Rhino Wrap Breather RP-51B Class 3 Vapour Permeable Foil Wall Wrap
1350 mm x 60 m (81 m²)
$123.00
Sale price
$123.00
Regular price
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Rhino Wrap Breather RP-51B Class 3 Vapour Permeable Foil Wall Wrap
$123.00
Sale price
$123.00
Regular price
GST inclusive
Opening Offer: 5% off orders over $1,000, 7% over $2,500, 10% over $4,000. Ends 30 November. Offer details
How many do you need?
Measure the wall, ceiling or roof area and take about 10% off for studs, joists and purlins.
You need
Which covers
Total
Dispatch: Most orders are processed the same day. Metro delivery: Usually 1–3 business days. We do our best to get most items out on the next business day.
Delivery to VIC and NSW: $55 in metro Melbourne and metro Sydney, $99 in the outer ring around both cities, $149 anywhere else in the two states · Local pickup from Epping, VIC by arrangement · Shipping details
Rhino Wrap Breather (RP-51B) is a heavy duty reflective wall wrap from Thor Building Products, rated Class 3, Vapour Permeable. Aluminium foil is bonded to a reinforcing polymer mesh treated blue to cut glare. Thor's selection guide places it in brick veneer walls.
Not a water barrier
Thor class this perforated wrap as a Non-Water Barrier, so it relies on a drained cavity, which brick veneer has by design. Their condensation guide rules out lightweight cladding in any situation, even with a battened cavity, because perforated non-water barrier products do not meet cladding manufacturers' warranty terms.
Check the climate zone first
For houses and apartments, NCC 2022 wants a membrane outside the wall insulation to reach 0.143 µg/N·s in climate zones 4 and 5, and 1.140 µg/N·s in zones 6, 7 and 8. Class 3 is the minimum for zones 4 and 5. It falls short in zones 6 to 8, Melbourne included, where a Class 4 wrap is the deemed-to-satisfy choice. Our wall wrap buyer guide compares the options.
Ordering and on site
Each roll is 1350 mm x 60 m and covers 81 m². Install to AS/NZS 4200.2. Thor recommend at least a 20 mm air space next to the foil face, and say up to R1.1 may be added to the wall system behind brick veneer. Clad as soon as you can, store the rolls dry, keep wet concrete and mortar off the wrap and allow for up to 2% shrinkage. The foil is electrically conductive. Full figures are in the table below.
Technical data
Thor Building Products technical data sheet (PDF)Sizes stocked
| Roll size | Coverage | Product code |
|---|---|---|
| 1350 mm x 60 m | 81 m² | RP-51B-60 |
Barrier classifications
| Vapour control | Class 3, Vapour Permeable |
|---|---|
| Water control | Non-Water Barrier |
| Perforated | Yes, a perforated non-water barrier product |
| Electrical conductivity | Conductive |
A non-water barrier needs a drained cavity behind the cladding, which brick veneer has by design.
Where it can go
| Recommended applications | Residential and commercial wall insulation |
|---|---|
| Thor selection guide | Brick veneer construction (drained cavity) |
| Lightweight cladding | Not to be used behind lightweight cladding in any situation, even with a battened drained cavity |
NCC 2022 wall vapour permeance (Class 1, 2 and 4 buildings)
| Climate zones 4 and 5 | At least 0.143 µg/N·s (Class 3 or Class 4) |
|---|---|
| Climate zones 6, 7 and 8 | At least 1.140 µg/N·s (Class 4) |
This applies to a membrane on the outside of the wall insulation; Melbourne is in zone 6, where this Class 3 wrap is not the deemed-to-satisfy choice.
Fire
| Flammability index | Low (5 or less) |
|---|---|
| Bushfire Attack Level | BAL 12.5 to FZ (AS 3959, section 3.10), except exposed installations in fire control rooms or fire-isolated exits |
Thermal
| Emittance of reflective face | Reflective (0.05 or less) |
|---|---|
| Air space | At least 20 mm next to the foil face recommended for maximum insulation value |
| Wall system | Up to R1.1 may be added behind brick veneer with a drained cavity |
The foil only works facing an air space, and the R1.1 is a wall system figure, not a product R-value.
Strength and material
| Duty | Heavy |
|---|---|
| Tensile strength machine direction | Min 12.5 kN/m |
| Edge tear resistance machine direction | Min 80 N |
| Thickness | Less than 1 mm |
| Construction | Aluminium foil bonded to a reinforcing polymer mesh, mesh treated blue to reduce glare |
| Shrinkage | Up to 2% can be expected |
Compliance
| Standard | Complies with AS/NZS 4200.1 Pliable Building Membranes |
|---|---|
| Installation | AS/NZS 4200.2 |
Fitting notes
Install to AS/NZS 4200.2 on the outside of the wall frame, and only where there is a drained cavity, such as brick veneer. Do not use it behind lightweight cladding. Thor recommend an air space of at least 20 mm next to the foil face for maximum insulation value. Put the external cladding on as soon as possible, keep wet concrete and mortar off the membrane, store the rolls in a dry area and allow for up to 2% shrinkage. The foil is electrically conductive.
Figures are taken from the Thor Building Products data sheet for Rhino Wrap RP-51 & RP-51B, July 2022, product code RP-51B-60. Usage limits come from Thor's NCC 2019 Condensation Management guide, and the NCC 2022 permeance limits from clauses F8D3 and 10.8.1 as quoted in Fletcher Insulation Technical Bulletin TB 07, 4 April 2023. The manufacturer document is linked above. Thor Building Products can change specifications without notice, so check the current sheet before specifying on a job.
Common questions
Is Rhino Wrap Breather a water barrier?
No. Thor class it as a Non-Water Barrier, and it is a perforated product. It needs a drained cavity behind the cladding, which brick veneer walls have by design.
Can it go behind weatherboards or cement sheet cladding?
No. Thor say perforated non-water barrier products should not be used behind lightweight cladding in any situation, even with a battened drained cavity, because they do not meet cladding manufacturers' warranty terms.
Does it meet NCC 2022 for a house in Melbourne?
Not under the deemed-to-satisfy rule. In climate zones 6, 7 and 8, Melbourne included, NCC 2022 wants a membrane outside the wall insulation to have a vapour permeance of at least 1.140 µg/N·s, which is Class 4. Rhino Wrap Breather is Class 3.
Which climate zones is a Class 3 wrap for?
NCC 2022 asks for at least 0.143 µg/N·s in zones 4 and 5, with Class 3 as the minimum class there. Check the climate zone for the site before you order.
How much wall does one roll cover?
One 1350 mm x 60 m roll covers 81 m².
What R-value does it add?
Thor say up to R1.1 may be added to the wall system when it is installed behind brick veneer with a drained cavity. They recommend at least a 20 mm air space next to the foil face for maximum insulation value.
Is it suitable in a bushfire prone area?
Thor state it is suitable for BAL 12.5 to FZ under AS 3959, section 3.10, except exposed installations in fire control rooms or fire-isolated exits. Its flammability index is Low (5 or less).
How is it different from Rhino Wrap RP-51?
They share a data sheet and are both Heavy duty. RP-51 is a Class 2 Vapour Barrier and a Water Barrier, while the Breather RP-51B is Class 3, Vapour Permeable and a Non-Water Barrier.
Cannot see your question? Ask our team and we will get you an answer.
Answers use the Thor Building Products data sheet for Rhino Wrap RP-51 & RP-51B (July 2022), Thor's NCC 2019 Condensation Management guide, and NCC 2022 clauses F8D3 and 10.8.1 as quoted in Fletcher Insulation Technical Bulletin TB 07 (4 April 2023).
