Breather Membranes

A Breather Membrane is a semi-permeable layer that is designed to allow water vapour to escape from within a building while preventing liquid water from entering. They are installed on the “cold” side of a wall or roof structure (the “outward face” to ensure that the structure remains dry and free from condensation, which can lead to structural damage and poor insulation performance. Particularly in wall structures, they are often used in conjunction with a Vapour Control Layer which is typically used on the interior "warm" side of a wall structure.

Many of our breather membranes are a multi-purpose product that are made of reflective multi foil insulation such as SuperFOIL, which is essentially a multi layer foil insulation that has a breathable surface to function as both a breather membrane and a thin but effective layer of insulation. 

Novia are a specialised manufacturer of Breather Membranes designed for a wide range of uses and purposes. Most of their breather membranes are designed for use within a wall structure, though they also offer membranes specifically sized for use in roofing. When choosing a Breather Membrane, it is important that they are chosen in accordance with building regulations specifications. These specifications are in place to account for:

• An Increase in adverse weather conditions
• Variance in weather conditions across the country
• Variance in styles of roofing and wall structures and their breathability

Typically in areas with higher wind resistance, the appropriate Breather Membrane is likely to have a higher tensile strength, to ensure that sagging, tearing or ballooning doesn’t occur after installation. If the structure is likely to be exposed to the elements for some time before exterior facings or roofing is applied, a membrane with higher UV resistance is important to prevent degradation under the elements. Similarly, if a roofing space is unventilated, it may be advised to choose a membrane with a higher vapour permeability to ensure excess condensation does not accumulate.