Specification

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Basic Use: CertainTeed's MemBrain
™
Continuous Air Barrier & Smart Vapor Retarder
is a vapor retarder sheeting intended for use
with unfaced, vapor-permeable mass insulation
(fiber glass and mineral wool) in wall and
ceiling cavities.
Benefits: MemBrain Continuous Air Barrier &
Smart Vapor Retarder is a polyamide film that
changes its permeability with ambient humidity conditions, all while providing a continuous air seal.
The product’s permeance is 1 perm or less when tested in accordance with ASTM E96, dry cup
method, and increases to greater than 10 perms using the wet cup method. This process allows
closed building envelope systems to increase their drying potential with seasonal climatic changes.
With a high resistance to water vapor in winter, MemBrain reacts to relative humidity by altering pore
size, allowing water vapor to pass through it. When conditions change and relative humidity increases
above 60%, the pores in the material expand and its permeability increases. This transformation
permits drying to occur, in either direction, through the process of vapor diffusion. Thus, its lowered
resistance value supports the drying process, therefore decreasing moisture accumulation within the
construction and potential moisture damage. When installed with standard tape and sealing practices,
it creates an air barrier that has been tested under stringent performance guidelines.
This product can be used in place of traditional vapor retarders with unfaced fiber glass insulation to provide
an insulation system that is ideal in some of the more severe climate condition areas in terms of both
temperature and humidity. In addition, MemBrain may be installed as an interior air barrier system combined
with recommended tapes and sealants.
Composition and Materials: MemBrain Continuous Air Barrier & Smart Vapor Retarder is a Class A
Fire Rated 2-mil thick film of polyamide (nylon).
Limitations: MemBrain Continuous Air Barrier & Smart Vapor Retarder is recommended for use
in heating and mixed climates. The product is not suited for cooling climates with high outdoor
humidities. MemBrain is not suitable in buildings with exceptionally high, constant indoor humidity
levels, such as swimming pools and spas. This product should also not be used with specialty-
conditioned spaces with relative humidities intentionally greater than 50%. Use of MemBrain is not
recommended where residential humidification systems are set at relative humidities greater than
50%. MemBrain’s performance in rooms with short peaks of high humidity, such as bathrooms and
kitchens, will not be affected because of the buffering action of interior finishes.
Do not use low permeance interior finishes such as vinyl wallpaper or vapor retarding paints with
MemBrain. The drying benefits of MemBrain will diminish with the use of low permeance finishes.
MemBrain has not been tested for use with wet spray insulation systems and is not recommended at
this time. MemBrain should not be used as a vapor barrier between concrete subfloors and flooring
materials, or as a ground cover in basements and crawl spaces. This product is not recommended
for applications having direct or indirect (reflected) ultraviolet light exposure due to solar or electrical
sources. Special care should be taken when working with an open flame. Check local practice and/
or building codes for use of vapor retarders. To avoid danger of suffocation, keep this and all plastic film
away from babies and small children.
Product Name
MemBrain
™
Continuous Air
Barrier & Smart Vapor Retarder
Manufacturer CertainTeed Corporation
Address
20 Moores Road
Malvern, PA 19355
Phone [phone]
Website www.certainteed.com/membrain
TECHNICAL DATA
Applicable Standards
• Model Building Codes:
– ICC
– National Building Code of
Canada 2005 & 2010
Articles 9.25.4.2
Articles 9.25.3
CCMC Evaluation Report #13278-R
• Water Vapor Permeance:
– ASTM C665
Section 7.4, Water-Vapor Permeance
– ASTM E96
Fire Properties
– ASTM E84
Surface Burning Characteristics
Flame Spread Index < 25
Smoke Developed Index < 450
Quality Assurance
CertainTeed's commitment to quality and environmental
management has ensured the registration of the Athens,
Chowchilla and Kansas City plants to ISO 9001:2008 and
ISO 14001:2004 standards.
MemBrain
™
Continuous Air
Barrier & Smart Vapor Retarder
SPOT: PMS 300 & PMS 425
Specification Sheet
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
PROPERTY TEST METHOD RESULT
Water Vapor
Permeance
(57ng/Pa•s•m
2
)
ASTM E96
Desiccant Method
<1.0 perm
Water Vapor
Permeance
(572ng/Pa•s•m
2
)
ASTM E96
Water Method
>10 perms
Corrosivity ASTM C665
No unusual aspect
of corrosion such as
pitting, cracking
and adhesive
cure inhibition
Fungi Resistance ASTM C1338 No growth