A system-level approach to weatherproofing is essential for delivering code-compliant, resilient, and energy-efficient buildings, explains National Technical and Product Development Manager for Innova at Etex Australia Jon Conway.

Within the Building Code of Australia (BCA) weatherproofing requirements are specified to prevent moisture intrusions and associated risks such as mold and structural damage.

Jon says the key principles of effective weatherproofing are deflection, drainage, drying, and durability—adding that durability is a byproduct of doing the first three well.

“Deflection is really about mechanical methods to move water away from where it was to where it needs to be,” he says.

“When it comes to drainage, having a cavity or a drainage plane can help. That's fundamentally just an air gap between your exterior lining and your structural framing. Drying is, again, the same function, an air gap, but allowing air to go through the bottom and through the top. There is a difference, one's ventilated, one's vented”.

But Jon points out that there is a fundamental lack of understanding and training around the principles of weather tightness within the industry.

“That can stem all the way from architects and certifiers and even chippies,” he says.

“There's also the importance of specifying a system that has been tested and certified and knowing what to look for and knowing how to install them correctly.”

“You might have a system that's completely perfect and has passed all the tests and has all the documentation, but if it doesn't happen on the site level, then there's no hope”.

He says at Innova, they’re not only developing systems, but also equipping their customers with the knowledge to design effectively with these products. Additionally, they offer guidance to support proper construction and implementation.

“You can't look at one component in isolation because a building is not one component in isolation. It is an ecosystem of many different building components put together. And that's exactly how we approach it.”

“We don't sell products, we sell systems. We're not providing someone one slice of their compliance route to the BCA. We're giving them the full stamp of approval to go forward”.

Jon says at the business they have a customer first approach, so much so that his colleague says the phrase “We don't run away from problems we run towards them”.

From a technical team point of view Innova provides custom detailing, literature, site training for contractors and builders and has a specification team that provides specification for projects at the start making sure to fulfill the brief and project requirements as well as CPD training.

“What we are trying to do is make construction economical and simplifying the process. It’s using products that are available on the market in incorporating them into systems.”

“It’s only through efficiencies and economising the systems is that going to make your customers happy.”

“We are really motivated to provide a solution that benefits the customer but also taking into account that everyone’s got a budget to build with. The work that we do now will hopefully make a positive impact.”

A system-based approach to weatherproofing—grounded in deflection, drainage, drying, and durability—supports long-lasting, high-performance buildings. With certified systems and informed guidance, the industry is well-placed to improve outcomes. Now is the time to put these principles into practice.

Listen to the whole episode of the podcast here.

Architecture & Design Team

Innova™

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