The PSUL sealing tape is a reliable sealant that ensures the removal of excess moisture from the assembly seam, excludes exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation on the foam, eliminates the possibility of fungus or mold formation. The main property is the filling of free gaps by increasing its volume.

PSUL packaging looks like a small roller, on which a compressed, foam-rubber-like tape is wound, which has an adhesive base on one side. It is usually used for hydro- and thermal insulation when installing windows. from each other in length, thickness, and may also have different degrees of expansion achieved by them. What is PSUL for windows, what it is made of, we will consider further.

PSUL is always considered as a pre-compressed sealing tape. By itself, the self-expanding tape entirely consists of an elastic polyurethane foam mass, which is completely impregnated with a special solution that extends the life of the sealant - a mixture of modified acrylic.

Each manufacturer has its own individual method for the production of thermal tape, however, there are several basic similar steps:

• polyurethane foam, belonging to the class of gas-filled plastics, is the basis of the strip;
• the prepared base is impregnated with an acrylic solution or other components;
• excess solution is removed, then the existing material is sent to the drying chamber, where the layers of the tape structure are connected;

After drying, the product is treated with an adhesive component, a binder is applied - a reinforced mesh, as well as an outer paper layer. At the end of the production process, the tape is twisted, then compressed.

When the protective packaging layer is removed, the compressed film expands, while the thickness of the tape can reach a size of 5 times its original thickness. The color of the PSUL strip is black or gray. The appearance of the finished product can be compared with a foam tape. The main standards and technological requirements for the assembly seams of the junctions of window blocks are prescribed in GOST 30971-2002.

In addition to window installation, compressed sealing tape is used in many areas. PSUL rolls are widely used as seals for moving elements of panels and joints, in addition, they are used as seals for openings in the wall, gaps between the door and window frames, as well as for sealing various elements of the roof and pipelines.

PSUL tape properties

PSUL tape for windows quality material. The list of technical characteristics of this material is diverse, which allows you to work with it in almost any conditions:

• thickness of the compressed strip - from 2 mm, unpacked - up to 80 mm;
• resistance to mechanical actions, deformation;
• flame retardant;
• operation is possible at temperatures from 50 C below zero to +90 C;
• eliminates the passage of wind or moisture;
• has thermal insulation properties;
• not subject to delamination;
• within three hours it is able to withstand a pressure of 600 kPa.

Also, the insulation strip will reliably seal the empty gaps between the wall and the window frame. Preservation of all technical properties over time is the main characteristic of PSUL (tapes for windows).

Pros and Cons of Window Sealing Tape

PSUL tape for window insulation significantly extends their service life. But this material used for hydro- and thermal insulation of windows has both advantages and disadvantages.

The advantages of window insulation include:

• the ability to increase in volume (up to 5 times);
• reliable waterproofing, but without blocking the steam outlet;
• resistance to moisture, which prevents the appearance of fungus, mold;
• plastic;
• ease of installation, self-adhesive material;
• external atmospheric influences do not subject the thermal tape to destruction;
• neutral chemical composition without harm to people and animals;
• service life is several decades.

Cons are much less:

• the duration of the expansion process largely depends on the temperature regime, for example, full expansion can occur only after 15 hours at a temperature of + 10 ° C;
• the area to be sealed must be clean and flat, the presence of small stones will break the seal.

Due to its properties, PSUL is in great demand and is widely used in building structures for sealing joints and seams.

Instructions for use

The first PSUL technology was used by employees of the German construction market corporation Illbrook. According to GOST, the PSUL strip must be installed without fail. The sealant tape is fixed around the entire perimeter of the frame to prevent leaks and freezing. The installation process is quite simple.

In order for the installation of windows to proceed smoothly, you must continuously stock up on the necessary tools and materials in advance.

To prepare the premises and carry out work, you will need:

• scissors;
• PSUL roll having an adhesive base;
• special building hair dryer;
• mounting foam;
• damp cloth;
• acrylic primer;
• solvent;
• external waterproofing strip and internal vapor barrier.

Before sticking the PSUL tape, it is required to prepare the window opening itself, namely: clean the working space from mud deposits (pebbles, dust, crumbling plaster), treat the surface where the strip will be glued with a special acrylic primer and wait until it dries. These actions will ensure that the PSUL adhesive tape is securely fastened.

