A survey conducted by EJOT UK found that the majority of roof and cladding installers do not consider leak testing self-drilling fasteners a priority when installing building envelopes.
The survey asked installers to rate the importance of four factors when considering a roof or façade installation: (a) choosing high quality fasteners, (b) checking the quality of the seal regularly, (c) choosing the right screwdriver, and (d) using a properly adjusted nozzle.
Regular testing of seals was the least important factor, with only 4% of respondents putting it at the top of the list, which is not the same as “choosing quality fasteners”, which was cited as a priority by 55% of respondents.
The findings support EJOT UK’s goal of providing clearer, more accessible best practices and education on the use of self-tapping fasteners. Leak testing is an important step in the process that can be overlooked, and although it is a very simple process, the evidence suggests that it is still not getting the attention it deserves.
Brian Mack, Technical Development Manager at EJOT UK, said: “Installers have many benefits by making leak testing an integral part of every job using self-tapping fasteners. focus on quality Very effective in terms of issues that can be costly later both financially and reputationally But it requires two things: a good closed test suite and some plan on how to do it in a way that will win .Don’t cause crashes or add extras.The way it works is tested on every element.
“We can help with both, especially our VACUtest, to get you the right kit. It’s an easy-to-use air pressure test kit that works with a suction cup attached to a hose and a hand pump in a sealed condition. A vacuum is created around the head firmware.Now we have made a short video showing how easy it is to use.”
The new EJOT training video, combined with extensive literature, provides guidance that highlights the value of regular and proper seal testing. This video covers all the basics of leak testing, such as pairing the right suction cup with the right hardware and gasket, and what a proper meter reading should look like. These resources also provide some troubleshooting tips, highlighting common “bad practice” workarounds used in the field when fasteners do not close properly.
Post time: Oct-19-2022
