Air and Vapor Barrier 3015 - Technical Bulletin 3015-0003 - WUFI Analysis of Wall Section

Oct 13, 2026

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Purpose of Test examines whether changing the water vapor transmission (moisture perm) rating of 3M™ Air and Vapor Barrier 3015 affects wall hygrothermal performance. A WUFI® analysis compared wall models using perm ratings of 0.14 versus 0.05, with identical properties except the barrier perm value. Using hour-by-hour transient modeling over three years of Minneapolis weather, the report evaluates dew point versus actual temperature at critical wall locations. Conclusions indicate no significant performance difference, with notes that construction and system parameter changes may alter results.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time2 min

AccessFree to download

Purpose of Test

WUFI® Modeling Method

Wall Assembly Inputs

Perm Rating Scenarios (0.14 vs 0.05)

Dew Point Temperature Graph Interpretations

Conclusions and Disclaimers

Air and Vapor Barrier 3015 Building Envelope Solutions WUFI® Analysis ofWall Section Technical Bulletin 3015-0003 February, 2014 Purpose of Test: 3M™ Air and Vapor Barrier 3015 has a water vapor transmission rate of0.14 perms (8 ng/Pa·s·m2), as measured by ASTM E96, desiccant method. Some building professionals have expressed concerned that this value could mean that 3M 3015 could not be used as a barrier product on par with other self-adhered membranes with water vapor transmission rates around 0.05 perms. A WUFI® analysis was performed to determine if there was any difference in wall performance between materials of 0.14 and 0.05 perms. Results: 3M Company contracted Architectural Testing, Inc. (ATI), to perform the WUFI® modeling. ATI utilized WUFI® Pro version 5.2 for the analysis. WUFI® is a program developed by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics. It is a validated, one-dimensional moisture and heat (hygrothermal) transport software used to analyze the effects of building material selection on the thermal and moisture performance of building components. The program models behavior on an hour-by-hour basis (transient) according to interior and exterior climate conditions for a specified duration of time. For this analysis, the wall systems were modeled over a time period of 3 years using historical weather data for Minneapolis, MN (Climate Zone 6 2009 IECC) . A span of multiple years is required for the analysis to allow for construction materials to reach a static state where wall system moisture levels become repeatable over time. The subject wall assembly for this analysis was input as follows (exterior to interior): • 2" Extruded Polystyrene Insulation Board • 3M™ Air and Vapor Barrier 3015 • 5/8" Gypsum board • 6" Air Space (Steel stud cavity, uninsulated) • 5/8" Gypsum board In model \#1, the weather resistant barrier (WRB) layer, 3M™ Air and Vapor Barrier 3015 (herein 3M 3015 WRB), was assigned a moisture perm rating of 0.14. In model \#2, the 3M 3015 WRB was assigned a moisture perm rating of 0.05. The only variable changed in the analysis was the perm rating assigned to the 3M 3015 WRB material. All other properties and details remained the same. The graphs on the following pages are plotted against time with visible peaks and valleys occurring on an annual basis. The graphs show the relationship between actual temperature and dew point temperature at critical locations within the wall system. Where the actual temperature overlaps the dew point temperature, it can be assumed that condensation will form. The greater the deviation between the two temperatures the less risk of the formation of condensation. Graph 1: Dew Point Temperature-Interior face of Insulation Board, adjacent to 3M 3015 WRB (0.14 Perm Rating) Graph 2: Dew Point Temperature-Interior face of Insulation Board, adjacent to 3M 3015 WRB (0.05 Perm Rating) Graph 3: Dew Point Temperature-Exterior face of Exterior Gypsum Board, adjacent to 3M 3015 WRB (0.14 Perm Rating) Graph 4: Dew Point Temperature-Exterior face of Exterior Gypsum Board, adjacent to 3M 3015 WRB (0.05 Perm Rating) Graph 5: Dew Point Temperature-Interior face of Exterior Gypsum Board, adjacent to stud cavity (3M 3015 WRB 0.14 Perm Rating) Graph 6: Dew Point Temperature-Interior face of Exterior Gypsum Board, adjacent to stud cavity (3M 3015 WRB 0.05 Perm Rating) Graph 7: Dew Point Temperature-Exterior face of Interior Gypsum Board, adjacent to stud cavity (3M 3015 WRB 0.14 Perm Rating) Graph 8: Dew Point Temperature-Exterior face of Interior Gypsum Board, adjacent to stud cavity (3M 3015 WRB 0.05 Perm Rating) | Conclusions: | The results of the analyses show that there is no significant performance difference realized by changing the moisture permeation rating (ASTM E96) of the weather resistant barrier layer from 0.14 to 0.05 in the wall system analyzed.
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FAQs

What question does the technical bulletin investigate?

It determines whether the performance of a wall system changes when 3M™ Air and Vapor Barrier 3015 is modeled with moisture perm ratings of 0.14 versus 0.05.

Which software and modeling approach were used for the analysis?

Architectural Testing, Inc. used WUFI® Pro version 5.2, a validated one-dimensional transient hygrothermal transport tool that models hourly behavior based on interior and exterior climate conditions.

What wall assembly components were modeled in the study?

From exterior to interior: 2" extruded polystyrene insulation, 3M™ Air and Vapor Barrier 3015, 5/8" gypsum board, 6" air space (steel stud cavity), and 5/8" gypsum board.

What is the main conclusion regarding changing the perm rating?

The analyses show no significant performance difference when the weather resistant barrier layer perm rating (ASTM E96) changes from 0.14 to 0.05 for the wall system analyzed, though material and parameter changes during or after construction can alter performance.

Oct 13, 2026

Upload by Aurelia