The water intrusion past the building envelope is a leading cause of costly problems in the built environment. Manufacturers of water-resistive barrier (WRB) and underlayment systems know their products are a critical final line of defense to keep moisture where it belongs, but how do they know their products will rise to meet that challenge? Perhaps the barrier itself is sound, but what about real-world influences like joints, fastener penetrations, and treatments around openings?

To help manage these risks, forward-thinking manufacturers partner with a third party they trust to evaluate and test their barrier and flashing systems against all relevant building code requirements. With a single-source solution from the International Code Council Family of Solutions, barrier manufacturers can avoid the stress of wondering what they may have missed. ICC’s family of solutions benefits from the synergies of working with a single group of like-minded experts. They know their customers can choose their innovative barrier solutions with confidence.

ICC-ES accredited laboratories conduct tests for various characteristics of WRBs and Underlayment, including but not limited to:

• Air barrier material and assembly performance
• Breaking strength
• Liquid water transmission
• Loss of heating
• Peel adhesion (for self-adhering barriers)
• Permeability
• Pliability
• Resistance to weathering (accelerated aging, UV light exposure)
• Saturation capacity
• Tear strength

We create tailored test plans that capture specialized requirements for innovative products, such as those found in the ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria. Below is a list of standards or criteria that may be included in test plans for WRB and Underlayment testing:

• AAMA 711: Specification for Self-Adhering Flashing Used for Installation of Exterior Wall Fenestration Products
• ASTM D226: Standard Specifications for Asphalt-Saturated Organic Felt Used in Roofing and Waterproofing
• ASTM D4869: Standard Specification for Asphalt-Saturated Organic Felt Underlayment Used in Steep Slope Roofing
• ASTM E96: Standard Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Materials
• ICC-ES AC38: Acceptance Criteria for Water-resistive Barriers
• ICC-ES AC48: Acceptance Criteria for Self-adhered Roof Underlayments for Use as Ice Barriers
• ICC-ES AC71: Acceptance Criteria for Foam Plastic Sheathing Panels Used as Weather-resistive Barriers
• ICC-ES AC382: Acceptance Criteria for Laminated Fibrous Board Sheathing Material Used as a Water-resistive Barrier