weather

defenceTM
rigid air barrier board
 Disclaimer

Products manufactured
and systems designed by
Etex Australia Pty Ltd and
branded Siniat, are produced
in accordance with the
Building Code of Australia and
relevant Australian Standards.
Information in this document is
to be used as a guide only and
is subject to project approval as
many aspects of construction
are not comprehensively
covered. It is the responsibility
of the project to determine
if our products and systems
are suitable for the intended
application and they meet the
relevant building code and
project requirements. It is also
the projects responsibility to

about us
ensure third party products have
the appropriate certification
with Siniat products and
systems. Etex Australia Pty Ltd
will not be held responsible
for any claims resulting
from the installation of its Siniat is one of the Etex Group’s flagship
products or other associated commercial brands, and one of the leading
products not in accordance
with the recommendations global manufacturers of interior and exterior
of the manufacturer’s materials for drywall construction.
technical literature or relevant
Australian Standards, or for In Australia, Etex has Siniat manufacturing
situations not covered by facilities located in Sydney, Melbourne,
our certification reports.
Bundaberg and Brisbane. Etex supplies Siniat
Siniat technical information is branded plasterboard, compounds, cornice,
regularly updated. To ensure
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through its national distribution network.
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Version 1
July 2023

2 Technical Advice 1300 724 505 [Link]

 contents

1 introduction 4

2 applications 5

3 components 6

joint sealing tapes 7

4 installation benefits 8

installation 8
external steel frame wall layout 9
general requirements 10
fixing 10
curving weather defence™ 11
joint sealing 12
construction details 13
board inspection 16

5 case studies 17

Technical Advice 1300 724 505 [Link] 3

 introduction
Siniat weather defence™ is a rigid air barrier •  asy to cut and shape, offering more options for
E
which is used behind facade cladding systems design detailing
to create a pressure equalised cavity. It has • Up to 50% quicker to install than cement based
transformed building envelope construction boards or metal sheets
and performance.
• Makes the building weathertight for internal
The design benefits it brings include: trades, reducing the construction cycle

• Compliant for facades requiring • Simply score and snap, no need for specialist
non-combustible construction cutting equipment or segregated areas

• Class 4 vapour permeable and can achieve • No additional wall wrap may be needed
outstanding building airtightness • weather defence™ is water, weather and mould
• It is the only compliant rigid air barrier resistant and can be left exposed on frame for up
in Climate Zones 6, 7 & 8 to 12 months. It makes the building weathertight,
allowing internal trades to start working earlier.

4 Technical Advice 1300 724 505 [Link]

 applications
Innovative technology

External sheathing board options have evolved. weather defence™ is a rigid air barrier that is
BCA compliant for non-combustible facades; a great alternative to cement based sheathing
boards. It’s excellent vapour permeability means it is suitable for cold climates, or for
accelerating construction by enclosing the building early.

weather defence™ is designed to be installed on:

• Lightweight steel stud framing

• Modular buildings

• Timber frame buildings

weather defence™ installations can achieve airtightness targets that contribute to a building’s
energy efficiency and allow any glasswool insulation in the cavity to perform as intended by
avoiding wind washing.

It has a fully recyclable gypsum core that is low in embodied carbon and that produces no
silica dust during installation. weather defence™ also improves thermal and acoustic
performance.

Technical Advice 1300 724 505 [Link] 5

 components
1 Internal wall lining
1
3 2 Steel framing

3 Insulation

4 weather defence™ rigid air barrier

2
5 Cladding support framing system

6 Cladding
5

Components
Thickness Width Length Weight
Name Properties
(mm) (mm) (mm) (kg/m2)

weather defence™ 13 1200 2400 11.7

Corrosion resistant Corrosion resistant

coating coating

Product Code Box screw Product Code Box screw

4084645 1000 screws 4084646 1000 screws

FIGURE 2 6g x 38mm Weather Defence Screw FIGURE 3 6g x 42mm Weather Defence Screw
Fine thread drill point screw Coarse thread needle point screw

6 Technical Advice 1300 724 505 [Link]

 weather defence™ 13 1200 2400 11.7

Corrosion resistant Corrosion resistant

coating coating

Product Code Box screw Product Code Box screw

joint sealing 1000

4084645
tapesscrews 4084646 1000 screws

FIGURE 2 6g x 38mm Weather Defence Screw FIGURE 3 6g x 42mm Weather Defence Screw
Fine thread drill point screw Coarse thread needle point screw

