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[CCMC 14349-R] CCMC Canadian code compliance evaluation

From: National Research Council Canada

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Compliance opinion

It is the opinion of the Canadian Construction Materials Centre that the evaluated products, when used as a soil gas (radon) barrier in accordance with the conditions and limitations stated in this evaluation, comply with the following code:

National Building Code of Canada 2015

ID Code provision Solution type
09-13-04-02-00-0-009.13.4.2.(1) All wall, roof and floor assemblies sepa ...Alternative
09-25-03-06-00-0-009.25.3.6.(1) Materials used to provide a barrier to t ...Alternative

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

  • FOAMULAR® NGX™ RADONBARRIER™ RADON ABATEMENT SYSTEM
  • FOAMULAR® RADONBARRIER™ RADON ABATEMENT SYSTEM

Product description

This evaluation addresses the performance of the product when used as part of a sub-slab radon gas mitigation system as specified by Owens Corning. The product consists of the following components and accessories which provide the following functions:

Plane of airtightness

  •  Owens Corning's "FOAMULAR® C-200®/Codebord® and  FOAMULAR® NGX C-200/Codebord®" extruded polystyrene (XPS), Type 3 (CCMC 13431-L) as the principal material in the plane of airtightness.  The 2 438 mm by 610 mm board is available in 25 mm, 38 mm, and 51 mm thicknesses and is a solid foam with shiplap edges.  

Continuity of the plane of airtightness

Accessories for continuity include:

  • Owens Corning's "JointSealR® Foam Board Joint Tape" (CCMC 14003-R) to seal board joints of the XPS panels. The tape is available in rolls that are 88.9 mm and 152 mm wide.
  • Owens Corning's "ProPink ComfortSealTM Gun Foam" (CCMC 14431-L) to seal the joint between the XPS boards and concrete wall, XPS boards and penetrations, and between XPS boards at floor perimeter.  The sealant foam is a one-component, spray-in-place polyurethane evaluated by the CCMC (CCMC 14431-L) meeting CAN/ULC-S710.1-11, “Standard for Thermal Insulation – Bead-Applied One Component Polyurethane Air Sealant Foam, Part 1: Material Specification,” and CAN/ULC-S710.2-11, “Standard for Thermal Insulation – Bead-Applied One Component Polyurethane Air Sealant Foam, Part 2: Installation.” 
  • Flexible sealant meeting the NBC 2015 to seal the joint between the XPS boards and concrete wall, XPS boards and penetrations and between XPS boards at floor perimeter. 

Radon resistance 

It should be noted that Sentence 9.13.4.2.(1) of Division B of the NBC 2015 requires an effective air barrier system be installed as a barrier to soil gas. Owens Corning's radon barrier system has been evaluated beyond the qualification as an air barrier system required by the NBC 2015 for soil gas, as outlined in Section 5 of this evaluation, as Owens Corning's radon barrier system has qualified as an effective barrier to radioactive radon, specifically. Owens Corning's radon barrier system, when installed at 25 mm to 50 mm, shows better resistance to radon than 6-mil polyethylene (that is, the NBC 2015 benchmark acceptable solution).

System details

detail drawing of system materials 1
Figure 1. RADONBARRIER™ RADON ABATEMENT SYSTEM details at foundation wall - option 1
  1. Exterior wall dampproofing per NBC 2015.
  2. "ProPink ComfortSeal Gun Foam™" (CCMC 14431-L), or flexible sealant per NBC 2015
  3. "FOAMULAR® C-200®/Codebord® and  FOAMULAR® NGX C-200/Codebord®" (CCMC 13431-L)
  4. JointSealR FOam Board Joint Tape" (CCMC 14003-R)
  5. 100 mm coarse, clean granulated material per NBC 2015

 

detail drawing of system materials 2
Figure 2. RADONBARRIER™ RADON ABATEMENT SYSTEM details at penetrations
  1. Penetrations (PVC, ABS, steel)
  2. "ProPink ComfortSeal™ Gun Foam" (CCMC 14431-L), flexible sealant per NBC 2015, or "JointSealR® Foam Board Joint Tape"
  3. 100 mm coarse, clean granulated material per NBC 2015
  4. "JointSealR® Foam Board Joint Tape" (CCMC 14003-R)

