GORE^® Protective Vents – FAQ

GORE® Protective Vents are useful in a wide variety of applications where you need dust, dirt and moisture protection.  Gas permeable vents are necessary for three reasons:

• To equalize pressure in an enclosure which reduces stress on the enclosure seals and prevents ingress of water, dirt and other contaminants
• To reduce condensation build up by equalizing pressure inside the enclosure
• To protect sensitive gas and liquid sensors from contamination without disabling sensing capabilities

GORE® Protective Vents are gas permeable and enable the rapid exchange of air and/or gases through the membrane vent material in response to environmental changes. Vents are useful in sealed and gasketed enclosures, and unlike traditional venting options, offer a unique solution to venting by protecting against dust, salt and water ingress over time while allowing the enclosure to breathe.

Please contact a GORE^® Protective Vents sales Associate who can help you choose the right product for your unique application.

The technology behind the vent's breathability lies in our ePTFE materials. W.L. Gore & Associates invented ePTFE and continues to be a world leader in fluorpolymer technologies.

Our microporous ePTFE membrane prevents pressure build up by constantly equalizing the difference in pressure between the inside of the enclosure and its immediate environment. This constant exchange reduces the pressure on the seals. The vent works by allowing air and other gases to pass through the membrane freely but stops liquids from entering the enclosure. Our membranes offer varying flow rates and liquid protection.

The number of vents required is dependent upon the enclosure size and the net free volume inside. Furthermore, environmental influences (temperature cycles, altitude or pressure changes, contact fluids) and required airflow are important factors to consider when choosing a vent material and configuration.

Gore sales associates can help determine how many vents are required to provide sufficient airflow to your enclosure.

Gore offers gas permeable vents with both hydrophobic and oleophobic venting membranes, depending on your application requirements. Our hydrophobic membranes utilize expanded PTFE's inherent water resistant properties to protect your product from high surface tension aqueous liquids. Gore's oleophobic ePTFE membranes provide protection not only from water but also from lower surface tension fluids like oils, soaps and alcohols.

You may require oleophobic material if your enclosure is exposed to washdowns, harsh or dirty environments, or is in contact with fluids other than water. Both GORE’s hydrophobic and patented oleophobic technology has been successfully proven in a wide range of venting applications based on years of commercial field experience.

Gore vents were designed to be flexible enough to be installed on a range of surfaces depending on configuration of your enclosure. It is important that the vent be unobstructed so that it can pass air freely. We recommend mounting the vent on the vertical side of your enclosure to ensure that no foreign materials are able to block or pool on the vent area. Please review our surface guide, adhesive and installation instructions to make sure you are installing your vents properly.

Gore offers a range of products to meet your application requirements, including molded snap-fit and screw-in vents, metal parts, o-rings and adhesive cut parts in a variety of shapes and sizes. For example, molded parts incorporate physical protection in addition to protecting from water and contaminant ingress. On the other hand, our cut and adhesive vents have a low profile and come in a range of sizes.

We also offer custom part configurations if our standard offerings do not meet your needs. We would be happy to discuss your application and help determine which configuration will work best. Please contact your Gore representative with questions about what would work best for you.

Gore vents were designed with equipment protection in mind. Our membrane vent materials have been tested based on IP Standards. Please refer to our Product Literature for specific information. When you are designing your enclosure, it is important to understand the real world conditions in which your product will be used. Please keep in mind that our product information is only a guide and other factors such as vent placement, environment, and surface area may affect your IP rating.

Based on our experience in venting and knowledge about ePTFE membranes, we have optimized our sales offerings to include a range of sizes and shapes to fit any number of applications. We offer parts in a variety of sizes, forms, airflows, and levels of protection. Your Gore representative can help you decide which part will work best in your application. If you determine with your representative that a standard part will not work, we will work with you to develop a customized solution. Please contact us for more information.

While we cannot guarantee how our vents will perform in every environment and under every condition, Gore’s membrane vents are designed and manufactured to withstand harsh conditions for extended periods of time. It is important to follow the Installation and handling instructions carefully to maximize the life of the vent.

Temperature, altitude or other environmental factors can cause rapid changes in pressure. Gore vents permit pressure to equalize with the immediate environment by allowing the enclosure to breathe. If the pressure or vacuum becomes too great, your enclosure may experience cracks, water or contaminate ingress, and even shortened product life. Our Membrane Vents offer both proven protection and venting technology.

Gore membrane vents allow the pass of air and other gases both ways while blocking the flow of liquid water. Gore offers a range of materials with varying airflows depending on how quickly you need your enclosure to vent.

Gore vents are used in a variety of applications across many market segments. The combination of our proven hydrophobic and oleophobic ePTFE technologies, product variety, and range of product forms make us an ideal choice when you need both Venting and protection.