Project Notes:
LONGABERGER
BASKET HEADQUARTERS, Newark, OH
4000 LF of EMSEALs BACKERSEAL
material was used behind field-applied silicone wet sealant in creating watertight seals
in this elaborately "braided" façade.

Designed by NBBJ Architects in Columbus OH, this unique
structure was designed to resemble the hugely popular baskets sold by the Longaberger
Company. A composite stucco façade was selected because of its versatility in creating the woven
appearance of a basket.
As in any barrier-wall assembly façade system, sealing of
the façade expansion joints is critical to keeping the structure watertight. The
designers opted to backup the wet sealant with EMSEALs
BACKERSEAL
material.
Developed out of a research project specifically focused on
barrier-wall sealing, BACKERSEAL is one of three
100% acrylic-impregnated sealant systems from
EMSEAL with the following performance advantages:
1) Proven compatibility with all known
substrates including acrylic-based substrate
materials as well as with commonly used wet sealants.
2) Reduced tension on the substrate
4) Preservation of external insulating R-Values at joints.
5) Ability to resist the effects of air pressure differential.
Performance tested in against the rigors
of ASTM E-331, E-283, and E-330, BACKERSEAL, and COLORSEAL by EMSEAL, withstood directed water
spray while resisting a vacuum drawn on the back side of the panels. These three ASTM
tests usually conducted on curtainwall systems are considered among the most demanding for
barrier wall façade assemblies.
Subsequent to this testing,
BACKERSEAL as
an integral component of a field-formed binary sealant system has proved its ability to
keep buildings dry despite failure of the outer wet sealant. In the 17 years since its
introduction, the material has been used throughout North America on large and small
projects in virtually all commonly used substrate materials. The Longaberger headquarters
joins a long list of successfully sealed projects that count among them the
significant Façade of the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.
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