As a specifier, you’ll be looking for an airtightness solution that will perform and be robust enough to cope with the rigours of a building site. Vario® XtraSafe from Isover is a sophisticated product that has been designed with the end result in mind. It’s 3 times stronger than most standard polythene airtightness membranes so can withstand more of the rough and tumble of a typical building site and still perform to the required levels. The unique hook and loop fixation system with Vario® XtraFix tape means that a single person can install the membrane and that mistakes can be rectified quickly and without waste.
The Devil’s in the Detailing
When you’re trying to achieve high levels of airtightness, the devil really is in the detail. The Isover Vario® system has been used for many years in Europe and during that time, the installation techniques have been developed so that details for the building’s hardest to treat areas have been tried and tested and are proven to perform.
Isover can provide guidance for the key challenges of an airtightness project so that they can be tackled effectively and with confidence. Examples of problematic areas that Vario® XtraSafe products can protect include:
- Wire and pipe penetrations
- Joist penetrations
- Window reveals
- Door junctions
The Secrets of Success 
Whatever the build type, when trying to achieve high levels of airtightness, there’s no substitute for good communication with all the trades on site so that everyone is clear about what’s trying to be achieved and how each person could affect the objective.
Whilst, the Vario XtraSafe system can be used around all the tricky details of the building, there is one sure way to make life easier for yourself and that is to have the airtightness objectives embedded into the design and sequencing of the build at an early stage. For example, by counter battening a service void on the warm side of the Vario® membrane, you can avoid many of the penetrations through the membrane and the detailing required to treat those penetrations and maintain airtightness. Equally, if ceiling downlighters are required, as they often are in residential builds, having a service void between ceiling level and the Vario® membrane will avoid the detailing needed around each light fitting.
Get in touch
Want to know more about what Vario® XtraSafe can do for you? All you need to do is fill in an enquiry form and one of our Isover airtightness experts will be in touch as soon as possible.