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[CCMC 14510-R] CCMC Canadian code compliance evaluation

From: National Research Council Canada

In most jurisdictions this document is sufficient evidence for approval by Canadian authorities.

Learn more about CCMC recognition Look for the trusted CCMC mark on products to verify compliance.

Compliance opinion

It is the opinion of the Canadian Construction Materials Centre that the evaluated products, when used as breather-type sheathing membranes in accordance with the conditions and limitations stated in this evaluation, comply with the following codes:

National Building Code of Canada 2015

ID Code provision Solution type
09-27-03-02-00-0-009.27.3.2. Sheathing Membrane Material StandardAlternative

National Building Code of Canada 2020

ID Code provision Solution type
9.27.3.2.9.27.3.2. Sheathing Membrane Material StandardAlternative

The above opinion(s) is/are based on the evaluation by the CCMC of technical evidence provided by the evaluation holder, and is bound by the stated conditions and limitations. For the benefit of the user, a summary of the technical information that forms the basis of this evaluation has been included.

Product information

Product names

  • Sahara™ Evo Breathable Home & Building Wrap
  • Sahara™ Excel Breathable Home & Building Wrap

Product description

Sahara™ Evo Breathable Home & Building Wrap is a synthetic membrane consisting of woven spun-bonded polypropylene scrim coated with a waterproof, breathable material. The product is 5.5 mil thick and white in colour. The product is available in rolls ranging in widths from 0.91 m to 3.05 m and in lengths from 30.5 m to 45.7 m.

Sahara™ Excel Breathable Home & Building Wrap is a synthetic membrane consisting of a non-woven spun-bonded polypropylene membrane sandwiching a waterproof, breathable material. The product is 16 mil thick and tan in colour. The product is available in rolls ranging in widths from 0.91 m to 3.05 m and in lengths from 30.5 m to 45.7 m.

The products resist the passage of bulk moisture while maintaining a high degree of moisture vapour permeability. The rolled material is applied over the exterior sheathing material so that it forms a continuous envelope, underneath the cladding system, around the entire building. The figure below illustrates the application of the product.

Sahara™ Excel Breathable Home & Building Wrap installed on the side of a building

Figure 1. Installation of Sahara™ Excel Breathable Home & Building Wrap

  Conditions and limitations

The CCMC’s compliance opinion is bound by this product being used in accordance with the conditions and limitations set out below.

  • The product can be used as a breather-type sheathing membrane under commonly used types of exterior cladding to reduce the risk of water infiltration. The main purpose of the product is to create a continuous envelope around the occupied areas of residential or light commercial construction. Such continuity is achieved by overlapping the membrane per Article 9.27.3.3., Required Sheathing Membrane and Installation, of Division B of the NBC 2015 and NBC 2020 (joints must be lapped not less than 100 mm) or sealing the product either to itself (using CCMC-evaluated contractor sheathing tape) or to other construction materials (using an acoustical sealant). Where a CCMC-evaluated tape is required to provide continuity, its adhesion over the membrane must be validated. The membrane continuity at penetrations is beyond the scope of this evaluation and must be achieved according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  • A conforming installation must be:
    • installed with the printed side facing outward;
    • protected from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun within 60 days;
    • installed according to Article 9.27.3.3.;
    • installed with a minimum 10‑mm air space between the sheathing membrane and the cladding, unless the cladding has been deemed to not require an air space (i.e., deemed by the CCMC or by building officials based on past cladding performance); and
    • installed with the material overlapping 100 mm to 150 mm at vertical joints and 100 mm at horizontal joints. Note: Joints must be taped and sealed around both window and door openings.
  • A concealed air space exceeding 25 mm in width must contain proper fire blocking in accordance with Subsection 9.10.16., Fire Blocks, of Division B of the NBC 2015 and NBC 2020.
  • The product must be clearly identified with the phrase "CCMC 14510-R."

  Technical information

This evaluation is based on demonstrated conformance with the following criteria:

Evaluation requirements
Criteria number Criteria name
CCMC-TG-072510.03-15CCMC Technical Guide for Sheathing Membrane, Breather Type
CCMC-TG-072510.03-20CCMC Technical Guide for Sheathing Membrane, Breather Type
Table 1. Test results of performance requirements
Property Unit Requirement Result 
Sahara™ Excel Breathable Home & Building Wrap		 Result
Sahara™ Evo Breathable Home & Building Wrap
Sheet width - Tolerance: –6 mm of specified width Pass Pass
Breaking force machine direction N

180 N

340

258
cross direction 160 N 213 214
Water vapour permeance ng/(Pa·s·m2) ≥ 170 1 196 484
Water ponding of original samples - No leakage PassTable footnote (1) PassTable footnote (1)
Tensile strength after UV exposure machine direction % retention of original ≥ 90 97 96
cross direction 96 94
Tensile strength after UV and heat aging machine direction % retention of original ≥ 85 97 92
cross direction 91 86
Water vapour permeance after UV and heat aging ng/(Pa·s·m2) ≥ 170 1 552 555
Water ponding after UV and heat aging samples - No leakage PassTable footnote (1) PassTable footnote (1)

 

Administrative information

Use of Canadian Construction Materials Centre (CCMC) assessments

This assessment must be read in the context of the entire CCMC Registry of Product Assessments, any applicable building code or by-law requirements, and/or any other regulatory requirements (for example, the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, etc.).

