SuperFOIL SFBB Reflective Breathable Roofing Membrane – 25m x 1.5m

SuperFOIL SFBB Reflective Breathable Roofing Membrane is a high-performance, low vapour resistance reflective breather membrane designed for use in both roofs and walls. Combining excellent breathability with W1 resistance to water penetration, SFBB helps protect the building envelope against external moisture while allowing water vapour from within the construction to escape.

Unlike standard non-reflective breather membranes, SuperFOIL SFBB incorporates a low-emissivity reflective surface that can provide additional thermal benefits when installed facing an appropriate airspace. This helps reduce radiant heat loss during colder weather and solar heat gain during summer.

With a water vapour resistance of just 0.115 MNs/g, SFBB provides excellent breathability, helping reduce the risk of moisture becoming trapped within insulated roof and wall constructions.

Each 1.5m x 25m roll provides 37.5m² of coverage, is just 1mm thick and weighs approximately 5.4kg.

What is SuperFOIL SFBB Used For?

SuperFOIL SFBB is designed as a reflective breathable membrane for roofs and walls in new-build, extension and refurbishment projects.

Typical applications include:

• Pitched roofs
• Insulated roof constructions
• Timber frame walls
• External walls
• Cladding applications
• New-build properties
• Extensions
• Renovation projects
• Retrofit insulation projects
• Residential construction
• Suitable commercial buildings

Its W1 water resistance allows the same membrane to be specified across suitable roof and wall applications, reducing the need for separate products.

Breathable Roofing Membrane

The primary function of SuperFOIL SFBB is to provide a breathable protective layer on the external side of an insulated construction.

Water vapour can migrate through roofs and walls as a result of normal building use. If this moisture becomes trapped and reaches sufficiently cold areas of the construction, condensation can form.

SFBB has a very low stated water vapour resistance of 0.115 MNs/g, allowing water vapour to pass through the membrane and escape towards the exterior.

This helps reduce the risk of moisture accumulating within the building fabric.

Helps Reduce the Risk of Condensation

Effective condensation control requires careful management of water vapour throughout the complete roof or wall construction.

SuperFOIL SFBB is designed to work particularly effectively as the breathable outer membrane, allowing moisture vapour to escape from the construction.

When combined with an appropriate vapour control layer on the warm side of the insulation, the system can help manage moisture movement through the building envelope.

The vapour control layer restricts moisture entering the insulated construction, while the breathable SFBB membrane allows moisture that does enter to escape towards the outside.

This complementary approach can help reduce the risk of interstitial condensation.

W1 Resistance to Water Penetration

SuperFOIL SFBB achieves W1 resistance to water penetration, providing a high level of protection against external water.

This allows the membrane to function as a secondary weather-resistant layer within suitable roof and wall constructions.

Its combination of W1 water resistance and very low vapour resistance means SFBB can resist external water penetration while remaining highly breathable.

Suitable for Both Roofs and Walls

A significant advantage of SuperFOIL SFBB is its suitability for both roof and wall applications.

Some breathable membranes are designed primarily for one part of the building envelope. SFBB’s W1 water resistance allows it to be incorporated into appropriate:

• Pitched roofs
• Timber frame walls
• External wall systems
• Cladding constructions

Using one membrane across multiple building elements can simplify product specification, purchasing and installation.

Reflective Breather Membrane

SuperFOIL SFBB differs from conventional breather membranes by incorporating a reflective low-emissivity surface.

When this reflective surface faces an appropriate airspace, it can act as a radiant barrier and contribute additional thermal resistance to the overall construction.

This means SFBB can perform both as a breathable membrane and as part of the building’s thermal strategy.

Helps Reduce Heat Loss in Winter

During colder weather, the reflective surface of SuperFOIL SFBB can help reduce radiant heat transfer across an appropriate adjacent airspace.

This can contribute towards reducing overall heat loss through the roof or wall construction.

The precise thermal contribution will depend on the complete building element, including the orientation of the reflective surface, adjacent airspace and other insulation materials.

Helps Reduce Solar Gain in Summer

Reflective membranes can also provide benefits during warmer weather.

The low-emissivity surface helps reduce radiant heat transfer, including unwanted solar heat gain through suitable roof and wall constructions.

This provides useful year-round thermal benefits, helping buildings retain heat during winter while reducing radiant heat gain during summer.

Can Help Reduce Overall Insulation Requirements

The additional thermal resistance provided by a reflective membrane facing an appropriate low-emissivity airspace can contribute towards the overall thermal performance of the building element.

When this contribution is incorporated into a correctly calculated roof or wall construction, it may help reduce the amount of other insulation required to achieve a particular thermal target.

The final insulation requirements and U-value should always be calculated using the complete construction rather than considering the reflective membrane in isolation.

Ideal for New-Build and Retrofit Projects

SuperFOIL SFBB can be used across both new construction and retrofit insulation projects.

