ICC-ES AC563
Full Name
ICC-ES AC563 – Acceptance Criteria for Soil-gas-retarder Membranes for Use in Below Grade Applications
Scope
ICC-ES AC563 outlines the acceptance criteria for evaluating soil-gas-retarder membranes used in below-grade applications. These membranes are designed to prevent the intrusion of harmful soil gases, such as radon and methane, into buildings.
The scope of AC563 includes:
- Material properties: assessment of the physical and chemical properties of the membrane material, including its thickness, tensile strength, puncture resistance, and resistance to degradation from exposure to soil chemicals and microorganisms.
- Performance testing: conducting tests to evaluate the membrane’s ability to resist the passage of soil gases under various conditions, including different soil types, moisture levels, and temperatures.
- Installation: evaluation of the recommended installation procedures, including proper seaming, sealing, and detailing around penetrations, to ensure the integrity of the gas barrier.
- Durability: assessment of the membrane’s long-term durability and resistance to aging, weathering, and damage from construction activities.
- Code compliance: verification that the membrane material and installation methods comply with relevant building codes and standards, such as the International Residential Code (IRC) and the International Building Code (IBC).
The acceptance criteria aim to ensure that soil-gas-retarder membranes meet minimum performance requirements for preventing soil gas intrusion, as outlined in relevant building codes and standards. By meeting these criteria, manufacturers can obtain an evaluation report from ICC-ES, which can be used to demonstrate code compliance and gain approval for use in construction projects.
Resources
Keywords
soil-gas-retarder; membrane; below-grade; radon; methane; vapor intrusion; permeability; installation; durability