Features and Benefits

The horizontal joints that result in air leakage are eliminated using TallWall.

Minding the gaps

Air infiltration around windows and doors can easily be addressed, but what about the horizontal joints in wall sheathing? Spacing structural panels is an installation requirement, but the resulting horizontal gaps permit air infiltration, even when factoring in house wrap with taped seams, because house wrap is designed to breathe.

A big, money-eating hole in the wall

The majority of today’s new homes are built with 9′ or 10′ ceilings, resulting in an increase in horizontal joints when standard wall sheathing is used. The gaps created are too often considered a necessary evil and left as is, or must be caulked at additional cost in order to meet standards and make the structure more airtight. But all those small gaps taken together can add up to over four square feet of open space through which air enters the home — and the homeowners’ money exits.

How TallWall reduces air leakage

TallWall offers an easy, efficient way to eliminate unnecessary horizontal joints altogether, thus significantly reducing wall air leakage. Available in 9’ and 10’ lengths, vertical seams are located directly over studs. Problem solved. Best of all, TallWall presents no unusual installation issues and requires no special training of trades.

But don’t take our word for it.

Take the NAHB Research Center’s word

Norbord recently asked the NAHB Research Center to conduct air leakage tests that compared TallWall wall sheathing to standard 4×8 panels. The tests were conducted in the Center’s E283/E331 chamber, according to ASTM E283 test methods.

Pressure testing for air leakage

Two test walls over 8’ tall were built using drywall, tape, joint compound, insulation, with one electrical outlet (on the inside) and an electrical wire running through the studs. One wall was built with horizontally installed 4×8 panels, the other with vertically installed TallWall panels.

4x8 horizontally installed panels

Vertically installed TallWall panels

Each wall was then tested using three different pressure differentials (.01, .02, and .03 H2O SCFM). House wrap was then installed (according to manufacturer’s specifications) with one vertical joint, and the same three pressure tests were conducted. A final three pressure tests were completed after installing seam tape (according to manufacturer’s specifications) over the joint in the house wrap.

The following discoveries were made:

% Decrease from 4×8 Wall at .1″ H20
Base Wall*	-38%
With House Wrap**	-29%
With House Wrap and Taped***	-56%
% Decrease from 4×8 Wall at .2″ H20
Base Wall*	-47%
With House Wrap**	-15%
With House Wrap and Taped***	-64%
% Decrease from 4×8 Wall at .3″ H20
Base Wall*	-43%
With House Wrap**	-22%
With House Wrap and Taped**	-63%

*Base Wall 4×8, horizontal installation, all joints spaced 1/8″, vertical joints on studs, 2×4 studs, fibreglass insulation, drywall taped and mud.
**House Wrap was installed over the OSB with one vertical joint installed per manufactures specs and overlapped but not taped.
***House Wrap was then taped and the test repeated.

Tested by the NAHB Research Center.

All the same tests were repeated with TallWall panels installed vertically with vertial joints over studs and spaced 1/8″ apart.

Conclusion: TallWall reduced air leakage by up to 60%

Whether the test wall had no house wrap, house wrap or house wrap with taped seams, the tests revealed a sharp reduction in air leakage – up to 60% compared to 4×8 panels installed horizontally under the same conditions. Download the NAHB Research Center Report.

Our strength in numbers

Norbord also commissioned researchers at Virginia Tech to test TallWall’s structural qualities. The tests clearly showed that TallWall panels installed vertically to overlap joist areas increased wall strength by up to 38%. For builders, that greater strength means a stronger structure, plus fewer callbacks for problems like nail pops and drywall cracks.

Overlap the joist area for stronger structure. TallWall connects the walls and floors together.

Capacity (compared to 4×8 panels)
4 x 10 TallWall	on 9′ wall	>+35%
4 x 9 TallWall	on 8′ wall	>+22%
Stiffness(compared to 4×8 panels)
4 x 10 TallWall	on 9′ wall	>+24%
4 x 9 TallWall	on 8′ wall	>+31%
Displacement (compared to 4×8 panels)
4 x 10 TallWall	on 9′ wall	>+38%
4 x 9 TallWall	on 8′ wall	>+22%

A simple switch

Norbord makes building a tighter, stronger envelope simply a matter of switching to TallWall sheathing. In fact, TallWall can actually save you labor and material costs while simplifying the application of wall sheathing.

Building Sustainably

Today’s home buyers look to purchase or build homes that utilize products that can reduce their energy costs, improve indoor air quality and are environmentally responsible. TallWall structural wall sheathing can help meet those initiatives. Norbord recently completed testing at the NAHB Research Center that clearly showed TallWall can reduce wall air leakage by 60%. Using TallWall sheathing means less waste, less material, and lower labor costs. All TallWall panels are SFI CoC. FSC certified TallWall may also available.

TallWall can help meet your green building initiatives such as LEED and the National Green Building Standard. TallWall is certified by the NAHB Research Center as an “Approved Green Product” for use in the National Green Building Standard. All Norbord OSB including Trubord, TruFlor, Windstorm, Pinnacle, Solarbord, Stabledge and Rimboard are “Approved Green Products” and can help you meet your initiatives.

Homeowner benefits

TallWall delivers a higher quality build, reduced utility costs, improved comfort, better indoor air quality and higher resale value — and it can do all that while helping to meet the home buyer’s green objectives.

Builder benefits

Your trades are already comfortable with OSB, meaning the switch to TallWall can speed up construction right away. It’s easy to install, is available in 9’ and 10’ lengths, meets building codes and can contribute points to green building programs such as LEED and the National Green Building Standard. TallWall can even reduce your material handling, cutting and waste costs.