Product Code Length Width

13206 30 m 60 mm Product Code Length Width
13280 30 m 100 mm 14152 20 m 150 mm
14891 30 m 150 mm 14156 20 m 200 mm

FIGURE 4 Pro Clima Tescon Extora® FIGURE 5 Pro Clima Tescon Extoseal®
Flashing Tape - (Supplied by Pro Clima) Sill Tape - (Supplied by Pro Clima)

Tape width Application

60 mm Jointing

Vertical control joints,

100 mm internal and external corners,
sides and top of openings

150 mm 92 mm stud frame sills

Product Code Length Width 200 mm 150 mm stud frame sills

16849 30 m 38 mm
For sealant around external
FIGURE 6 Pro Clima Tescon® WS 38 mm
openings
Wet Seal Connection Tape - (Supplied
by Pro Clima)

Technical Advice 1300 724 505 [Link] 7

 installation benefits
Why weather defence™ is significantly quicker to Manual handling and health & safety benefits
install than cement based boards or metal sheeting:
When cutting, cement boards or metal sheets
• It can be scored and snapped with a utility knife may require the use of power tools. In contrast,
weather defence™ just requires a utility knife.
•  o transportation time to a separate cutting
N
area Dust hazards and cutting areas

• It can replace wall wrap Cutting cement boards is likely to generate large
quantities of very fine dust, which requires
•  ine details are easily cut using a key hole
F
effective ventilation – often a cutting area some
saw or power tools
distance from the installation area. In contrast, the
• Can be left exposed on frame for up to score and snap method used for weather defence™
Firetwelve
Ratedmonths
and Non-Fire Rated generates minimal dust levels and does not require
Head and Base Details a separate cutting area.

Typical Installation
installation
External cladding including fibre Supporting frame for cladding
cement, brick veneer and
rainscreen claddings Pro Clima Tescon Extora® tape
over joints and junctions

Siniat internal
plasterboard

Siniat steel stud

wall framing

Pink Batts

Siniat Weather
Defence

Siniat Weather
Additional Siniat steel framing if Defence screws
required by external cladding

FIGURE 7 Typical Weather Defence Installation

Perspective
8 Technical Advice 1300 724 505 [Link]
external steel frame wall layout
Framing

Slotted Deflection
Head Track

Align
service
holes in
studs

Nogging/s
for stud Siniat
restraint steel stud

Base track

FIGURE 8 Typical External Steel Frame Wall Layout

Perspective

Technical Advice 1300 724 505 [Link] 9

generalrequirements
general requirements

Install control joints in weather defence™:

> At every intermediate slab level
> At all control joints in the structure
> At any change in the substrate
Attach top hats or other cladding framing through weather defence™ to the structural frame

Wall anchors or screws must not be used to fix framing or other items to weather defence™; use stud,
noggings or blocking

Do not install weather defence™ where it may become immersed in water

fixing

Drive screws to just below the sheet surface, taking care not to break the fleece liner. For over-driven
screws, install another screw 20mm away. Leave or remove the over-driven screw and patch with tape.

Use the ‘Screw Only Method’. Stud adhesive is not permitted.

Table 1 Screw Type for the Installation of Weather Defence to Steel

Plasterboard Thickness 1st Layer

13mm 6g x 38mm fine thread drill point Weather Defence screw

Table 2 Screw Type for the Installation of Weather Defence to Timber

Plasterboard Thickness 1st Layer

13mm 6g x 42mm coarse thread needle point Weather Defence screw

10 Technical Advice 1300 724 505 [Link]

 FIGURE 9 1 Layer - Horizontal
Screw Only Method
Floating Short Edges Plasterboard must not
Install floating framing be fixed to head track
Fix on each stud member behind short edge
60 - 100mm

Long Edges
Fix screws to each
stud at 10 - 25mm
from sheet edges

Fix on each stud Short Edges

50mm nominal Fix to stud
Field
Refer to
Fixing Table

Maximum Ultimate Limit State Wind Load Table (kPa)

