Global Air Barriers Market by Form Type, Permeability Type, Substrate Type, End-use Type, and Region (2020-2025)

Air Barriers Market: Highlights

Air barrier is a system used to control the flow of air in building enclosures. Energy loss and durability & resiliency of the building are the two most important forces that necessitate the usage of air barriers in the building envelopes. Climate zone is another important factor for determining the usage of barrier materials in the building. Temperature, general climate conditions, and the analysis of dew point fall within the wall cavity play a vital role in the consideration of the type of air barriers to be used. Air barriers in typical non-residential buildings reduce air leakage by up to 83 percent, mitigate gas bills by more than 40 percent and cut down electrical consumption above 25 percent, based on a study performed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Impact of COVID-19 on Air Barriers Market

The year 2020 is likely to be extremely challenging as the major global economies are in the clinch of coronavirus (COVID-19). The outburst of coronavirus in China followed by its spread in the major economies is anticipated to strike an unrecoverable dent on the growth of the construction industry. None of the companies or materials used in the construction industry proves to be invincible from the coronavirus effect including waterproofing systems and air barriers.

The construction industry is anticipated to face a labor shortage, shutdowns of various projects, legal issues (both contractors and owners will be reviewing contracts to make up for the possible contractual rights and duties that exist because of the conditions caused by the virus' spread), and shortage of materials.

While some anticipations have also been made that the commercial (non-residential) construction may cause a lag of 12 to 18 months in the USA. Gauging the real impact of coronavirus on the market at this moment is extremely difficult as the situation is becoming graver day by day compelling major economies to lock down the countries and shutting down manufacturing plants and construction activities.

Market Forecast & Drivers

Despite the worrisome situation in 2020, the long-term prospects seem to be stable. The air barriers market is estimated to reach an estimated US$ 5.7 billion in 2025, offering good opportunities for the market participants in the long-term scenario. Some of the key factors leading to recovery are:

• An expected recovery of the construction industry post coronavirus
• A growing need for the reduction in energy loss of buildings
• The growing concerns about indoor air quality
• Increasing awareness about green building technologies

Furthermore, there is also a push in the market by the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and several state energy codes such as Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and Michigan, which now necessitate the use of air barriers.

Air Barriers Market Share Analysis

Analysis by Form Type: Fluid-Applied Air Barriers to Lead the Market

The publisher has firstly segmented the air barrier market based on the form type as fluid-applied, sheet-applied, and others. Fluid-applied air barrier to continue to rule the market, owing to its ease of application using a simple and cheap instrument (roller, sprayer, and brush), reduced time and cost of installation, less or no dependency on the installer, and no use of fasteners.

The sheet-applied air barrier is also likely to offer significant market opportunities owing to its ability to maintain the thickness of the membrane with special mixing material or installation equipment.

Analysis by Permeability: Vapor Permeable Air Barriers to be Dominant & Grow Faster

Our analysis based on the market segment of the permeability type suggests that the vapor permeable air barrier is expected to remain the dominant as well as the faster-growing segment of the market during the forecast period. The ability to resist air along with water vapor, slow diffusion of water vapor and aid in resisting the live loads which increase energy efficiency are some key factors fueling the demand for permeable air barriers.

Regional Analysis: The USA & Canada Offer Good Opportunities in the Largest Region - North America

In terms of region, North America is projected to remain the largest as well as the fastest-growing market for air barriers during the forecast period. The USA and Canada have been the growth engines of the North American market, driven by an extremely cold climate, stringent regulations, rapid urbanization, and increased awareness towards energy-efficient and economical green buildings. One of the key factors behind the dominance of the region is the early adoption of air barriers by the design professionals and architectures in the US states, such as Connecticut, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York, Illinois, and Vermont, which recognized the importance of an efficient air barrier system. The outbreak of COVID 19 in major economies of the world may fade the growth trajectory temporarily, especially in 2020, but North America’s attractiveness among all regions remains ubiquitously in terms of market growth and size.

Key Players

The supply chain of this market comprises raw materials suppliers, air barrier manufacturers, distributors, and end-users (builders/owners, municipal authorities, construction contractors, etc.). The key players in the air barriers market are:

• RPM International Inc.
• Carlisle Companies Incorporated
• SIKA AG
• Henry Company
• GCP Applied Technologies Inc.
• The 3M Company
• DuPont de Nemours, Inc.
• BASF SE
• Dow Inc.
• Polyguard Products Inc.
• Prosoco Inc.

Research Methodology

This comprehensive report studies the air barriers market over the trend period of 2014 to 2019 and the forecast period of 2020 to 2025 in terms of both value and volume shipments. After a continuous interest in the Below-Grade Waterproofing Market" report from industry stakeholders, the publishing team has tried to further accentuate their research scope to the air barriers market. The report estimates the current and future demand for air barriers at the global, regional, as well as country level. The report also studies all the major suppliers of air barriers across the globe. The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for market participants as well as investors in the identification of low-hanging fruits available in the market as well as formulate the growth strategies.