For new-build applications, its combination of breathability, water resistance and reflective performance allows it to be incorporated into the building envelope from the outset.

For renovation and retrofit projects, its lightweight and flexible format can simplify installation where existing structures need to be upgraded.

Strong and Durable Membrane

Despite being only 1mm thick, SuperFOIL SFBB provides high tensile and tear resistance.

Its stated tensile properties are:

• Length: 705 / 635 N/50mm
• Width: 610 / 580 N/50mm

Its stated resistance to tearing is:

• Length: 428N
• Width: 453N

These mechanical properties help the membrane withstand the handling and installation demands associated with roof and wall construction.

Flexible at Low Temperatures

SuperFOIL SFBB has a stated low-temperature flexibility of -40°C.

This helps the membrane retain its flexibility in very cold conditions, providing useful durability for a product installed within the external building envelope.

Lightweight and Easy to Handle

Each 37.5m² roll weighs approximately 5.4kg, making SFBB straightforward to transport, carry and position during installation.

Its combination of low weight and 1mm thickness makes the membrane easy to:

• Carry around site
• Lift onto working areas
• Roll out
• Position
• Measure
• Cut
• Fix
• Detail around building elements

This can help reduce installation time, particularly across larger roof and wall areas.

37.5m² Coverage Per Roll

Each SuperFOIL SFBB roll measures:

1.5m wide x 25m long

This provides a total nominal coverage of:

37.5m² per roll

The 1.5m width provides substantial coverage with each length of membrane, helping reduce the number of individual runs required across larger areas.

Independently Tested Performance

SuperFOIL reflective membrane products are independently tested to establish their performance characteristics for use within appropriate building constructions.

The manufacturer states that SuperFOIL reflective membranes are tested for use as part of constructions designed to meet relevant UK requirements and European standards such as CE.

Project-specific suitability should always be considered alongside the complete roof or wall design and any applicable regulatory requirements.

Key Features and Benefits

• Reflective breather membrane: Combines breathability with a low-emissivity reflective surface
• Suitable for roofs: W1 water resistance makes it suitable for appropriate roofing applications
• Suitable for walls: Can also be used in suitable external wall constructions
• One membrane for multiple applications: Helps simplify specification and installation
• Highly breathable: Water vapour resistance of just 0.115 MNs/g
• Helps reduce condensation risk: Allows water vapour to escape from the building fabric
• W1 water resistance: Provides excellent resistance to external water penetration
• Reflective surface: Provides additional thermal benefits when facing an appropriate airspace
• Radiant barrier performance: Helps reduce radiant heat transfer
• Winter performance: Can help reduce radiant heat loss
• Summer performance: Can help reduce solar heat gain
• Supports thermal performance: Reflective airspace can contribute towards the overall thermal resistance
• Can complement a VCL: Works as the breathable external layer within an appropriately designed moisture-control system
• New-build applications: Suitable for appropriate new construction
• Retrofit applications: Useful for renovation and insulation upgrades
• 1mm thick: Extremely slim and flexible membrane
• 37.5m² coverage: Each 1.5m x 25m roll covers a substantial area
• 5.4kg roll weight: Lightweight and easy to handle
• High tensile strength: Durable construction for roof and wall installation
• High tear resistance: Helps withstand normal installation demands
• Flexible: Straightforward to position and detail
• Low-temperature flexibility: Remains flexible down to -40°C
• Quick installation: Large lightweight roll helps simplify installation
• Independently tested: Performance assessed for use within appropriate building constructions

SuperFOIL SFBB Reflective Breathable Roofing Membrane Specification

Why Choose SuperFOIL SFBB Reflective Breathable Roofing Membrane?

SuperFOIL SFBB Reflective Breathable Roofing Membrane combines the essential moisture-management properties of a high-performance breather membrane with the additional thermal benefits of a reflective low-emissivity surface.

Its extremely low 0.115 MNs/g water vapour resistance allows moisture vapour to escape readily from insulated roof and wall constructions, helping reduce the risk of condensation becoming trapped within the building fabric.

At the same time, its W1 resistance to water penetration provides protection against external moisture, allowing the same membrane to be used across suitable roof and wall applications.

Unlike a conventional non-reflective membrane, SFBB can also contribute towards thermal performance when its reflective surface faces an appropriate airspace. This can help reduce radiant heat loss in winter and solar heat gain in summer, potentially reducing the amount of other insulation required within a correctly designed and calculated construction.

At just 1mm thick and 5.4kg per 37.5m² roll, SuperFOIL SFBB is lightweight, flexible and quick to install, while its high tensile and tear resistance provide the durability required for demanding roof and wall applications.

For projects requiring a breathable roofing membrane, reflective breather membrane or combined roof and wall membrane, SuperFOIL SFBB provides a versatile solution for both new-build and retrofit construction.