Technical Note No 78

Interfaces and joints - Introduction

This Technical Note is one of a series describing the design and construction of interfaces and joints
in building envelopes. The series comprises:

TN 64 Gaskets
TN 78 Interfaces and joints – Introduction
TN 79 Interfaces and joints – Air permeability and water penetration resistance
TN 80 Interfaces and joints – Thermal performance
TN 81 Interfaces and joints – Sealant materials
TN 82 Interfaces and joints – Sealant movement joints
TN 83 Interfaces and joints – Breathable seals

This Technical Note covers the principles of designing and constructing interfaces and joints in
building envelopes.

Introduction Interface design and construction

An interface occurs between two different forms A single sub contractor may be responsible for
of construction in the building envelope. An the construction on both sides of an interface.
interface may for instance be between: However, the different forms of construction are
often part of separate cladding packages and
• Wall and wall the responsibility of different sub-contractors.
• Wall and roof In the latter case it is essential that:
• Window and wall
• The detailing of the interface is agreed by
An interface may comprise a single joint but both sub-contractors,
normally has at least an outer and an inner
joint. • Responsibility for construction is
appropriately assigned to one sub-
By comparison a joint occurs where two contractor or the other.
components meet and may occur within an
element of construction or be part of an The Main Contractor plays an important role in
interface. For instance the joint between IGUs coordinating design detailing, assigning
in a glazing screen. responsibility for construction and overseeing
the QA procedures.
A joint may pass through the full thickness of
the construction or may be present in just one
layer of the envelope. The performance of a Purpose of interfaces
joint in one layer of the envelope is dependent
on the performance of joints in all other layers. Interfaces are required where:
When designing the joints comprising an
interface the performance of all the joints • Different forms of construction meet,
should be considered as part of a holistic
approach to design. • Components such as windows or doors are
built into the envelope.
This Technical Note gives an introduction to the
requirements to be considered in the design
and construction of interfaces and joints in the Purpose of joints
building envelope.
Joints may be required for one or more of the
following reasons:

© CWCT 2012 March 2012

1/7
Interfaces and joints - Introduction TN 78

• To facilitate construction. The envelope of Transmission of forces

the façade is made of components of A joint may be required to transfer load in one
limited size, small enough to allow or more directions and in some cases will also
manufacturing, transport and handling. be required to transmit moments.

• Allow the use of different material Accommodation of movement

Joints will often be required to allow movement
• Accommodate tolerances in one or more directions but may be required
to prevent movement or even transmit loads in
• To allow movement Joints may be other directions. For example the joint between
required to allow relative movement of a glazing unit and frame will be required to
adjacent components. Components in the allow movements due to expansion or
outer face are prone to the greatest contraction of the unit but will be required to
movement resulting from thermal and transmit the wind loads to the frame.
moisture changes. Joints may also be
required to allow movement where a Allowance for induced deviations
structural frame moves, TN 55. Induced deviations are the variations in the
actual size of components relative to the
• To facilitate the construction of an interface. specified size resulting from inaccuracies in
manufacture and construction. Joints provide
the only means of accommodating these
Function of an interface deviations and failure to make adequate
allowance may compromise other aspects of
The primary function of an interface is to the joint’s performance, such as the ability to
provide continuity of envelope performance accommodate movement.
where two different forms of construction meet.
Weathertightness
The two forms of construction may have Weathertightness includes resistance to both
different levels of performance and the air and water penetration. Although the overall
interface is not necessarily required to match thickness of the building envelope will
the performance of either. For instance invariably be required to be weathertight, the
permitted air leakage or thermal transmission requirement for a joint in a particular element of
may be greater at the interface. the wall will depend on the way the cladding
components have been designed.
The interface should be designed such that
taken as a whole the building envelope gives A joint may be required to be:
the required performance for:
• A water seal
• Water penetration resistance • An air seal
• Air permeability • An air and water seal
• U-value • An open joint
• Sound reduction
Techniques for achieving weathertighness of
Additionally the interface may be required to: interfaces and joints are described in greater
detail in TN 79.
• Accommodate tolerances
Vapour resistance
• Transfer loads
A joint may be required to have resistance to
• Allow movement the passage of water vapour as part of a
vapour control layer.
Interfaces should not contain cold bridges that
give rise to harmful condensation forming, Vapour transmission
TN 80. A joint may be required to allow the passage of
water vapour to allow a cavity to breathe.