Maximum Wall Stud Spacing
Fixing Pattern
600mm 450mm 400mm 300mm
S S S S S (5) 1.31 1.74 1.96 2.62
S S S S S S (6) 1.64 2.18 2.46 3.28
S S S S S S S (7) 1.95 2.62 2.95 3.93
S S S S S S S S (8) 1.95 3.08 3.47 4.63
S = Screw. Screws evenly spaced along sheet width and located 10 - 50mm from sheet edges.
1. Calculations do not include the framing which must be independently designed to suit the desired loads.
2. If higher wind pressures are expected, please contact Siniat for specific design.

curving weather defence™

Fix flat plate to studs corresponding with all horizontal board joints

Fit weather defence™ board horizontally across studs and install in a ‘brick bond’ pattern

Refer to screw table for maximum screw spacing depending on the wind pressure

Use Pro Clima Tescon Extora range of tapes to seal joints

Technical Advice 1300 724 505 [Link] 11

joint sealing
Applying Tescon Extora range of tapes from Pro Clima:

Tape system is limited to an exposure period of no longer than 6 months

Tape may be applied at any time within the twelve months exposure period following weather defence™
installation. Note that joints without tape may allow some water penetration
weather defence™ surface must be generally clean, dry and free of oil, dust and other particles or chemicals
that could cause poor adhesion – significant contamination may impair adhesion

Install weather defence™ boards with a 0–2mm gap

Peel backing paper from the tape as the operation progresses

Apply with joint running along the centre of the tape – this will usually cover screw fixings

Apply without wrinkles or excessive tension in the tape. Firmly press, and smooth against weather
defence™, running over the tape with the applicator paddle to ensure adhesion
Minimise the number of pieces of tape used to reduce the risk of gaps. Overlap tapes by 50mm minimum
where multiple pieces have to be used. Ensure overlaps are pressed firmly against board and fully sealed

Seal horizontal joints first and run tapes for vertical joints over the top of the horizontal tape

Patch tapes with additional 150mm pieces perpendicular to the original tape, rather than removing strips
from weather defence™ and risking damage to the substrate

Where high levels of rain tightness are required it is advised to use a hose to identify holes or gaps

Tape may be applied between 5°C and 40°C.

Screw fixing
Max. Min.
25mm 10mm
60mm Pro Clima
Flashing Tape
Min. Min.
10mm 10mm
weather defence™ weather defence
screws

weather defence™

60mm Pro Clima

Gap no greater than 2mm
Flashing Tape
FIGURE 10 Edge distance for board fixing FIGURE 11 Typical joint detail

weather defence™

60mm Pro Clima

12 Flashing Tape Technical Advice 1300 724 505 [Link]
 Screw fixing
Screw
Max. fixing
Min.
Max. 10mm
25mm Min.
Screw 10mm
fixing
construction details
25mm 60mm Pro Clima
Max. Min. 60mm Pro
Flashing Clima
Tape
25mm 10mm Flashing Tape Min. Min.
60mm Pro Clima Min.
Min. 10mm
10mm
Flashing Tape 10mm 10mm
weather defence™ weather defence
Min. Min. weather defence
weather defence™ screws
10mm 10mm screws
weather defence™ weather defence
screws
weather defence™
weather defence™
60mm Pro Clima
Gap no greater than 2mm
60mm Pro
Flashing Clima
Tape
weather defence™
Gap no greater than 2mm
Flashing Tape
FIGURE 10 Edge distance for board fixing FIGURE 11 Typical joint detail 60mm Pro Clima
FIGURE 10 than
Gap no greater Edge distance for board fixing
2mm FIGURE 11 Typical joint detail Flashing Tape
FIGURE 10 Edge distance for board fixing FIGURE 11 Typical joint detail

weather defence™
weather defence™

weather
60mm defence™
Pro Clima
60mm Pro
Flashing Clima
Tape
Flashing Tape
60mm Pro Clima
Flashing Tape
weather defence
EPDM flexible weather defence™ weather
38mm defence
screws
EPDM weather defence™ 38mm screws
gasket,flexible
or pliable
gasket, or pliable
membrane weather defence
EPDM flexible
membrane weather defence™ 38mm screws
gasket, or pliable
membrane
100mm Pro Clima
100mm Pro
Flashing Clima
Tape
Flashing Tape Min. 10mm Min.
Min.
10mm 10mm Min.
10mm
100mm Pro Clima
10mm 10mm
Flashing Tape
Min. 10mm Min.
10mm 10mm