The next step to installing PSUL is to measure the length and width of the window. Based on the results of measurements, the self-adhesive is cut to avoid kinks, while leaving allowances for vertical and horizontal openings: 1 cm and 1.5 cm, respectively.

Then carefully remove the protective film, fix the strip along the inner perimeter of the fourth part of the vertical opening, retreating from the outer edge by 3 mm. For a stronger fastening, press the tape for a few seconds. We do the same work with the remaining openings. We try not to bend the strip. If during installation you use an already unpacked tape (expanded), the result of the work will turn out to be of poor quality, and the process itself will also be longer.

After the work done, the compacted tape is left for several hours so that it can reach full expansion. To speed up this process, you can use a building hair dryer. After the thermal adhesive has dried, the interval between the slope and the profile is treated with mounting foam.

The outgoing air from the heating equipment reaches quite high temperatures, the heating process must be carefully controlled so as not to overheat the material. The recommended distance between the device and the PSUL strip is 20 cm.

How much and how to choose

You can buy pre-compressed sealing tape in a physical store and online, wholesale or retail. Give your preference to those firms that are well-known, read the reviews so as not to regret your choice.

Note! When buying self-adhesive tape for window insulation, check the packaging: it must be airtight. In the event of a leak, the tape loses its technical properties.

Which tape is right for you can be determined by the width of the seam, if it is in the gap:

• 3-6 mm - PSUL 10/15 (the width of the adhesive side is 10 mm, the compressed state of the tape is 3 mm with a maximum expansion of up to 15 mm);
• 4-8 mm - PSUL 10/20 (the width of the adhesive side is 10 mm, the compressed state of the tape is 4 mm with a maximum expansion of up to 20 mm);
• 4-8 mm - PSUL 15/20 (the width of the adhesive side is 15 mm, the compressed state of the tape is 4 mm with a maximum expansion of up to 20 mm);
• 6-12 mm - PSUL 15/30 (the width of the adhesive side is 15 mm, the compressed state of the tape is 6 mm with a maximum expansion of up to 30 mm);
• 8-16 mm - PSUL 15/40 (the width of the adhesive side is 15 mm, the compressed state of the tape is 8 mm with a maximum expansion of up to 40 mm);
• 6-12 mm - PSUL 20/30 (the width of the adhesive side is 20 mm, the compressed state of the tape is 6 mm with a maximum expansion of up to 30 mm);
• 8-16 mm - PSUL 20/40 (the width of the adhesive side is 20 mm, the compressed state of the tape is 8 mm with a maximum expansion of up to 40 mm).

The use of an insulating strip of the wrong size (smaller than required) greatly complicates and makes the installation process incorrect. Incorrectly selected window insulation exposes the structure to unpleasant consequences that nullify all the work, such as: damage to the assembly seam, its destruction, blowing PSUL by gusts of wind, squeezing out self-adhesive insulating tape with mounting foam, the appearance of leaks in cloudy weather.

The cost of sealing tape depends on several factors:

• strip thickness;
• roll length;
• features of the composition and functions;
• country of origin, delivery method.

The last two points have a greater impact on the price of a roll. The rest of the points remain almost unchanged over time.

Self-adhesive window insulation tape PSUL will provide high quality and durability of installation, extending the life of windows. Full adherence to the surface, as well as avoidance of displacement, will be ensured by a self-adhesive tape layer. No additional construction tools are required in order to make the windows insulated, it remains only to choose the right PSUL strip.

PSUL tape for windows - what kind of material is it? Plastic window installers know that this is pre-compressed sealing tape. It is an integral element of high-quality installation of plastic and wooden windows.

This material cannot be classified as innovative, as it has been used for more than two decades. But new modifications of the PSUL appear regularly, claiming the status of the most reliable and high-quality ones.

Why do I need a PSUL tape

The purpose of sealing tapes is to eliminate gaps and protect assembly seams. At the dawn of the appearance of plastic windows, self-expanding mounting foam was used (and is still used) during their installation. The practice of using this sealer has shown that it is able to collapse under the influence of temperature extremes, moisture and ultraviolet radiation.

