure is clad, with superior moisture protection than standard building wraps. The outer layer keeps out water, while the technical film allows water vapour to pass through and escape.

In SCION tests, a UNI Flexible Air Barrier repelled 100mm of water over 24 hours – five times greater than the minimum for AS/NZS 2295. And water vapour transmission is .249 MN/s/g compared with the minimum standard of 7 MN/s/g or less.

Eliminates expensive delays caused by hold-ups on cladding or bad weather

Bad weather can strike at any time, even in summer. Fitting rigid barriers to protect framing is expensive, while conventional building wraps offer little protection from the elements.

Because UNI will hold a 100mm head of water over 24 hours, it effectively creates a rain-protected space inside, so construction can continue despite the weather. UV blockers are incorporated in the polypropylene before it is extruded and bonded, allowing UNI to be in place for up to 90 days (150 days for UNI PRO) without losing its integrity.

Easy installation plus all accessories

UNI Flexible Air Barriers are quick and easy to install. Training and installation guides are available from Masons, along with the required accessories. For more information, visit our website, or contact Masons on 0800 522 533.

Certifications: CodeMark & PASS™ for UNI and CodeMark due for UNI PRO and UNI PLUS in early 2022.

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