Function of a joint Overall vapour control

The vapour permeability gradient should be
Joints may be required to have some or all of considered and the principle of ‘inside tighter
the following properties: than outside’ followed in order to allow warmer
moist air potentially trapped in the cavity

2/7
Interfaces and joints - Introduction TN 78

between an internal and external joint to entry for small animals and birds. Infestation
escape as moisture vapour through a by insects is at best a nuisance and can lead to
breathable external layer. For example, if two deterioration for example wood boring beetles.
membranes are used, one providing air and
vapour control to the inside of the interface and Durability
a second providing weather tightness to the Deterioration is more likely to occur at joints as
outside, the moisture vapour permeability of the there may be breaks in the normal protection
internal membrane should be considerably systems to the cladding materials, they will
lower than that of the external membrane often be subject to more aggressive conditions
(ideally by a factor of 10). This applies to due to movements and increased water loading
climates such as the UK where the external air and the joint components such as gaskets and
temperature is predominantly colder than the sealants may be prone to deterioration.
internal temperature. Alternatively, but in order
to still facilitate drying out and escape of Joints often occur where different components
trapped moisture, intelligent membranes which meet and there is a risk that incompatible
have variable ‘sd’ values (moisture and vapour materials may be used. For example sealants
permeability values) can be used. can give rise to staining of stone cladding.

Sound transmission Appearance

Joints may create a path for sound Where joints are exposed on the face of the
transmission through the building envelope. building they will affect the appearance. A
Generally joints will comprise a small part of the larger number of small joints may look better
façade and provided that joints do not provide a than a few wide ones and the colour of joint
direct air leakage path the effect on overall seals may affect the perceived colour of the
sound transmission through the façade will be cladding.
small. Sound transmission through building
envelopes is discussed in greater detail in Electrical isolation
Technical Note 39. Where a joint occurs between components
made of different metals, it may be necessary
Buildability to prevent electrical contact between the
It must be possible to construct the joint as different metals in order to reduce the risk of
intended. If the joint is difficult to construct, corrosion.
poor workmanship is more likely and this may
lead to inadequate performance in service. Electrical continuity
Electrical continuity across a joint may be
Maintainability required, for example to ensure the continuity
Two aspects of maintenance need to be of earthing.
considered. Clearly it must be possible to
rectify any defects in the joint and this is likely Security
to be easier where access can be gained from The joint should not form a weak point for
inside the building. Joints that are concealed intruders.
from both the inside and outside of the façade
may be protected from deterioration but are
difficult to maintain if defects do occur. It may Joint and interface components
also be necessary to dismantle the joint to
rectify faults in other components. For example Joints and interfaces will require all or some of
glazing beads will have to be removed to the following components:
replace failed glazing units.
• Fixings,
Fire resistance • Baffles,
Some joints may be required to resist fire. The • Seals,
requirement may be to maintain the ability to • Membranes,
carry load or to prevent the spread of flame and • Flashings,
smoke. For example the joint between
• Insulation.
intumescent glazing and the frame will be
required to hold the glass in place and prevent
combustion products escaping.
Fixings
A joint will require fixings for the materials
Resistance to birds, animals and insects
either side of the joint. The fixing may be a
Joint seals can be attacked by birds and gaps
direct fixing crossing the joint as in a screw
in the building fabric may provide a means of

