Polymeric sleeve for self sealing fastener in building panel, sheathing panel containing the same and method of using the same

A sheathing panel, comprising:

• at least one barrier overlay secured to at least one side of a panel;
• a plurality of fasteners comprising a body portion and a head portion, the body portion engaged in the barrier overlay and the panel, and the head portion at least partially exposed adjacent an outer surface of the sheathing panel;
• and
• a plurality of sealing cylindrical sheaths surrounding a portion of each body portion and positioned between the head portion of each fastener and the barrier overlay,
• wherein:
• each of the plurality of sealing cylindrical sheaths have opposing open ends such that the portion of each body portion of the plurality of fasteners beyond the surrounded portion thereof extends through and beyond both of the opposing open ends;
• each of the plurality of sealing cylindrical sheaths is positioned wholly within a collating sleeve body;
• the sheathing panel is bulk water resistant surrounding the plurality of fasteners and has at least one of the following properties:
• a water vapor transmission rate of at least 7.0 grams per square meter per 24 hours (grams/m2/24 hours) as determined by ASTM E96-15 procedure A at 73° F. and 50% relative humidity (RH), a water vapor permeance of at least 1.3 perms as determined by ASTM E96-15 procedure A at 73° F. and 50% relative humidity (RH), or an air infiltration rate of less than 0.2 liters per second per square meter (L/s-m2) at 75 pascals (Pa) as determined by ASTM E2357-11;
• each cylindrical sheath of the plurality of cylindrical sheaths has a length of about ¼ to about ½ inch;
• and
• each cylindrical sheath comprises a polymeric material having a softness of either:
• about 30 to about 80 durometer—Shore A as measured by ASTM D2240 type A;
• or between 1 and 30D durometer—Shore D as measured by ASTM D2240 type D, the softness being such that, in use, the plurality of cylindrical sheaths provides a self-sealing of the plurality of fasteners.

A method of engaging a plurality of fasteners with a sheathing panel, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of fasteners for driving into a sheathing panel comprising a barrier overlay secured to a panel, the fasteners comprising body portions at least partially enclosed within a plurality of cylindrical sheaths in a collating sleeve body;
• compressing each cylindrical sheath around a portion of the body portion of each corresponding fastener such that the cylindrical sheath remains around the body portion and between a head portion of the fastener and the sheathing panel;
• separating the collating sleeve body from the plurality of cylindrical sheaths while driving the plurality of fasteners into the sheathing panel;
• and
• self-sealing the plurality of cylindrical sheaths around the body portion of the plurality of fasteners and between the head portion and the barrier overlay,
• wherein:
• each of the plurality of sealing cylindrical sheaths have opposing open ends such that the portion of each body portion of the plurality of fasteners beyond the surrounded portion thereof extends through and beyond both of the opposing open ends;
• each of the plurality of sealing cylindrical sheaths is positioned wholly within a collating sleeve body;
• the sheathing panel is bulk water resistant surrounding the plurality of fasteners and has at least one of the following properties:
• a water vapor transmission rate of at least 7.0 grams per square meter per 24 hours (grams/m2/24 hours) as determined by ASTM E96-15 procedure A at 73° F. and 50% relative humidity (RH), a water vapor permeance of at least 1.3 perms as determined by ASTM E96-15 procedure A at 73° F. and 50% relative humidity (RH), or an air infiltration rate of less than 0.2 liters per second per square meter (L/s-m2) at 75 pascals (Pa) as determined by ASTM E2357-11;
• each cylindrical sheath of the plurality of cylindrical sheaths has a length of about ¼ to about ½ inch;
• and
• each cylindrical sheath comprises a polymeric material having a softness of either:
• about 30 to about 80 durometer—Shore A as measured by ASTM D2240 type A;
• or between 1 and 30D durometer—Shore D as measured by ASTM D2240 type D, the softness being such that, in use, the plurality of cylindrical sheaths provides a self-sealing of the plurality of fasteners.