FIGURE 12 Horizontal control joint detail FIGURE 13 Vertical control joint detail
FIGURE 12 Horizontal control joint detail FIGURE 13 Vertical control joint detail
FIGURE 12 Horizontal control joint detail FIGURE 13 Vertical control joint detail

Min.
Min.
10mm
10mm weather defence
weather defence
38mm screws
Min.
38mm screws
10mm
weather defence
38mm screws
weather defence™
Min. weather defence™
Min.
10mm
10mm weather defence
weather defence™
weather
38mm defence
screws
Min.
100mm Pro Clima 38mm screws
10mm 100mm Pro Clima
Flashing Tape weather defence
Flashing Tape 38mm screws
100mm Pro Clima
weather
Flashing defence™
Tape
weather defence™
100mm Pro Clima
weather defence™ 100mm
FlashingPro Clima
Tape
Flashing Tape
100mm Pro Clima
FIGURE 14 Internal corner detail FIGURE 15 External corner
Flashing Tape detail
FIGURE 14 Internal corner detail FIGURE 15 External corner detail
Technical Advice 1300 724 505 [Link] 13
FIGURE 14 Internal corner detail FIGURE 15 External corner detail
 FIGURE 16 Isometric view of window/meter box opening - tape application

Pro Clima Sill Tape

to the top corners with min. 50mm
Min. 100mm cover to weather defence™
(Applied third)

Min. 100mm

Pro Clima Flashing Tape

to the head and jamb reveals
with min. 50mm cover onto weather
defence™ (Applied second)

Min. 100mm

Pro Clima Wet Seal Connection

Tape between sealant Pro Clima Sill tape
& flashing /sill tape to the sill reveal with min.
(Applied last) 50mm cover onto weather defence™
(Applied first)

FIGURE 18 Window head and sill detail

Pro Clima Flashing

FIGURE 17 Window jamb detail Tape

Backing rod and sealant

Window
subjamb

Min. weather defence Pro Clima Wet Seal

10mm 38mm screws Connection Tape

weather defence™
Pro Clima Sill Tape

Pro Clima Flashing Tape

to perimeter of
Backing rod opening and 150mm
and sealant
Pro Clima Sill Tape
weather defence™
to corners

14 Technical Advice 1300 724 505 [Link]

 FIGURE 19 Wall base detail 2

weather defence™
weather defence™
FIGURE 19 Wall base detail 2 FIGURE 20 Exposed slab junction
Corrosiondetail
resistant
drip flashing sealed to
100mm Pro Clima concrete slab/footing
Min.
Flashing Tape weather defence™
30mm
weather defence™
Min.
Min. 60mm Pro Clima
Corrosion resistant
10mm
30mm 60mm Pro Clima Flashing Tape
drip flashing sealed to
Flashing Tape Optional sealant for
concrete slab/footing
Min. acoustic rating
200mm x 100mm x 30mm
0.5mm BMT flashing Corrosion resistant metal Pro Clima Flashing Tape
angle sealed to Pro
ground with min. 50mm cover on
60mm Clima
weather defence™
Flashing Tape

FIGURE 23 Soffit junction weather

detail defence™

FIGURE 21 Wall base detail - balcony

Min.
weather defence™ FIGURE 20 Exposed slab junction detail
30mm
Corrosion resistant 60mm Pro Clima
drip flashing sealed to Flashing Tape
weather Optional sealant for
concretedefence™
hob/footing
Corrosion
acoustic resistant
or fire rating flashing

Min. Min.
FIGURE 20 Exposed slab junction
30mm
60mm Pro Clima
detail 100mm Pro Clima
30mm
Flashing Tape
Flashing Tape Optional sealant for
60mm Pro Clima acoustic rating
Flashing Tape
Corrosion resistant metal Pro Clima Flashing Tape
angle sealed to ground with min. 50mm cover on
weather defence™
Optional sealant for
acoustic rating
weather defence™
Pro Clima Flashing Tape FIGURE 22 Parapet detail
with min. 50mm cover on
weather defence™
100mm Pro Clima
Flashing Tape

FIGURE 21 Wall base detail - weather

balcony defence™
Min.
10mm
weather defence™ Min.
30mm
Corrosion resistant 60mm Pro Clima
drip flashing sealed to Flashing Tape
concrete hob/footing
Corrosion resistant flashing