An active search for a new means of eliminating gaps and protecting the mounting foam led to the invention of a simple and reliable material - PSUL tape for plastic windows. Its characteristics significantly exceeded the capabilities of mounting foam. Since then, window installation technology has provided for the use of PSUL. Why is she good?

1. It has the ability to self-repair its shape.
2. Retains a high degree of elasticity throughout the life of the product.
3. It is a reliable barrier to the development of fungus and mold.
4. It has excellent vapor permeability.
5. It is an effective heat insulator.
6. Able to remove moisture outside the assembly seam.

Despite the wide range of manufacturers of these tapes, all of them (tapes) have the same properties and are made from almost the same materials, with slight changes in the basic composition.

The base of the seals is a polyurethane foam elastomer saturated with an acrylic resin composition. The density of polyurethane foam largely determines the technical characteristics of the finished product. The manufacturer can give his product any color, but this will not affect the quality. Therefore, when choosing a product, its color should not be the determining parameter.

The first manufacturer of PSUL is the German company Illbruck Bau-Technik GmbH. In Russia and the Commonwealth countries, products of the following brands are mainly used:

• Profband (GiT LLC, St. Petersburg);
• "PSUL-EUROBAND" (Belarus);
• "Liplent" (Ryazan region);
• "Robiband" ("Robitex", Moscow).

Technical characteristics of tapes PSUL

If you compare the technical characteristics of seals from different manufacturers, you can find that all these products, despite the difference in brands, meet their requirements.

All enterprises strive to produce competitive products, so you can buy any sealing tape for self-installation of windows. She will definitely do her job. Any tape of psuls, the technical characteristics of which correspond to those given below, will serve faithfully for at least 20 years.

1. Ability to expand from 10 to 70 mm.
2. The presence of an adhesive layer.
3. Resistance to temperature extremes (operating range from -50°C to +70°C).
4. Deformation under mechanical impact is not more than 15%.
5. UV resistant.
6. Vapor permeability in the compressed state is not more than 0.25 m2∙h∙Pa/mg.
7. Neutral to chemicals.
8. Resistant to moisture, therefore, it is possible to paint with vapor-permeable water-based paints and varnishes.

Application area

PSUL are sold in rolls (bobbins), which ensures ease of transportation and use. These seals are produced in widths from 10 mm to 40 mm to protect joints of various sizes. At the request of the customer, manufacturers are ready to make tapes of any standard sizes.

The scope of sealants is wide. They are used to protect mounting joints when installed in concrete, wood and brick openings of metal, plastic, wood, glass structures. Required for the following types of work:

• when installing windows and balcony blocks as a sealant and heat insulator;
• when installing thresholds and window sills;
• when installing roof structures as damper joints;
• when installing ventilation and air conditioning systems to eliminate gaps, noise and vibration;
• in the construction of building structures for sealing joints and as a sound and heat insulator.

The pre-compressed self-expanding sealing tape can have two adhesive sides. One - for fixing to the plane of the translucent structure, the second - for attaching to the slope.

Mounting technology

PSUL, placed in the seam, gradually increases in volume, filling all the gaps. But this does not happen instantly. It takes time to expand. The rate of filling the seam directly depends on the ambient temperature. For better mounting quality, it is not recommended to use PSUL at temperatures below -5°C.

For the installation of plastic windows, a self-expanding sealing tape PSUL "Robiband" is recommended. Products of this brand have long established themselves as high-quality and reliable.

According to GOST 30971-2002, when installing windows, it is required to provide a protected assembly seam. This can be done using PSUL. To mount the tape, do the following:

• measure the width of the seam formed between the window opening and the window block;
• determine the location of the seal on the window frame;
• check the deviations of the walls of the opening vertically and horizontally (in this way they obtain information about the expected width of the gaps);
• using a pencil and a ruler, mark the location of the seal on the window box;
• remove the packaging film from the roll and cut off 3-5 cm from the end of the tape;
• remove the protective paper from the adhesive side and glue the tape according to the markings made earlier on the window box;
• gradually move along the box, gluing a seal around the perimeter;
• a larger seal is glued to the places of wider seams;
• on the corner joints of the box, each strip of tape should hang 1-2 cm;
• the joined segments are bent and pressed against each other;
• install a frame with a sealant in the window opening;
• reinforce the frame with self-tapping screws.

