Sealux Cladseal Panseal Codes of Practice

1. The strips are adapted not only to act as a protective exterior backing material for sealant in the shower environment, but they are also laminated with sealant bond-breakers.
2. The strips are profiled to facilitate wide sealant cross section dimensions which maximise the capacity for stress free joint expansion while maintaining a feasible curing face.
3. The strips offer further advantages of concealing the sealant from view and protecting the sealant from hostile shower environments.

Clarification

The following references to ‘codes of practice’ are offered exclusively as guidance on best practice and are not specifications or requirements that must be met. The codes are voluntary. We ask you to consider the merit of these codes and benefit of compliance in the context of the product supplied and task at hand.

Sealant selection.

BS5385-1:2009 Section 5.9.2 and BS5385 3:2007 Section 5.7.2 state joint sealants should be selected and applied in accordance with the guidance given in BS 6213.
BS6213:2000 refers to BS ISO 11600 (a sealant performance specification) as a means of identifying suitable sealants which meet a number of requirements, in particular movement accommodation
Sealux recommend Sealux-N silicone with Sealux, Cladseal and Panseal strips for joint movement in the shower environment. Sealux-N is a high performance sealant that conforms to ISO 11600 F+G-25 LM. Please refer to Technical Data Sheet for further information.

Sealant bond-breakers

BS5385-1:2009 Section 6.5.3 notes sealants perform best when they are bonded only to the opposing faces of the joint, allowing the sealant to stretch or compress freely when subjected to movement. If the sealant is bonded to a third surface at the back of the joint, this inhibits movement accommodation and increases the stress on the joint and the likelihood of sealant failure.
BS5385-3:2007 Section 6.8.3 notes where sealants with a large movement capability are used, it is essential that they do not stick to the back-up material as the ability of the sealant to accommodate movement can be reduced by any restriction of its under face.
The purpose of a sealant bond-breaker is to prevent unnecessary adhesion of sealant to a third side of a joint that might otherwise (under the tensile effects of joint expansion) restrict elongation and result in de-bonding or tearing.
BS5385-1:2009 Section 5.9.3 and 6.5.3 and BS5385-3:2007 Section 6.8.3 recommends the use of sealant bond-breakers to accommodate elasticity in movement joints.
The issue of sealant bond-breakers is appropriately addressed in the design of Sealux, Cladseal & Panseal sealing systems.

Sealant back-up materials.

BS5385-1:2009 sections 5.9.3 and 6.5.3 and BS5385-3:2007 Section 5.7.3 recommends sealant back-up materials for movement joints should be compressible materials compatible with sealant. A compressible material is required because in the context of tiling floors and walls, most movement joints may contract or expand.
The purpose of a sealant back-up material is to provide a shuttering that engages and accommodates shaping the sealant (in cross section) to a desired dimension that maximises stress free flexibility.
In many such instances, design considerations will have provided for a joint depth that will accommodate a compressible stretchable back-up material.
Sealux, Cladseal & Panseal are focussed on sealing perpendicular joints subject to expand in shower environments, the joint depth is often limited and installations scheduled after floor and ledge installations are complete.
In these circumstances an internally located sealant back-up material installation as advised in BS 5385 is not feasible. This is an aspect of product design where the Sealux back up material deviates from the codes.
Sealux consider the strip component of these sealing systems as external sealant back-up materials that deliver added benefits in view of the challenges sealants face in hostile shower environments.
While Sealux have deviated from the codes in the type and location of sealant back-up material used, Sealux have maintained the necessary performance capacities for joint expansion in a manner that prolongs sealant durability and flexibility in the shower environment as explained in points 1-3 above.
The issue of sealant back-up material is appropriately addressed in the design of Sealux, Cladseal & Panseal sealing systems.
BS5385-1:2009 5.9.2 notes a given extent of movement can be accommodated either by a wider joint or by the use of a more flexible sealant, or a combination of the two.
In many circumstances, the aesthetic and hygiene issues associated with exposed sealant in shower environments prompts installers to minimise sealant visibility, this in turn reduces elasticity and joint flexibility.
Sealux, Cladseal & Panseal strips accommodate wide silicone joints without the impact of exposed sealant in the shower.

NHBC Standards 2010

NHBC standards 2010 cover the issue of tiling to walls & floors under Chapter 8.2
NHBC require the design to consider and make provisions for interface joints between 2 different materials/substrates – If the interface will have movement then the provision of the joint should accommodate the expected actions and suitable materials used.
NHBC do not specify the sealant properties or even the requirement for sealant but an effective seal (which can accommodate the water resistance or performance intended) for the interface joint. This essentially leaves the requirement for the selection of suitable materials up to the designer or manufacturer.
Where applicable, the appropriate standards and codes of practices (CP’s) should be referred to. Manufacturers technical data and installation requirements can be considered acceptable for non-critical functions providing they would not compromise the requirements of the relevant CP’s or other standards that may have a greater requirement.