Technical Bulletins
Technical Information
Technical Information / Technical Bulletins
Technical Bulletin 25
Syseal™ Repair Tape Use and Application Guidelines
Thermal Design has tape made out of the Syseal™ fabric liner materials used in it's innovative ceiling and wall liner systems commonly used to retain insulation materials in building roofs and wall systems. Most applications of the fabric liner systems are designed and installed to use very little, if any, Syseal™ Repair Tape. These Syseal™ Repair tapes are made up of the same grade of fabric as the fabric liner materials although there may be very slight variations in color that exist from lot to lot. Our quality control objective is to match the grade and color as closely as processes allow.
Thermal Design recommends that installers minimize the use of Syseal™ Repair Tape and when it has to be used, to use the smallest possible pieces as possible to patch puncture holes, etc. Field lap seams on the interior faces of purlins and girt using sticky tape or liquid sealant and then mechanical fastening over the lap seam is far superior to making long cuts in the fabric liner. Since these systems are used in buildings which may have welded braces or other protrusions that can not be disconnected and reattached, it may be necessary to use Syseal™ Repair Tape. Cuts in fabric liners should be limited to the distance from the protrusion straight to the nearest structural member. No “L” shaped (with the exception of necessary flange bracing cuts) or wavy cuts should be made. The nearest structural member may be a purlin where the field seam was made. For example, a two foot cut from a welded brace to a purlin where a field seam was made is better than cutting ten feet to a rafter without employing a field seam. There should never be a slit made in the fabric longer than four feet. If it is longer, then install a light duty structural backing to make a butt jointed field seam.
Necessary cuts in the fabric of six inches long or less may simply be taped best as possible to match the woven grain in the fabric. Cuts longer than six inches should first be stitched by inserting one inch wide pieces of Syseal™ Repair Tape through the slit and sticking it to the back side of the fabric through the opening and closing the gap while using fingers to press the tape to the liner fabric on opposite sides of the slit. Once the slit is stitched securely every six inches or less, apply a continuous piece of three inch wide Syseal™ Repair Tape neatly over the stitched slit.
Slits can also be minimized by installing a light duty structural member like steel studs to span between structural members and then applying a field seam to that member using the field seaming procedures. Field seam seaming procedures simply lap over the fabric liner and seal the fabric liner to the underlying structural member using sticky tape for an invisible seam. Butt jointed fabric seams are not recommended, however may occasionally need to be done on a structural member. When butt jointed seams are made by first securely sealing the edges to the structural member neatly butt jointed together, then Syseal™ Repair Tape is used to cover over the butt joint. Care should be taken to make all cuts straight and to apply the Syseal™ Repair Tape straight and parallel with slit in the fabric.
Application recommendations:
- Store Syseal™ Repair Tape at room temperature or above 65° F until use.
- Patch any puncture holes and cuts to maintain the vapor retarder quality of the fabric liner system.
- Apply the Syseal™ Repair Tape to clean and dry surfaces only.
- Apply tape at temperatures of 50° F or warmer when possible.
- Fabric with cuts should not be relied upon for fall protection/prevention.
- Syseal™ Repair Tape requires removing of the release paper backing immediately prior to application.
- Press the Syseal™ Repair Tape firmly and repeatedly to the liner fabric to maximize bonding to substrate.
