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 | | DUPONT™ TYVEK® LAUNCHES DUPONT™ CLIMATE SYSTEMS - PROVIDING COMFORT AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY REGARDLESS OF WEATHER AND SEASONS | | | DuPont Glass Laminating Solutions | | 12/10/2006 | | |
DuPont™ Climate Systems provide a proven solution for effective moisture management and protection against heat loss through a specially engineered combination of innovative reflective technology and a vapour control layer. Tyvek® Enercor™ Roof and Tyvek® Enercor™ Wall are part of the new generation of vapour-open metallised Tyvek® membranes engineered using the unique `breathsulate' technology, which combines high moisture diffusion capacity and high surface reflectivity in one product. DuPont™ AirGuard is a metallised VCL which provides an excellent protection against moisture to penetrate into the building envelope combined with a high surface reflectivity to reflect more than 90% of heat in winter.
The systems for roofs and walls have evolved as a result of the company's global approach to building design, based on the principle `build tight, ventilate right', to provide energy efficiency solutions and allow a building envelope with optimum thermal performance by minimising heat losses by radiation, convection and conduction.
Year-round comfort is achieved through the use of low emissivity Tyvek® Enercor™ which reflects 85% of radiant heat in summer, while in winter emitting only 15% of radiant heat. Adequate ventilation is recommended to assure a healthy indoor climate. The specially metallised microfibre underlay used on the outside of the thermal insulation, combined with the special vapour control layer, will quickly release any peak of moisture concentration. This means that mould and mildew cannot develop, and ensures that the thermal insulation remain dry, thus performing properly.
In its previous incarnation as Tyvek® Reflex, thermal tests were carried out on the material at BRE. Principal Consultant David Butler explains: 'Tyvek® Reflex was installed in a standard 89mm timber frame wall with an outer brick leaf constructed in an environmental test chamber. A standard semi-permeable membrane was installed in a second but identical timber frame wall. Tests were carried out simultaneously with an identical temperature difference across the walls and under steady state thermal conditions. Taking into account measurement uncertainties, the Tyvek® Reflex wall had 10% to 15% lower heat transfer rate than the wall section with the standard semi permeable membrane.'
More stringent building regulations have established the need to optimise the performance of the building envelope in order to further increase energy efficiency in buildings. While there is a need to ventilate a building's interior in order to remove indoor pollutants such as moisture, C02, odours etc., builders must also improve wind tightness and air tightness of the building envelope, while reducing thermal bridges and avoiding condensation. By incorporating reflective membranes, DuPont™ Climate Systems are able to minimise wall and roof thickness, comply with building codes and improve actual performance over time.
Debbie Oliver, Architectural Technician for Orion Services, said: 'Changes to the building regulations in 2002 forced house designers to use 150mm timber frames to allow enough space for the amount of insulation required to meet the elemental U-value - leading to a 33% increase in timber cost and, as mechanical lifting equipment may be required to position the 33% heavier frames, greater construction costs. We have found that the overall saving, between timber cost and mechanical lifting, is far greater than the cost of incorporating Tyvek® reflective membranes, giving our clients the opportunity of having larger buildings for their money.'
The systems have many environmental benefits: ease of transportation; minimising the use of fossil fuels by reducing fuel consumption; and helping governments to meet Kyoto protocol targets through reduction in C02 emissions. There are also resultant benefits to the house dweller - increased comfort year-round through improved indoor temperature control, a healthier environment through better air quality (no humidity related problems that may otherwise result from mould and mildew), and reduction in costs through reduced energy bills.
DuPont
DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by solving problems and creating solutions that make people's lives better, safer and easier. Operating in more than 70 countries, the company offers a wide range of products and services to markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.
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