Super Seal-X FAQ: All Your Questions About This Fire Rated Bead, Answered

Trim-Tex’s Super Seal-X is, at the time of publishing this piece, the most recent addition to our line of trailblazing fire and sound solutions. And this dynamic fire rated drywall accessory been the source of a lot of excitement and discussion in the world of code compliance ever since its launch, especially for commercial builders who need to regularly work around curtain wall systems. In this FAQ, we’ll answer the most common questions about Super Seal-X — how it works, where to use it and why it’s becoming the go-to choice for code compliance on window mullions.

What is Super Seal-X, and how does it work?

Super Seal-X is a fire rated spin on a different bead many drywall finishers already know and love, Super Seal Tear Away® L Bead. (Learn all about the standard version of this bead here.)

Like the non-rated bead before it, Super Seal-X consists of an L Bead made from rigid, durable PVC, attached to which you’ll find a flexible bubble gasket and a handy tear-off strip. The bubble gasket compresses against the adjoining substrate for a permanent, soundproof seal that’ll stay sealed even as the structure around it moves and flexes over time; the tear-off strip is included to leave behind a clean, finished edge, protecting your window (or whatever else your drywall butts up against) from spilling mud onto it.

But, unlike the regular Super Seal bead, Super Seal-X also comes equipped with a strip of intumescent tape on the underside of its flange. When exposed to intense heat, this tape will expand to 30 times its size, compressing that flexible bubble gasket until it’s completely airtight, preventing the spread of smoke and fire.

Super Seal-X is available in two colors: pink, for easy identification by inspectors, and a subtler black.

Has Super Seal-X been tested to meet fire and sound codes?

Short answer: yes.

Long answer: Super Seal-X is UL certified and tested per UL-2079 5th Edition, providing both one- and two-hour fire ratings (WW-D-0182). It has an L-Rating below 1 CFM per lineal foot. This solution has also been sound tested per ASTM E90, with an STC rating equivalent to acoustic sealant, and complies with ASTM E84.

What makes Super Seal-X an ideal choice for sealing window mullions?

Super Seal-X is the only firestopping solution of its kind made specifically for window mullions. (Although, of course, it can be used elsewhere as well, like against brick walls or concrete slabs — its bubble gasket makes it a great choice to adapt to the contours of jagged, uneven surfaces like these.)

First, its intumescent tape replaces fire sealants and sprays. Super Seal-X provides the proper dosage of firestopping materials along the entire wall joint, and is more easily, more consistently installed than these older code-compliance methods. (More on how this bead compares to intumescent sealants below.)

Second, windows are areas where a lot of movement occurs over time. This is because the temperatures on either side of the window can vary wildly in both the warmest and coldest months, which often causes movement within the structure. Without flexible materials that allow for some degree of controlled movement, this seasonal shifting can easily cause cracks in your finish. These cracks are an eyesore at best, and a fire hazard at worst. Super Seal-X’s flexible vinyl bubble gasket eliminates this risk, staying permanently flexible at these critical junctures.

And last, but definitely not least, it’s easier to install than any other solution in these areas; especially if your crew is already familiar with installing Tear Away L Bead against windows, there will basically be zero learning curve to train them on it.

Why do I need a fire rated bead installed against window mullions?

If you’re on a commercial drywall crew working against curtain walls, installing firestop materials in the joint between these exterior wall systems and interior ones is required by International Building Code (IBC). Here’s what’s specified in 2021 (24) IBC 715.6: “Voids created at the intersection of nonfire-resistance rated exterior curtain wall assemblies and vertical fire barriers shall be filled with an approved material or system to retard interior spread of fire and hot gases.”

How does Super Seal-X compare to traditional firestopping methods?

Traditional fire sealants/caulks are labor-intensive and messy to install. They’re relatively short-lived, typically offering only a one- to three-year warranty, depending on the brand. They degrade, harden and shrink back over time. And they’ve got a limited shelf life, meaning you’d better use all your inventory in 12 to 24 months or throw it all out.

Super Seal-X, on the other hand, is easily installed (saving both labor costs and headaches), with long-term durability, permanent flexibility and an unlimited shelf life. Where sealants harden over time, these PVC materials are engineered to stay flexible and effective for the lifetime of the wall system, absorbing building movement without breaking its seal.

What types of projects benefit the most from Super Seal-X?

While we can think of quite a few projects where Super Seal-X makes sense, it’s become especially popular among builders of urban high-rises. The majority of these modern structures are being built with floor-to-ceiling windows as part of unitized curtain wall systems — and, wherever these buildings’ curtain walls interact with interior walls, Super Seal-X is a game-changer for their interior construction crews.

“Super Seal-X is an interface between our interior partitions going into the exterior mullion of the unitized glazing system,” says Travis Vap, CEO of South Valley Drywall, who used this bead on a recent high-rise project. “Traditionally in our marketplace, we've left the fire rating or that transition to the unitized glaze or the glazing trade. However, they don't really understand our trade as wall and ceiling contractors. That's where this product helps solve those issues, and interface our walls to the exterior in a cost-effective value way.”

Got a question we didn’t answer? You can contact us here to ask us all your burning questions! To learn more about Super Seal-X alongside our entire line of fire and sound solutions, hit the button below — be sure to request a free digital copy of our complete technical catalog while you're there.

All Your Questions About Super Seal-X, Answered