It is the responsibility of the user to confirm that the assessment they are using is current and has not been withdrawn or superseded by a later version on the CCMC Registry of Product Assessments.

Disclaimer

The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) has evaluated only the characteristics of the specific product described herein. The information and opinions in this evaluation are directed to those who have the appropriate degree of experience to use and apply its contents (such as authorities having jurisdiction, design professionals and specifiers). This evaluation is valid when the product is used as part of permitted construction, respecting all conditions and limitations stated in the evaluation, and in accordance with applicable building codes and by-laws.

This evaluation is provided without representation, warranty or guarantee of any kind, expressed or implied, and the NRC provides no endorsement for any evaluated product. The NRC accepts no responsibility whatsoever arising in any way from any and all use of or reliance on the information contained herein or the use of any evaluated product. The NRC is not undertaking to render professional or other services on behalf of any person or entity nor to perform any duty owed by any person or entity to another person or entity.

Language

Une version française de ce document est disponible.
In the case of any discrepancy between the English and French version of this document, the English version shall prevail.

Copyright

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the National Research Council of Canada, 2023

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the CCMC.

CCMC recognition

The Canadian Construction Materials Centre (CCMC) assesses compliance with Canadian building, energy and safety codes. We are the only construction code compliance service supported and operated by the Government of Canada. Trusted by over 6,000 regulators across Canada.

Most Canadian authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) consider CCMC product assessments acceptable as evidence for product approval.

CCMC assessments are recognized by construction authorities across Canada:

The CCMC provides code compliance assessments to Canadian code requirements, consulting nationwide with construction regulators to elicit regional variations in code requirements as well as provincial and local interpretations. Users are advised to review the technical information presented in CCMC assessments when making approval decisions. Learn more about how the CCMC provides a unique service for Canada.

For more information, contact the CCMC by phone at (613) 993-6189 or by email at ccmc@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

NOTICE

The information presented on this webpage (in HTML format) is the most up-to-date information available from the CCMC about this assessment.

By downloading this PDF you acknowledge that:

  • this PDF is intended for record-keeping purposes only,
  • it represents the information as it was available at the time of downloading, and
  • it may not reflect the latest available information at some future date.
References to this CCMC assessment (in product literature, on websites, etc.) must be made by linking to the evaluation webpage. This PDF must not be used as a means of distributing this assessment to an audience.

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Code compliance as an acceptable solution

Code Compliance via Acceptable Solutions

If a building design (e.g. material, component, assembly or system) can be shown to meet all provisions of the applicable acceptable solutions in Division B (e.g. it complies with the applicable provisions of a referenced standard), it is deemed to have satisfied the objectives and functional statements linked to those provisions and thus to have complied with that part of the Code.

National Building Code of Canada, Sentence A-1.2.1.1.(1)(a)

The CCMC has determined that compliance with this provision of the Code has been demonstrated as an Acceptable Solution. The evaluation report provides a summary of the basis of CCMC's compliance opinion.

CCMC's code compliance opinions

All CCMC evaluation reports are opinions of code compliance established in accordance with the National Building Code of Canada, Subsection 1.2.1. "Compliance with this Code," which requires compliance to be achieved by:

  • complying with the applicable acceptable solutions in Division B, or
  • using an alternative solution that will achieve at least the minimum level of performance required by Division B in the areas defined by the objective and functional statements attributed to the applicable acceptable solutions.

The CCMC assesses compliance with Canadian building, energy and safety codes, and is trusted by over 6,000 regulators across Canada.

Code compliance as an alternative solution

Code Compliance via Alternative Solutions

Where a design differs from the acceptable solutions in Division B, then it should be treated as an "alternative solution." A proponent of an alternative solution must demonstrate that the alternative solution addresses the same issues as the applicable acceptable solutions in Division B and their attributed objectives and functional statements. However, because the objectives and functional statements are entirely qualitative, demonstrating compliance with them in isolation is not possible. Therefore, Clause 1.2.1.1.(1)(b) identifies the principle that Division B establishes the quantitative performance targets that alternative solutions must meet. In many cases, these targets are not defined very precisely by the acceptable solutions [...] Nevertheless, Clause 1.2.1.1.(1)(b) makes it clear that an effort must be made to demonstrate that an alternative solution will perform as well as a design that would satisfy the applicable acceptable solutions in Division B—not “well enough” but “as well as.”

National Building Code of Canada, Sentence A-1.2.1.1.(1)(b)

The CCMC has determined that compliance with this provision of the Code has been demonstrated as an Alternative Solution. The evaluation report provides a summary of the basis of CCMC's compliance opinion.

CCMC's code compliance opinions

All CCMC evaluation reports are opinions of code compliance established in accordance with the National Building Code of Canada, Subsection 1.2.1. "Compliance with this Code," which requires compliance to be achieved by:

  • complying with the applicable acceptable solutions in Division B, or
  • using an alternative solution that will achieve at least the minimum level of performance required by Division B in the areas defined by the objective and functional statements attributed to the applicable acceptable solutions.

The CCMC assesses compliance with Canadian building, energy and safety codes, and is trusted by over 6,000 regulators across Canada.

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