 

detail drawing of system materials 3
Figure 3. RADONBARRIER™ RADON ABATEMENT SYSTEM details at foundation wall - Option 2
  1. "ProPink ComfortSeal™ Gun Foam" (CCMC 14431-L), or flexible sealant per NBC 2015
  2. "JointSealR® Foam Board JOint Tape" (CCMC 14003-R), "ProPink ComfortSeal™ Gun Foam" (CCMC 14431-L), or flexible sealant per NBC 2015
  3. "JointSealR® Foam Board Joint Tape" (CCMC 14003-R)
  4. 100 mm coarse, clean granulated material per NBC 2015

 

FOAMULAR® NGX C-200/Codebord® has not been evaluated from the Rockford, IL plant below

Manufacturing plants

This evaluation is limited to products produced at the following plants:

Product namesManufacturing plants
Grande-Île (Valleyfield), QC, CAPortland, OR, USRockford, IL, USTallmadge, OH, US
FOAMULAR® NGX™ RADONBARRIER™ RADON ABATEMENT SYSTEMProduct evaluated by the CCMCProduct evaluated by the CCMC-Product evaluated by the CCMC
FOAMULAR® RADONBARRIER™ RADON ABATEMENT SYSTEMProduct evaluated by the CCMCProduct evaluated by the CCMCProduct evaluated by the CCMCProduct evaluated by the CCMC

Product evaluated by the CCMC Indicates that the product from this manufacturing facility has been evaluated by the CCMC

  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 system must be installed on-site by Owens Corning-trained installers in accordance with the RADONBARRIER™ - THE OWENS CORNING® FOAMULAR® HIGH PERFORMANCE BASEMENT ENCLOSURE SYSTEM WITH PROTECTION FROM SOIL GAS (RADON) INGRESS dated September 2021.
  • For radon control,  the FOAMULAR® C-200®/Codebord® and  FOAMULAR® NGX C-200/Codebord® boards must be between 25-mm to 50-mm thick. The boards are to be installed directly over the gravel bed.  As the surface gravel may penetrate up to 15 mm into the board, the gravel bed shall be increased to 115 mm to ensure the required minimum 100-mm gravel bed as the gas-permeable layer to evacuate the radon gas.
  • As per Sentence 9.16.2.1.(1), Required Installation of Granular Material, of Division B of the NBC 2015, the specified gravel shall consist of coarse, clean granular material containing not more than 10% of material that will pass a 4 mm sieve.
  • Care shall be taken not to damage in particular, from any reinforcement mesh the XPS board surface during the installation of the concrete slab.
  • The XPS surface should be clean, dry, and not covered in frost, oil, grease, dust or any other unsuitable material before application of the joint tape.
  • The concrete surfaces shall be fully cured, clean, dry, and not covered in frost, oil, grease, dust or any other unsuitable material before application of the "ProPink Comfortseal™ Gun Foam" or "Flexible sealant meeting the NBC 2015."
  • As with any insulation installed underneath the slab perimeter, the wall footing must extend below the frost level. 
  • The XPS boards beneath the slab must be maintained in dry service conditions.
  • The joints between boards/penetrations must be flush and tight with no gaps before applying tape.The surface to be covered should be clean, dry and not covered in frost, oil, grease, dust or other unsuitable materialThe surface to be covered should be clean, dry and not covered in frost, oil, grease, dust or other unsuitable materialurn to table footnote eferrer

  Technical information

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

Evaluation requirements
Criteria number Criteria name
CCMC-TG-072623.02-15CCMC Technical Guide for Soil Gas (Radon) Control beneath Concrete Slabs-on-Ground using Rigid Board Insulation

The evaluation holder has submitted technical documentation for the CCMC’s evaluation. Testing was conducted at laboratories recognized by the CCMC. The corresponding technical evidence for this product is summarized below.

