Tape Seams and Seal Wall Penetrations

A. Finished-Project Specification

Scope: one completed seam-and-penetration treatment covering every WRB seam, fastener tear, damaged area, and approved pipe, duct, cable, conduit, or electrical-box penetration on every exterior wall elevation prepared in Project 02.

B. Required Documentation Schedule

Document	Source	Confirmation Required
WRB manufacturer's tape and primer instructions	WRB manufacturer	Approved product, temperature limits, and open time confirmed
Penetration schedule	Design professional / plan set	Every planned pipe, duct, cable, conduit, and electrical-box location confirmed
Boot, gasket, and liquid-flashing product data	Flashing manufacturer	Compatibility with WRB, sheathing, and penetration materials confirmed
Prior WRB inspection record	Project 02 record	Confirmed complete and accepted before seam treatment begins
Change documentation	Design professional / general contractor	All approved field changes to penetration locations incorporated

C. Preparation Materials and Consumables

• Seam tape: manufacturer-approved pressure-sensitive tape sized for the specified seam width, sufficient for every horizontal and vertical seam requiring treatment.
• Primer: manufacturer-approved primer for seam and penetration surfaces where required, applied within the specified open time.
• Patch material: manufacturer-approved patches sized to extend the required distance beyond every fastener tear, fishmouth, puncture, and damaged area.
• Penetration accessories: compatible boots, gaskets, split flashing, or liquid flashing sized to each approved penetration's shape and diameter.
• Backing and mounting blocks: where the approved penetration system requires them, sized to the specific fixture or utility component.
• Documentation: one penetration record per structure or per elevation as required by the project specification.

D. Acceptance Standards

Check	Standard
Seam overlap and adhesion	Full contact, correct overlap, no wrinkles, voids, or reverse laps at every horizontal and vertical seam
Patch extension	Every patch extends the manufacturer-required distance beyond its defect with full adhesion
Penetration flashing sequence	Sill, side, and top layers installed in bottom-to-top shingle-lap order for every approved penetration
Drainage and vent preservation	Active vents, drainage openings, weeps, combustion-air paths, and movement-dependent components remain unsealed
Backing and block support	Backing or mounting blocks installed wherever the approved penetration system requires them
Documentation completeness	Every seam, patch, and penetration location, product, and inspection result recorded on the penetration record before concealment

E. Product Review and Compatibility (Steps 1–2)

1. Review the WRB manufacturer's approved tapes, liquid flashings, boots, gaskets, patches, primers, rollers, and temperature or substrate limits. Confirm the current product data sheet against the project's document-control log before using any product.
2. Confirm compatibility among the WRB, flashing products, pipe or cable materials, sheathing, and planned cladding. Do not proceed with a product combination that the manufacturers have not identified as compatible.

F. Seam Inspection and Taping (Steps 3–10)

1. Inspect all horizontal and vertical seams for required overlap, cleanliness, flatness, and fastening. Measure overlap at intervals sufficient to detect drift along the full seam length.
2. Clean and dry seam surfaces using the manufacturer-approved method. Remove dust, moisture, and residue before priming or taping.
3. Apply required primer and allow it to reach the specified condition. Observe the manufacturer's stated open time before applying tape.
4. Tape vertical seams from bottom to top while maintaining full contact and avoiding wrinkles. Work in the same shingle-lap direction as the WRB courses.
5. Tape horizontal seams only where required, preserving the underlying shingle-lap geometry. Do not tape over a horizontal lap in a way that reverses its drainage direction.
6. Roll pressure-sensitive tape with the specified tool to activate adhesion. Roll the full width and length of every taped seam, not only its edges.
7. Repair fastener tears, fishmouths, punctures, and damaged areas with patches extending the required distance beyond the defect. Center each patch over its defect and confirm the extension measurement before rolling.
8. Remove and patch unauthorized fasteners or holes according to the approved method. Treat every unauthorized penetration the same as accidental damage.

G. Penetration Flashing (Steps 11–18)

1. Verify the final size and location of each pipe, duct, cable, conduit, and electrical-box penetration. Compare each location against the approved penetration schedule before cutting the WRB.
2. Cut the WRB as tightly as practical around each approved penetration. Do not oversize a cut beyond what the approved flashing component requires.
3. Install a compatible boot, gasket, flashing membrane, or liquid flashing around round and irregular penetrations. Select the product matched to the penetration's shape and diameter.
4. Form bottom, side, and top layers so water from above sheds over the penetration flashing. Install the bottom layer first, the side layers overlapping it, and the top layer last, integrated beneath the WRB above.
5. Install backing or mounting blocks where the approved penetration system requires them. Confirm the block provides flat, supported bearing for the fixture or cover installed in a later project.
6. Preserve drainage space below horizontal projections and blocks. Do not create a back-pitched shelf that traps water against the wall.
7. Seal small wire or cable penetrations with the approved flexible method without trapping water. Confirm the sealing method allows incidental moisture to drain rather than pool.
8. Do not seal active vents, drainage openings, weeps, combustion-air paths, or components requiring movement. Confirm every marked opening from the Common Field Fundamentals review remains open before continuing.

H. Inspection and Documentation (Steps 19–21)

1. Inspect all seams and penetrations for adhesion, full contact, reverse laps, voids, incompatible materials, and blocked drainage. Check every seam and penetration individually rather than sampling a portion of the wall.
2. Correct failed areas using the approved removal, cleaning, patching, and reinspection procedure. Do not layer new tape or sealant over a failed seam or penetration without first removing the failed material.
3. Photograph concealed penetration details and update the penetration record. Label each photograph with its elevation and location before rainscreen or flashing work in later projects conceals it.