Air barriers have recently been identified as one of several effective and viable solutions toward better high-performance buildings. The International Energy Conservation Code and several state energy codes now require their use in all new commercial construction as well as some residential construction. More importantly, energy efficiency and occupant comfort—two key ingredients of sustainable design—are driving the use of air barriers across a variety of market sectors. With today’s high cost of energy and concerns about indoor environmental quality (IEQ), air barriers are one of several construction systems with a critical role to play.

Air barrier systems in commercial/industrial buildings are estimated to reduce air leakage by up to 83 percent, save on gas bills by more than 40 percent, and cut down on electrical consumption as much as 25 percent, according to simulations by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Statistics from the NIST, and other academic and professional research groups, have caught the attention of certain entities, such as the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers and code officials in several states. They have led to a new awareness that air barriers can increase both the longevity and durability of the building envelope. Many professionals, however, do not understand the form, function and benefits of an air barrier in the design, engineering and construction market.