Performance requirementsThe following were the key performance requirements for the evaluation:
 
  • Material qualification: Polystyrene boards (XPS) Type 3 complying with CAN/ULC-S701.1:2017. Confirmed through possession of an active CCMC Listing 13431-L.
  • Air barrier system: The air barrier system for floors-on-ground qualification through testing. Confirmed through possession of active CCMC Report 12935-R. The NBC 2015 benchmark is 6-mil polyethylene as per Sentence 9.25.3.6.(1), Air Barrier Systems in Floors-on-Ground, of Division B of the NBC 2015.
  • Soil gas barrier: The barrier performance against soil gas, specifically radon, based on qualification testing, small-scale and large-scale (including penetrations). The NBC 2015 benchmark is 6-mil polyethylene as per Sentence 9.13.4.2.(1), Protection from Soil Gas Ingress, of Division B of the NBC 2015, referring to Sentence 9.25.3.6.(1).
  • Resistance to mechanical damage: Repeat small-scale radon-barrier testing with indented XPS by simulated concrete pour/workman load damage.
Table 1. Components evaluated for continuity of soil gas barrier 
Component Requirement Result (Acceptable contact surfaces)
"JointSealR® Foam Board Joint Tape" sealing board joints and pipe penetrationsTable footnote See CCMC 14003-R     Passed (XPS, PVC, ABS, steel)
"Propink ComfortSealTM Gun Foam" single-component foam sealant for perimeter joints and pipe penetrations See CCMC 14431-L Passed (XPS, PVC, ABS, steel, concrete)
Table 2. Radon barrier performance for XPS product CCMC 13431-L
Property Unit RequirementTable footnote (1) Result
Small-scale tests
Radon diffusion coefficient (D)Table footnote (2) m2 /s < 8.05 × 10-12 
6-mil polyethylene NBC benchmark		 5.36 × 10-10Table footnote
Radon resistance (Rradon) s/m ≥ 1.90 × 107 
6-mil polyethylene NBC benchmark		 3.58 × 108Table footnote
Table footnote
Radon diffusion coefficient (D) after mechanical damage m2 /s < 8.05 × 10-12 
6-mil polyethylene NBC benchmark		 6.94 × 10-10Table footnote (4)
Radon resistance (Rradon) after mechanical damage s/m ≥ 1.90 × 107 
6-mil polyethylene NBC benchmark		 2.12 × 108
Large-scale tests
Radon infiltration (RADONBARRIER™ RADON ABATEMENT SYSTEM) and floor assembly (3) % < 37.6  (RnR/RnD)Table footnote (5)
6-mil polyethylene NBC benchmark		 19.8

 

NRC Construction Research Centre Radon Testing Facilities

The National Research Council of Canada's Construction Research Centre includes a unique Radon Testing Facility that was utilized to establish the performance of this product in accordance with the benchmark performance of the code-prescribed acceptable solution.

Small-scale tests using the Radon Diffusion Test Chamber (RDTC)

Testing was performed utilizing a small-scale radon diffusion chamber to measure the radon permeability of the XPS board alone. The test configuration in the RDTC is shown below:

Schematic of Radon Diffusion Test Chamber
Figure 4. Schematic of RDTC
  1. Receiving compartment
  2. Radon monitor
  3. Test sample
  4. Dosing compartment
  5. Radon source

Large-scale tests using the Radon Infiltration Building Envelope Test Systems (RIBETS)

Testing was performed on the evaluated system to measure performance of the system, including treatment of joints and penetrations. The test configuration in the RIBETS is shown below:

Conceptual design of the Radon Infiltration Building Envelope Test Systems
Figure 5. Conceptual design of the RIBETS
  1. Sub-slab radon (Rn) exhaust stack (100 mm PVC pipe)
  2. Make-up air stack
  3. Exhaust stack
  4. Control damper
  5. In-line fan
  6. Baseboard heater
  7. Radon source
  8. Dosing compartment
  9. Receiving compartment
  10. Concrete pad
  11. Perforated stainless steel plate
  12. Gravel (100 mm), specification as per NBC 2015
  13. Air barrier (6-mil polyethylene or spray foam products)
  14. Concrete slab (101.6 mm)
  15. Copper tubing for pressure measurement

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

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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.

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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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