Membranes for Safe Buildings, Inside & Out

There are many aspects to consider in constructing safe and sound buildings. You want good insulation to maintain a stable indoor temperature, but if the structure is sealed too tightly, moisture can’t move and the risk of mould increases. And then there is fire safety to consider. Choosing materials that do not burn easily is crucial to allow time to evacuate should there be a fire.

Walki has expanded its family of fire-retardant A2 membranes with two new solutions.
“We can now offer a complete membrane package that ensures moisture control, airtightness and fire safety across the entire wall structure”, explains Juho Hyytiäinen, Business Line Manager, Construction Membranes at Walki.

Membranes play a vital role in modern construction as they regulate how moisture moves in and through walls, protect insulation and ensure that buildings remain energy-efficient and structurally sound.

Walki’s existing A2-classified solutions function as a vapour barrier on the warm side of the insulation. The company’s latest development focuses on membranes for the cold side.

“It is a breathable but airtight layer that functions as a wind barrier. It needs to stop air from penetrating the wall, provide resistance to water penetration and still allow water vapour to escape so that the structure can dry outward to make the construction both durable and sound”, says Ann-Mari Ukkonen, TSD Manager, Construction Membranes at Walki.

Complete solution for walls

In developing the membranes, fire safety was also a top priority. The new membranes had to achieve A2 fire classification, indicating that the material is non-combustible or has a very limited combustibility.Meeting A2 requirements is especially important in large public buildings housing many people such as schools, hospitals and high-rise buildings, where evacuation takes time should a fire – despite the fire-resistant materials – still occur.With the two new membranes, Walki can now offer a complete solution for walls, supporting safe moisture passage and fire safety.

“We can cater to customers’ needs for membranes for both the inside and the outside of buildings, and make sure that all materials are certified for A2”, says Hyytiäinen.From a business development perspective, Walki is leveraging these innovations to unlock full sales potential in strategic markets such as the UK, North America, GCC, and East Asia. “Our goal is to provide a cost-efficient, non-combustible solution that can be produced at large scale on dedicated production lines,” says Joris Kraak, Business Development Manager for Construction Membranes at Walki.