If a plastic structure is installed, the surfaces are pre-degreased. You can use white spirit. If the expected gap width is 4-5 mm, use tape with a 20 mm extension. If the gap is more than 6 mm, a PSUL with an expansion of 30 mm will be required.

High-quality installation of the window and balcony block provides for the presence of a sealant under the ebbs and in the places where the visors are attached. Without the PSML, meeting this requirement would be difficult. By choosing high-quality sealants, construction workers ensure a long service life of the installed structures.
P.S. And for dessert, I suggest watching a video clip: Robiband Instructions for installing plastic windows with vapor barrier tape

Pre-compressed sealing tape (abbreviation PSUL) is regulated by GOST R 52749-2007 for high-quality installation of windows or doors, performs the functions of heat and sound insulation (in the standard version), providing tightness in the installation seams when the gap fluctuates due to thermal expansion of materials or deformations wall opening.

Video: PSUL tapes when installing a window block.

Initially, pre-compressed tapes were supplied only in one layer, then with additional waterproofing outer or vapor-tight inner layers, today more often - in a universal version with protection against water penetration into the material from the street and water vapor from the room.

The use of PSUL tapes for the installation of windows and doors

The high-quality execution of mounting seams along the perimeter of the window frame adjoining the wall opening ensures the absence of thermal bridges, for which the heat-insulating material must fill the seam without gaps and maintain equilibrium weight humidity during operation, at which the insulation has a minimum thermal conductivity. To perform these tasks, professional installers use water-repellent, heat-insulating, waterproofing and sealing materials on a different basis, combining them in an assembly seam depending on the material of the wall opening, operating conditions and the accepted technology for installing a window or door unit.

Table. The main types of water-repellent, heat-insulating, waterproofing and sealing materials for the professional execution of assembly joints.

The most popular material for assembly joints in the last ten years has become PSUL tapes, which are used instead of construction foam and are selected strictly according to the size of the sealed assembly joint.

Table. Characteristics of the main types of PSUL for installation with different technological gaps.

When using single-layer PSUL, additional waterproofing of the assembly seam is required from the outside with GIL tapes and from the inside with PIL tapes. Universal PSUL with hydro and vapor barrier layers are used without special tapes, but often with additional sealing of problem areas with sealants with good adhesion to materials and resistance to temperature fluctuations.

Important: Technological gaps between the window frame and the walls of the opening cannot be arbitrary and are determined by the material of the window block, the color of the profile system, the length of the linear element of the frame, as well as the level of solar insolation at the place of operation. In general, the data on the technological gaps of the installation joints are summarized in the reference tables DIN 18355 and / or EN10077, as well as the materials of the RAL Guide for planning and implementing the installation of the RAL quality level.

Table. Threshold technological gaps between the window frame and the walls of the opening according to the recommendations of European technical regulations.

Construction foams and PSUL tapes in installation works

As an alternative to PSUL tapes, building foam can be used in combination with GIL and PIL tapes, or hydro- and vapor-tight sealants, but only together with sealing cords that provide a supporting surface and, accordingly, the integrity of the insulation with fluctuations in the dimensions of the mounting gap.

Rice. Professional and incorrect execution of assembly joints using sealants and construction foam, where: 1 - construction foam, 2 - sealing cord, 3 - sealant.

In general, the package of materials for installation is determined during the planning of installation work at the facility and depends on the material of the wall opening, the presence or absence of external insulation as part of a wet or hinged ventilated facade system, the humidity (and temperature) operating conditions of the room with the opening, etc. Of no small importance when choosing materials for the execution of assembly joints is the chosen method of fastening the window block in the opening - on sleeve anchors through the "body" of the profile or on flexible connections.

Reference: Installation on flexible connections is not recommended in the developed countries of the European Union and the RAL Guidelines, with the exception of installation in the openings of houses, buildings with wet, hinged facades, as well as in three-layer walls with a heat-insulating middle layer with the optimal position of the window in the middle of the opening in thickness. For walls made of loose or hollow materials, chemical or wedge sleeve anchors of considerable length are used as an alternative to expansion anchors.