What is Selleys Storm, and what problem does it solve?

Selleys Storm is a sealant that delivers an immediate waterproof seal on any material*, wet or dry, indoors or outdoors. Its defining capability is that it can be applied in the rain to stop leaks in an instant.

That single sentence is the whole reason the product exists, and it is easiest to understand by looking at what it replaces. Conventional sealants such as silicones cannot be applied to wet surfaces, and can have adhesion issues on certain surfaces. A leak, by definition, produces a wet surface. So the standard advice with a conventional sealant is to wait for the weather to clear, dry the area out, and then seal it — which is fine for planned work and useless at 9pm during a downpour with water coming through a roof.

Storm is built for the second situation. It is powered by Sil-X Advanced Polymer Technology, developed to withstand the toughest conditions, and Selleys' position on it is direct: regardless of the surface, and whether it is wet or dry, Storm Sealant is ready for the job.

*Selleys attaches a qualifying asterisk to the "any material" claim on its own page. Check the individual product's label and technical data for the specific materials and conditions it covers before committing to a repair.

When Storm is the right choice

Storm is worth reaching for in three circumstances, all of which come down to conditions rather than the type of joint:

• The surface is wet and cannot be dried. An active leak, a gutter running with water, a joint in a damp subfloor.
• It is raining now and the leak has to stop now. Storm can be applied in the rain.
• The material is one a conventional silicone struggles to grip. Adhesion issues on certain surfaces are one of the stated limits of conventional sealants that Storm is designed around.

Conversely, where the surface is dry, the weather is fine and the substrate is one a standard sealant handles well, the specialist capability is not being used — and a purpose-matched product from the general sealant range may suit the joint better. The value of Storm is that it removes the precondition of a dry surface, not that it replaces every sealant on the shelf.

Why "immediate" matters in a leak

The word doing the most work in the product description is immediate. An emergency repair has two separate jobs: stop the water now, and hold. A sealant that needs dry conditions and a curing period before it becomes waterproof cannot do the first job at all during the event that created the problem — which is why the usual emergency fix is a tarpaulin and a bucket, with the real repair happening days later.

A sealant that delivers a waterproof seal immediately, on a wet surface, in the rain, collapses those two jobs into one. That is worth knowing before you need it, because the moment you need it is not the moment to be reading product pages.

Where Storm gets used

Selleys pairs the Storm range with project guides for outdoor and mobile applications, which gives a fair indication of the environments it is intended for:

• Building a deck — outdoor timber structures exposed to weather.
• Making over a caravan — a structure where joints move, weather is constant, and a leak is a serious problem.

The common thread is exposure. These are applications where the seal is the only thing between the weather and the interior, and where the conditions at the time of the repair may not be ideal.

Hazard classification

Classified as hazardous under Safe Work Australia GHS 7, with the signal word Warning.

• Eye irritation — Category 2A. H319: causes serious eye irritation.
• Skin sensitisation — Category 1. H317: may cause an allergic skin reaction.

Not classified as Dangerous Goods by the criteria of the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail, or of New Zealand NZS 5433.

What is in it

Chemical entity	CAS number	Proportion (w/w)
Naphtha, petroleum, hydrodesulfurised heavy	64742-82-1	1–10%
Trimethoxyvinylsilane	2768-02-7	1–10%
Benzotriazole derivative	104810-48-2	<1%
1,2-Ethanediamine, N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]-	1760-24-3	<1%
Hydroxyphenylbenzotriazole derivative	104810-47-1	<1%
Non-hazardous or below reporting limits	—	Balance

Skin sensitisation is the classification that matters most here, and it is not the same thing as irritation. Irritation is a local reaction that settles once contact stops. Sensitisation is the immune system learning to react to the material: once acquired it is generally permanent, it can afterwards be triggered by exposures far smaller than the one that caused it, and the reaction tends to get worse with each subsequent contact rather than fade. It develops from repeated casual contact, not from one dramatic exposure.

