Vapour permeable silicone is a type of building sealant used to seal joints and cracks, with its key property being its ability to let water vapour through. In practice, this means that while the sealant prevents liquid water, such as rain, from entering the structure, it also allows moisture in its gaseous state to escape from the structure to the outside. This property is particularly important in the external envelope of buildings, for example when sealing joints around windows, doors or between facade panels. Moisture can accumulate in masonry and insulation layers and if the joint were sealed with an impermeable material, this moisture would remain trapped inside. Long-term sealed moisture can cause mould and damage to building materials. Vapour permeable silicone thus ensures that the structure can 'breathe', so to speak, which helps to wick away excess moisture and maintain the health of the building.