The installation of pliable membrane in external walls frames during construction may be required for dwellings to meet National Construction Code requirements or just good building practice. When pliable building membranes are used, they can add additional benefit to a building function(s) such as thermal efficiency, condensation management and water shielding during construction and future storm events.
Where required the National Construction Code (NCC) specifies the installation of pliable building membranes to meet AS 4200 Part 2 “Pliable building membranes and underlays — Installation.”
AS4200. Clause 3.8.1 Timber Frame walls states “Where a pliable building membrane is installed on a timber frame it shall be fixed to the timber stud using mechanical fixings at 150mm centres, prior to cladding.”
Clause 3.8.2 Metal frame walls states “Where a pliable building membrane is installed onto a steel frame it shall be fixed to the steel studs using (a) adhesive when cladding is directly fixed to the stud work; or (b) mechanical fixings with a broad headed washer at 300mm centres for cavity walls, prior to cladding”.
Staples are commonly used for fixing membranes to timber frames, but they have limited holding power, and/or the membrane can tear around the staple and come loose. Clouts can also be used for timber frames but have similar problems as staples. Self-Drilling screws are used for fixing to steel frames. Both clouts and Self-Drilling screws require a broad headed washer which must be manually held in place whilst being driven, which is a is a tedious and time-consuming process.
The recently released, and innovative WrapMates™ building wrap system overcomes all these issues.
WrapMates™ is a super-fast, collated fastening system for fixing building wrap to steel frames up to 1.20mm thick. They are also suitable for fixing wrap to timber frames and is the most efficient fixing method for the installation of pliable membranes to walls.
WrapMates™ can also be used on roofing for temporary fixing of pliable membranes to steel battens. The collated broad headed washer ensures sufficient capacity when fixing to provide resistance of the pliable membrane becoming detached from the frame during construction ensuring the membranes stay in place once fixed with WrapMates™.
The system comprises a WrapMates™ tool, a coil of fasteners and an adjacent barrel of nylon washers.
The tool is a light weight, ergonomic, pneumatic tool which operates at a low pressure of approximately 60psi and is extremely quiet to use compared to traditional nailing guns. It is a strong and durable with a cast metal alloy body and hardened steel components combined with a heavy-duty plastic magazine and offers both single shot and bump fire modes of actuation that are easily selected with the flick of a switch
The system features Mini SCRAIL® fasteners in collated coils of 200. SCRAIL® are a combination of a nail and a screw with a cross recess, hence the name SCRAIL®. They are shot in, can be reversed out and provide high withdrawal resistance.
Combined with 25mm nylon washers loaded into the tool with a capacity of 100 pieces makes for extremely fast and efficient installation.
The nylon washer is automatically assembled onto the fastener during installation meaning the fixing process is completed in a single operation. This eliminates the secondary operation of manually having to apply a metal washer or alternative bearing material under the fastener head as is the case with existing building wrap fastening methods for fixing to steel frames.
WrapMates™ allows for the continuous shooting of 100 shots before the quick and easy reloading of washers, and 200 shots before the equally fast and easy reloading of the Mini SCRAIL® fasteners. When fixing into steel frames WrapMates™ is the fastest possible solution, ensuring maximum productivity with minimum effort.
In addition to saving time and labour costs, WrapMates™ provide a much larger bearing area on the surface of the wrap, effectively avoiding any tearing of the wrap around the fastener caused by wind etc., thereby eliminating call backs and associated repair costs.
For further information visit the IDEAL Fasteners website idealfast.com.au or contact your nearest IDEAL Fasteners branch.
