Compartment Seals

The hybrid between a door sealing system and a dynamic window is a compartment sealing application. Look around the outside of an over-the-road truck and you will see two compartments: one for tools and one for access to the sleeper. In a recreational vehicle or a bus, there are compartments all along the bottom: between the wheels for cargo storage, for battery access, for access to a compressor and more. Other compartment sealing systems include a cooler embedded in the console below the radio (found on some minivans) and a toolbox nestled in the rear quarter panel of a pickup truck.

Compartment seals to protect from the elements

All of these compartments have properties in common:
• they open and close,
• they house contents that are expected to be shielded from the elements and
• they all demand the design and implementation of a sound sealing strategy.

Materials used in compartment sealing applications for specific needs

• If wind, rain and the sun are factors, then EPDM is a good choice
• If the compartment is inside a structure, then thermoplastic elastomers might be used
• If there are special concerns like extreme cold and/or heat, then silicone is an obvious option