illbruck ‘tapes it to the top’ to support the glass and glazing industries

Increasingly, the glass and glazing industries are looking to ways to introduce a more sustainable approach in the choice of systems used and the installation methods.

In this article, Laura Smith, senior market manager at illbruck sets out some of the ways its sealing solutions are supporting the sector in this vital area.

“When it comes to energy efficiency, windows are a key factor, but the best window is only as good as its seal.

Just as modern windows are increasingly becoming more technologically advanced and evolving to meet the drive for energy conservation, advanced sealing solutions are needed to insulate the joint, therefore maintaining overall efficiency while preventing energy losses and avoiding thermal bridging around the frames.

The RAL Assurance Association says that they should be “internally more vapour-tight than outside" in order to meet the requirements for energy saving, longevity and an optimal room climate – and the quality of sealing joints is a critical part of that process.

The 3-level model shows joints all have requirements on three levels, which are:

• inside: airtight
• middle: heat and sound insulating
• external: durable rain tight and vapour permeable.

Approved Document L (2021 edition, effective from June this year) introduces stricter levels of air permeability and for new-build dwellings, air sealing tapes/membranes and compressible seals should be used to seal windows and doors to the structure’s primary air barrier.

The illbruck solution

illbruck’s range of joint sealants for windows and facades is fully integrated and offers solutions for the complete building envelope on both new-build and renovation projects.

These include multi-functional tapes, impregnated joint sealing tapes and pressure sensitive tapes for a variety of application areas.

Multi-functional tapes from illbruck are able to seal joints at all three levels, inside, middle and external, with just one product. That means that nothing is faster, more economical and safer for installers.

And where there is a requirement for window joints to be sealed with three individual products, using impregnated joint tapes for the external joint, we have solutions to hand too.

illbruck’s impregnated joint sealing tapes offer a number of benefits due to their performance and installation properties.

These include weather and wind tightness, vapour permeability, acoustic and thermal performance, suitability for large joint widths and being permanently elastic with high movement absorption (50% to 100%).

The installation is also easy and fast, because little or no substrate preparation is required, and we are also here to help installers navigate the numerous requirements for the tapes subdivided into the different groups with regard to external application of BG1 or BG2 or BGR to DIN 18542.

Innovation in action  

illbruck has always remained at the forefront of innovation, with impregnated tapes first conceived by the brand as early as 1965.

A landmark came in 2007 when illbruck revolutionised the sealing market, with the invention of multi-functional tapes, capable of sealing all three levels of a window joint with only one product quickly, economically and robustly.

As well as fulfilling the recommendation mentioned earlier from the RAL Assurance Association of having the "inside tighter than outside" in terms of vapour control, the application of illbruck multi-functional tapes also reduces the sealing time by 80 per cent - meaning more windows sealed per day with the associated cost benefits.

All products meet current legal requirements and guidelines and internal and third- party tests all confirm the quality of these products.

Installers are also provided with the best advice, knowledge and information. From virtual Coffee Chats, to full technical support, illbruck ‘tapes it to the top’ to support the industry, providing a level of service and support that installers can rely on.

A sustainable approach

Recently the illbruck team headed to Futurebuild to demonstrate one of its newest products, TP654 illmod TRIO 1050, a lock tight sealing solution, which offers a sustainable advantage in the installation of doors and windows, providing long term performance derived from new and proven technology.

TP654 illmod TRIO 1050 window and door sealing tape features new geometric technology to ensure warm (or cold) air is kept within the structure, providing an airtight finish to support energy-efficient buildings.

The system also offers exceptional acoustic qualities and weather tightness, as well as strength and safety features as standard.

It also provides enhanced thermal and sound insulation to deliver good acoustic performance, the reassurance of a B1 flammability class and it is formulated to robustly withstand weather conditions including UV rays and driving rain resistance up to 1050 Pa.