Air Barrier
Seal performance gaps and unlock energy savings with precision‑installed fluid‑applied air barriers. Our continuous, monolithic membranes dramatically reduce uncontrolled air leakage - the largest single driver of HVAC energy waste - while improving thermal stability, moisture control, and occupant comfort. We deliver code‑ready, durable envelopes for new construction and major renovations, aligned with federal specifications and agency procurement workflows.
What we do
Scope
Continuous fluid‑applied membrane air barriers for walls, transitions, and penetrations on federal and commercial facilities.
Delivery
Design‑assist, specification compliance, turnkey installation, and retrofit services.
Quality
Installed by experienced, Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA) certified teams following federal specification requirements and industry best practices.
Detailed Services
New construction
Integrated air‑barrier design and installation coordinated with envelope-adjacent trades to ensure continuity and simplify commissioning.
Major renovation and retrofit
Targeted removals, substrate prep, patching, and full‑height re‑application to restore continuity and reduce infiltration.
Detail work
Precision sealing at windows, doors, penetrations, joints, and complex transitions to eliminate air leakage pathways.
Testing and documentation
Pre, in-process and post‑installation testing, inspection reports, performance documentation for acceptance, and long‑term maintenance guidance.
Fluid-Applied Air Barrier Owner Benefits
Energy and operating cost reductions
Lower uncontrolled infiltration/exfiltration reduces HVAC loads, Energy Use Intensity (EUI), and utility bills.
Durability and moisture control
Seamless membrane protects sheathing and building structure from wind‑driven rain and condensation, even during construction, reducing repair cycles and mold risk.
Improved occupant comfort
Fewer drafts, more uniform temperatures, and reduced outdoor pollutant ingress.
Lifecycle value
Reduced maintenance, extended cladding and finish life, and improved mission readiness for DoD and federal sites.
Fluid Applied vs Sheet Applied (Peel & Stick)
Air Barriers
BEAR exclusively installs fluid-applied air barriers - spray or roll on - because they offer superior value, speed, and reliability. This method delivers a seamless, durable membrane that conforms to complex geometries, installs faster, and reduces the risk of field defects compared to sheet-applied systems. Fluid-applied barriers meet the same rigorous performance standards, are often produced by the same manufacturers, and are fully recognized by leading certification, specification, and code bodies across federal and commercial sectors.
While fluid-applied air barriers offer strong performance advantages - especially for complex geometries and retrofit conditions - many engineering firms still default to specifying sheet-applied (peel & stick) systems. Why?
Specification Familiarity and Legacy Standards
Spec inertia: Many firms reuse master specifications or rely on Division 07 templates that default to sheet-applied systems.
Historical precedent: Sheet-applied barriers have been in use longer in some markets, especially in commercial construction, and are often incorrectly seen as the “safe” or “standard” choice.
Simplified inspection: Some specifiers believe it’s easier to visually inspect seams and overlaps in sheet systems than to verify wet mil thickness and adhesion in fluid-applied systems - though this is debatable with proper QA protocols.
These preferences often overlook the field realities of complex transitions, penetrations, and retrofit conditions - where fluid-applied systems outperform in continuity, speed, and long-term durability. As more firms adopt performance-based specifications and prioritize blower-door results, fluid-applied systems continue to gain traction, especially in federal and high-performance projects.
Key Advantages of Specifying Fluid-Applied Air Barrier Improvements
| Continuity & Coverage | Seamless, monolithic membrane conforms to irregular surfaces and complex details | May require cutting and patching at transitions; risk of gaps at corners and penetrations |
| Installation Speed | Fast spray or roll application reduces labor time and schedule risk | Slower manual application; more time-intensive detailing around openings |
| Detailing & Transitions | Easily seals around penetrations, fasteners, and rough openings with minimal rework | Requires precise cuts and alignment; higher risk of voids or wrinkles |
| Substrate Compatibility | Adheres well to varied substrates including CMU, sheathing, and retrofit surfaces | Best suited to smooth, uniform substrates; adhesion may vary with surface condition |
| Repairability | Quick local repairs with reapplication; ideal for phased or retrofit work | Repairs require patching and full adhesion; more disruptive and time-consuming |
| Moisture Protection | Continuous membrane blocks wind-driven rain and limits condensation risk | Effective when fully adhered; vulnerable at seams and poorly detailed transitions |
| QA & Field Verification | Requires wet mil thickness checks and adhesion testing; easier to verify coverage | Factory thickness is consistent; field QA focuses on adhesion and seam integrity |
| Cost & Efficiency | Lower labor costs on complex geometry; fewer installation defects | Higher labor costs for detailing; more sensitive to installer skill |
| Flexibility in Design | Ideal for irregular geometry, penetrations, and retrofit conditions | Best for large, flat surfaces with minimal detailing |
| Lifecycle & Maintenance | Durable, resilient membrane with lower long-term maintenance needs | Effective when installed correctly; more prone to edge failures over time |
Why Fluid-Applied Air Barriers Deserve First-Spec Status
Fluid-applied air barriers outperform sheet-applied systems in real-world conditions—especially on complex geometries, retrofit projects, and federal facilities where airtightness and durability are mission-critical.
While sheet-applied membranes offer factory-controlled thickness and legacy familiarity, fluid-applied systems deliver superior continuity, faster installation, and fewer field defects. They conform seamlessly to irregular substrates, penetrate tight transitions, and simplify detailing around windows, doors, and penetrations - areas where sheet goods often fail.
Why Choose Us
Federal experience
We install to federal and industry (ABAA) specification language and testing workflows to streamline procurement and inspections.
Risk reduction
Our properly applied fluid systems reduce moisture risk, maintenance needs, and lifecycle costs better than competing technologies.
Constructability advantage
Fluid membranes conform to irregular substrates and complex details, our experienced teams reduce rework risk and schedule impacts.
Choosing a professional BEAR LLC installation of fluid-applied air barrier will make your building airtight, more resilient, on-schedule, on-budget and mission-ready. Schedule a Capability Briefing, or pre-selection meeting with us to see how we deliver greater value with fluid-applied air barriers. Contact us today to begin the conversation.
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AND REPAIR LLC (BEAR)
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