3/7
Interfaces and joints - Introduction TN 78

fastening of overlapping sheets of cladding or Gaskets

indirect as in the case of rainscreen cladding Gaskets are pre-formed seals made from
panels which are not directly connected but flexible materials, which must remain in
independently fixed to a continuous compression to function effectively. They can
background wall. be of solid or hollow section and may be
The design of the fixings will need to take formed from either cellular or non-cellular
account of requirements for load transfer or materials. They are generally made from
freedom of movement across the joint. Types rubber or plastic by extrusion or moulding.
of fixing which allow a degree of movement
include the following: Pre-formed gaskets offer some advantages
over sealants, particularly in terms of ease of
• Bolts in slotted holes, possibly using PTFE removal. However they have their own set of
washers to reduce resistance to sliding, problems regarding correct installation, require
• Dowel joints, generally with an additional careful control of the joint width if they are to
fixing to a supporting structure on one side work properly and still pose a risk with material
of the joint, compatibility.
• Tongue and groove joints, generally with
an additional fixing to a supporting Gaskets are described in greater detail in
structure on one side of the joint, TN 64.
• Channel fixings,
• Gasket and pressure plate. Sealants
Sealants are wet applied materials formulated
to both solidify in situ and adhere to the joint
Baffles surfaces in a controlled manner. The sealants
Baffles are used in some joints to prevent water used for joints in the building envelope are
being blown through open joints. The baffle cold-applied, non-cellular materials that are
may be a separate strip of metal or plastic, or based on synthetic polymers. In the solid form
may be formed as part of a cladding panel. A they are able to accommodate movement by
common application is in joints between pre- elastic or plastic deformation.
cast concrete panels where the baffle can be
supported by grooves in the edges of the panel. Sealants must always be treated as a system,
as additional products are essential for effective
performance - back-up materials, bond
breakers, and where recommended primers or
Seals
surface conditioners.
The selection of joint seals has always been a
difficult decision for the facade designer,
TN 81 and TN 82 give further guidance on the
although the process is sometimes dictated by
selection of sealant materials and the design of
the choice of cladding system. There are three
sealant joints.
options:

Sealing strips or tapes

Sealing strips are flexible materials which are Membranes
pre-formed in a range of sizes and sections. Membranes may be made of:
They rely on compression to form a seal
although some adhesion to a joint face may • Impregnated fabric
take place which helps to retain the strip in the • Coated fabric
joint. Sealing strips and tapes take one of the • Rubber or plastic
following forms:
Membranes are used at interfaces to provide
• Mastic strips, usually manufactured from an air or water seal. They are available with
relatively soft, tacky synthetic rubber to different (or even variable) levels of moisture
which an easily removed backing paper is vapour permeability and care should be taken
applied; to select the most appropriate type for the
required performance and function. They are
• Impregnated foams, open cell foams particularly good at accommodating tolerances
impregnated with resins or waxes to and allowing movement.
prevent the passage of water. They may
allow the passage of water vapour Membranes are attached to the other envelope
depending on the degree of compression. components by either:

4/7
Interfaces and joints - Introduction TN 78

• Insertion in a race or groove in a similar provision of back-up material to limit the depth
manner to a gasket, of the sealant bead. Gaskets may be stretched
• Clamping, normally with a strip of metal during installation, leading to subsequent
screwed to the substrate, problems as the material returns to its original
• Bonding, commonly with a double sided length.
adhesive and peel off strip applied in the
factory or with site applied contact or paste Adverse weather conditions during installation
type adhesive. are likely to have a greater effect on the
performance of sealants. Impregrated foam
tapes which do not rely on chemical adhesion
Flashings or careful tooling to achieve the required
Flashings and dpcs may be required at aesthetic finish can be installed in adverse
interfaces to direct water, which has penetrated weather.
the outer layer of the façade, back to the
outside. Durability
Rubber and sealant materials are a blend of
Insulation many chemicals - they are affected by
Insulation either as solid material or spray ultraviolet radiation, ozone and atmospheric
applied foam may be used in interfaces to pollutants, and may react with adjacent
reduce heat loss. Use of such materials must materials or run-off water contaminated with
avoid blocking drainage and ventilation paths. copper or alkalis leached from concrete.

The facade designer should always think

beyond the simple question of how to prevent
Joint design immediate air and water penetration, and must
consider the long-term implications of any
There are several issues that need to be design decision.
addressed, when selecting and designing joints
whether as part of an interface or as stand- Removal
alone joints. They are: Sealants (and some gaskets after a long period
of time) adhere to the joint surfaces, and
Jointing materials special tools or chemicals may be needed for
A compression gasket usually requires an complete removal prior to replacement.
accurately constructed joint, with little variation
in width, and flat joint surfaces.