Min. Min.
30mm Drainage tank weather defence™
30mm
60mm Pro Clima
Flashing
60mm Pro Clima Tape
Flashing Tape
Corrosion resistant flashing

Technical Advice 1300 724 505 [Link] weather defence™

15
 FIGURE 23 Soffit junction detail

weather defence™

100mm Pro Clima

Flashing Tape

Optional sealant for

acoustic or fire rating

100mm Pro Clima

Flashing Tape

FIGURE 22 Parapet detail

100mm Pro Clima

board inspection
Flashing Tape

weather defence™
Min.
Inspect weather defence™ boards for any damage prior to closing off the sheathing layer and after extreme
10mm
weather.

Fixing damaged boards: Min.

100mm Pro Clima
10mm
Flashing Tape

Drainage tank weather defence™

Minor damage to weather defence™ can be repaired with the application
50mm of suitably sized
200mmpieces
x 100mm ofx
Pro Clima Tescon Extora or Extoseal tapes that overlap the damage by 50mm minimum in all
0.75mm BMT flashing
directions
More extensive damage may require the replacement of the damaged section with a piece of weather
defence™ board cut to size and Pro Clima Tescon Extora tape applied to all horizontal and vertical
joints. Back all joints with framing and fix with Weather Defence screws at 100mm maximum spacing

weather defence™

150mm

Min.
10mm
100mm Pro Clima
16 Flashing Tape Technical Advice 1300 724 505 [Link]
case studies
Park Sydney, Sydney

weather defence™ was selected

as the site of this new apartment
complex needed a rigid weather
barrier for use behind a ventilated
rainscreen capable of providing
a high performance facade,
whilst meeting all fire compliance
requirements.

The use of weather defence™ also

provided an increased acoustic
performance, over a pliable sarking
membrane, whilst still being highly
vapour permeable to control
interstitial condensation risks.

Over 10,000m2 of weather

defence™ was installed over the
3 blocks, allowing an earlier
close-in of each building. This
allowed internal trades to keep
to project schedules, evening
during large rain events.

17
 Brookvale Public School, Sydney

Siniat weather defence™ was used in

conjunction with a rainscreen facade
system from EQUITONE.
The weather defence™ provides a
robust weathertight building envelope,
whilst managing condensation risk
by being highly vapour permeable.

Onsite teams were impressed by the

performance of weather defence™
during periods of heavy rain. It
allowed the interior to stay dry,
enabling internal trades to keep
working. This would not have
been possible without the
installation of Siniat weather
defence™ early on in the build.

18
 Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham - UK

Siniat’s Weather Defence was

used in a new Ambulatory Care
and Diagnostics Centre (ACAD) in
Birmingham’s Heartlands Hospital.
The project was challenging
as construction continued in
the pandemic and amidst strict
lockdown measures in the UK.

The architect had originally

specified Siniat systems for just
three wall types in the ACAD,
but during the build it became
clear the requirement for
drywall, passive fire and external
protection was far greater than
the original design. Working
closely together, Kier and Siniat
UK identified a further eight wall
types that needed to be included
in the specification.

This resulted in a combination

of Siniat’s products being
specified, including weather
defence™ external sheathing.

The project’s most challenging

problem was presented by the
number of building services that
would be going through the
ACAD Centre’s walls. Hospitals are complex environments and require a large amount of ducting, pipework
and cabling to run through the walls. This is more than those of a standard build which normally means
more gaps in the walls, which can cause challenges as if these are not sealed properly - meaning they
could enable smoke and flames to spread rapidly in the event of a fire.

The Siniat range of boards are more flexible than other similar products on the market which meant they
were able to deal with the aperture openings. As a result, Siniat was able to offer an effective solution that
worked around the services and ensured all requirements such as fire stopping were adhered to.

weather defence™ external sheathing provides a faster way to weathertight structures compared to
traditional sheathing boards. This meant the ACAD was protected from the elements and allowed internal
trades to start work before the facade was fully complete.

Technical Advice 1300 724 505 [Link] 19

Etex Australia Pty Ltd
ABN 61 003 621 010
31 Military Road
Matraville NSW 2036

[Link]

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Siniat's products are guaranteed
by a comprehensive warranty.
For details visit [Link]

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