That pattern sits badly with the way Storm is actually used. The product exists for the repair you make now — on a wet surface, in the rain, often at night, often up a ladder. That is precisely the situation in which gloves are the thing left in the shed, and a sealant you reach for in a hurry several times a year is a sealant you handle bare-handed several times a year. Keep a pair of gloves with the cartridge rather than with the rest of the kit.

The aminosilane in the table — the ethanediamine-substituted trimethoxysilane at under one percent — is the adhesion promoter, and its chemical class is the one most commonly associated with skin sensitisation classifications in sealants of this type. The safety data sheet does not name a single cause, so treat that as the likely explanation rather than the sourced one.

The naphtha at up to ten percent is the solvent, and it accounts for the smell and for the storage advice. On its own that ingredient is a Category 3 flammable liquid; the sealant as supplied is not classified as dangerous goods, but it is still to be kept away from heat and ignition sources, which is worth remembering if the cartridge lives in a hot vehicle or beside a roof torch.

Protection

• Gloves — nitrile rubber is suitable for intermittent contact.
• Eye protection — safety glasses. Working overhead on a roof or a gutter puts your eyes directly under the work.
• Overalls and safety shoes where the job warrants them.
• Ventilation — natural ventilation is adequate under normal use conditions.
• Wash hands before eating, drinking, smoking or using the toilet, and wash contaminated clothing before wearing it again.

First aid

Exposure	What to do
Eyes	Hold the eyelids apart and flush the eyes continuously with running water. Continue flushing until advised to stop by a Poisons Information Centre or a doctor, or for at least 15 minutes, then go to a doctor or hospital.
Skin or hair	Remove contaminated clothing immediately and flush the skin and hair with running water for at least 15 minutes. If blistering, swelling, redness or irritation develops — including some hours later — seek medical assistance, as that may be an allergic reaction rather than simple irritation.
Inhalation	Move the person away from the exposure without putting yourself at risk. Loosen tight clothing, let them rest in whatever position is most comfortable, and keep them warm. Seek medical advice if effects persist.
Swallowed	Rinse the mouth with water. Do not induce vomiting. Give a glass of water to drink. Give nothing by mouth to an unconscious person. If vomiting occurs, give more water and seek medical advice.

Store the cartridge in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place out of direct sunlight, away from foodstuffs and away from sources of heat or ignition.

If poisoning occurs, contact a doctor or the Poisons Information Centre — 131 126 in Australia, 0800 764 766 in New Zealand — with the container to hand. Selleys emergency line: 1800 220 770 in Australia, 0800 220 770 in New Zealand.

Common questions about Selleys Storm

Can I really apply it in the rain?

Yes. Storm can be applied in the rain to stop leaks in an instant — that is the capability the range is built around.

Does the surface need to be dry?

No. Storm delivers a waterproof seal on any material*, wet or dry.

How is it different from a silicone sealant?

Conventional sealants such as silicones cannot be applied to wet surfaces and can have adhesion issues on certain surfaces. Storm is designed to work regardless of whether the surface is wet or dry.

How long before the seal is waterproof?

The seal is described as immediate.

Can I use it indoors?

Yes — Selleys describes it as delivering a waterproof seal indoors or outdoors.

What is Sil-X?

Sil-X Advanced Polymer Technology is the technology Storm Sealant is built on, developed to withstand the toughest conditions.

Will it stick to my roof material?

Storm is described as delivering a seal on any material, with a qualifying asterisk on Selleys' own page. Check the specific product's label for the materials and conditions it covers before you rely on it.

Is it a permanent repair or a temporary one?

Selleys presents Storm as a superior sealant that delivers a waterproof seal, not as a temporary patch. As with any repair, the underlying cause of a leak still needs attention.

Can I use it on a caravan?

Caravans are one of the applications Selleys pairs with the range, alongside decks.

What does it protect against?

Water damage — Selleys' framing is that nothing prevents water damage like Storm Sealant.

Where can I see the product itself?

See Storm Sealant for the individual product, including its directions and pack sizes.

What should I use for a planned wet area job instead?

For bathrooms, kitchens and laundries where the surface can be prepared dry, the wet area silicone range is designed for that job.