Selection of gaskets must consider the means Examples of interfaces and joints
of their retention within the joint as compression
alone is not generally sufficient. A positive Interfaces and joints take many forms as
receptor keyway into which part of the gasket illustrated by the following examples.
can locate or a nib that can engage in a groove
in the gasket is needed. a) Face sealed cladding panels

A sealant joint can tolerate some variation in This system relies on the outer seal to prevent
joint width but variations in width caused by both air and water penetration.
steps in the joint faces can lead to stress
concentrations under joint movement, which
can cause the material to crush or tear.

Sealants must always have an adequate

bearing surface. Sealants applied to thin edges
of sheet metal never work.

Joints will often be required in the jointing

materials and these joints will require careful
design to avoid problems.

Installation
Wet-applied sealants require cleaning, sealing
(of porous materials) and priming of joint
surfaces prior to sealant application, and

5/7
Interfaces and joints - Introduction TN 78

b) Joint in a bolted glazing system

The IGUs in this bolted glass screen are sealed

externally and internally with a wet applied
Flashings are required at the head and jambs
sealant. The system does not rely totally on
of the window to prevent cavity drainage water
the outer joint to prevent water penetration into
entering the building.
the building. However, water ingress past the
outer seal may lead to deterioration of the IGU
Water seals may be required to prevent
edge seals.
excessive water entering the wall cavity.
c) Vertical and horizontal joints in a rainscreen
panel cladding system
e) Dual-sealed joint in a stick-system curtain
wall.

The vertical joint is left open, and relies on a

baffle to prevent direct water penetration. The
horizontal joint relies on the slope-and-step to
keep water out. Drainage of the cavity behind
the joint must be provided to remove water
passing through the joint and airtightness is
provided by a continuous back wall.

d) Window into wall Mounting an opening vent in a stick curtain wall

will create a joint between the curtain wall
Multiple joints are required to control air framing and the window frame. However, if the
leakage at the sill, jambs and head of the curtain wall profiles and the window profiles are
window. For instance between: made by different suppliers then it is better to
regard this as an interface as:
• Window frame and sill
• Sill and window board • Air seals may not be coordinated
• Window board and lining • Drainage paths may not be coordinated
• Window jamb and lining
• Window head and lining

6/7
Interfaces and joints - Introduction TN 78

f) Curtain wall to rainscreen wall References

CWCT, Standard for Systemised Building

Envelopes, CWCT, 2006, ISBN 1 874003 20 3.

CWCT TN 39 Sound transmission through

building envelopes

CWCT TN 55 Movement accommodation in

building envelopes

CWCT TN 64 Gaskets

CWCT TN 79 Interfaces and joints – Air

permeability and water penetration resistance

The inner membrane (shown as a solid line) CWCT TN 80 Interfaces and joints – Thermal
forms an air and vapour seal between the performance
curtain wall and the back wall of the rainscreen.
The outer membrane (shown dotted) provides a CWCT TN 81 Interfaces and joints – Sealant
water seal to prevent water penetration but is materials
vapour permeable to allow water vapour to
escape from the wall assuming that the cavity CWCT TN 82 Interfaces and joints – Sealant
behind the rainscreen is ventilated. movement joints

Summary CWCT TN 83 Interfaces and joints –

Breathable seals
Joints in the building envelope are required to
facilitate construction and may also be
introduced to allow for movement and
accommodate tolerances. Interfaces occur
where different forms of construction meet and
will generally require a series of joints through
the thickness of the building envelope.

The performance requirements for joints

depend on the purpose and location and may
include:

• Transmission of forces,
• Accommodation of movement,
• Allowance for tolerances during
construction,
• Weathertightness,
• Buildability,
• Maintainability,
• Fire resistance,
• Resistance to pests and environmental
conditions.

Joints can be constructed using different

combinations of fixings, baffles, seals and © CWCT 2012
flashings that allow these requirements to be University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY
achieved. Tel: 01225 386541; Fax: 01225 386556
Email: cwct@bath.ac.uk;
www.cwct.co.uk

7/7