Description

James Hardie Rigid Air Barriers are a range of rigid wall underlay materials including RAB^TM Board and HomeRAB^TM Pre-Cladding. They are sealed fibre cement sheets designed for use as rigid wall underlay behind wall cladding systems. HomeRAB^TM Pre-Cladding and RAB^TM Board are manufactured using a medium density fibre cement formulation.

Scope

HomeRAB^TM Pre-Cladding has been appraised for use as a rigid wall underlay and temporary weather-protecting sheathing on timber framed buildings within the following scope:

• the scope limitations of NZBC Acceptable Solution E2/AS1, Paragraph 1.1 with regards to building height and floor plan area; and,
• with absorbent wall claddings directly fixed to framing; and,
• with non-absorbent wall claddings directly fixed to framing with a flexible wall underlay over the HomeRAB^TM Pre-Cladding; and,
• with absorbent and non-absorbent wall claddings installed over a nominal 20 mm drained cavity; and,
• with masonry veneer in accordance with NZBC Acceptable Solution E2/AS1; and,
• situated in NZS 3604 Wind Zones up to, and including Very High.

RAB^TM Board has been appraised for use as a rigid wall underlay and temporary weather-protecting sheathing on timber framed buildings within the following scope:

• the scope limitations of NZBC Acceptable Solution E2/AS1, Paragraph 1.1 with regards to building height and floor plan area; and,
• constructed with timber framing, or timber frame infill complying with the NZBC; and,
• with absorbent wall claddings directly fixed to framing; and,
• with non-absorbent wall claddings directly fixed to framing with a flexible wall underlay over the RAB^TM Board; and,
• with absorbent and non-absorbent wall claddings installed over a nominal 20 mm drained cavity; and,
• with masonry veneer in accordance with NZBC Acceptable Solution E2/AS1; and,
• when used in conjunction with wall cladding systems subjected to maximum wind pressures for structural and weathertightness design of 1 kPa Serviceability Limit State (SLS) and 1.5 kPa Ultimate Limit State (ULS) where studs are at maximum 600mm centres, and 3 kPa SLS and 4.5 kPa ULS where studs are at maximum 400mm centres.

Note: James Hardie Rigid Air Barriers can be used to provide structural bracing. RAB^TM Board can also be used in fire resistance rated construction. These aspects have not been assessed by this Appraisal and are outside its scope.

RAB^TM Board has also been appraised for use as a rigid wall underlay and temporary weather-protecting sheathing on timber framed buildings within the following scope:

• Buildings with a building height not exceeding 25 m; and,
• constructed with timber framing complying with the NZBC; and,
• with inter-storey deflections designed for up to height/180 of horizontal in-plane movement during seismic SLS events (based on a 3 m inter-storey height); and,
• with absorbent and non-absorbent wall claddings installed over a numinal 20 mm drained cavity; and,
• when used in conjunction with either James Hardie or other cladding systems suitable for use with maximum wind pressures for structural and weathertightness design of 1 kPa Serviceability Limit State (SLS) and 1.5 kPa Ultimate Limit State (ULS) where studs ar at maximum 600 mm centres, and 3 kPa SLS and 4.5 kPa ULS where studs are at maximum 400 mm centres.