Comparative study on the feasibility of watertight face-sealed building joints under simulated wind-driven rain conditions

Although several field studies have indicated that water penetration can be expected through face-sealed joints over the lifespan of buildings, in particular, when sealed by means of construction sealant, face-sealed systems are still being applied by industry, e.g. precast concrete panels. Laboratory studies evaluating the concept of face-sealed joints are, however, limited. This study assesses and compares the initial performance of four sealing systems, tapes, silicone strips, silicone-based coating and foam sealing strips, applied to seal building joints in a face-sealed manner and subjected to simulated wind pressures and driving rain loads. The results give insight into the initial watertightness of the sealing materials and the sensitivity of the performance of the materials to different installation methods. The results indicate that water leakage can be expected through unperceivable openings in the face-sealed joints and that great care should be taken to install the sealing materials in the correct manner. The findings also suggest that closed-cell foam strips might be considered as an alternative to construction sealant to face-seal joints. Further research should evaluate the performance of these foam sealing strips after natural weathering and exposure to cyclic building movements.