GORE® Protective Vents — Adhesive Series VE8, VE7, and VE9
GORE® Protective Vents Adhesive Series VE8, VE7, and VE9 are oleophobic ePTFE membrane adhesive vent components designed to equalize pressure, reduce condensation, and provide ingress protection in sealed outdoor electronic enclosures. All three series use ePTFE membrane with oleophobic treatment. Series VE8 uses acrylic adhesive with a white PET nonwoven backing, inside mount only, and delivers typical airflow of 3,300 ml/min/cm² at dp = 70 mbar. Series VE7 uses silicone adhesive with no backing material, black membrane, interior or exterior mount, at 290 ml/min/cm². Series VE9 uses silicone adhesive with no backing material, white membrane, interior or exterior mount, at 1,150 ml/min/cm². Typical thickness is 0.31 mm for VE8 and 0.34 mm for VE7 and VE9.
Standard parts are available in seven sizes from 2.0 × 5.0 mm to 20.0 × 29.0 mm (ID × OD) with concentricity ≤ 0.8 mm. Typical airflow per part at dp = 70 mbar ranges from 9 ml/min (VE70205) to 10,367 ml/min (VE82029). IP ratings span IP64 through IP68 depending on series, mounting orientation, and housing design. All grades meet RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU (no restricted substances intentionally added). Manufactured under ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 quality and environmental management systems.
Key Properties
- Typical Airflow (dp = 70 mbar): 290 ml/min/cm² (VE7) / 1,150 ml/min/cm² (VE9) / 3,300 ml/min/cm² (VE8)
- IP Rating Range: IP64 through IP68 (series, orientation, and housing design dependent)
- Membrane Type / Characteristic: ePTFE / Oleophobic (all series)
- Adhesive Type: Acrylic (VE8) / Silicone (VE7, VE9)
- Typical Thickness: 0.31 mm (VE8) / 0.34 mm (VE7, VE9)
- Mounting Orientation: Inside mount only (VE8) / Inside or outside mount (VE7, VE9)
We want to help!
Enter your information and we'll get you in touch with our knowledgable staff. We know how important to the right product for your project.
Request a Consultation
- Specifications
- Applications
- General Info
- FAQs
Material Performance & Product Characteristics
| Property | Series VE8 | Series VE7 | Series VE9 | Test Method |
| Typical airflow (dp = 70 mbar) | 3,300 ml/min/cm² | 290 ml/min/cm² | 1,150 ml/min/cm² | — |
| Membrane type | ePTFE | ePTFE | ePTFE | — |
| Membrane characteristic | Oleophobic | Oleophobic | Oleophobic | — |
| Membrane color | White | Black | White | — |
| Backing material | PET nonwoven | None | None | — |
| Backing material color | White | None | None | — |
| Adhesive type | Acrylic | Silicone | Silicone | — |
| Typical thickness | 0.31 mm | 0.34 mm | 0.34 mm | — |
| Mounting orientation | Inside mount only | Inside or outside mount | Inside or outside mount | — |
IP Ratings by Series and Mounting Orientation
| IP Rating | VE8 Interior | VE7 Interior | VE7 Exterior | VE9 Interior | VE9 Exterior | Test Method |
| IP64 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | IEC 60529 |
| IP65 | — | — | ✓ | — | ✓ | IEC 60529 |
| IP66 | — | — | ✓ | — | ✓ | IEC 60529 |
| IP67 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | IEC 60529 |
| IP68 | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | IEC 60529; IP68 tested at 2 m for 1 hr (VE72029/VE92029 interior: 1.5 m for 30 min) |
Standard Parts — Dimensions and Typical Airflow
| ID × OD (mm) | Active Venting Area (mm²) | Adhesive Ring Area (mm²) | Compression Force (N / > 5 sec) | VE8 Part Number | VE8 Typ. Airflow (ml/min @ 70 mbar) | VE7 Part Number | VE7 Typ. Airflow (ml/min @ 70 mbar) | VE9 Part Number | VE9 Typ. Airflow (ml/min @ 70 mbar) |
| 2.0 × 5.0 | 3.14 | 16.49 | 4 | VE80205 | 104 | VE70205 | 9 | — | — |
| 3.3 × 7.6 | 8.55 | 36.81 | 8 | VE80308 | 282 | VE70308 | 25 | VE90308 | 98 |
| 5.5 × 10.2 | 23.76 | 57.95 | 12 | VE80510 | 784 | VE70510 | 69 | VE90510 | 273 |
| 8.0 × 14.0 | 50.27 | 103.67 | 21 | VE80814 | 1,659 | VE70814 | 146 | VE90814 | 578 |
| 8.9 × 19.1 | 62.21 | 224.31 | 45 | VE80919 | 2,053 | VE70919 | 180 | VE90919 | 715 |
| 12.5 × 21.5 | 122.72 | 240.33 | 49 | VE81221 | 4,050 | VE71221 | 356 | VE91221 | 1,411 |
| 20.0 × 29.0 | 314.16 | 346.36 | 70 | VE82029 | 10,367 | VE72029 | 911 | VE92029 | 3,613 |
Note: One-up configuration for automatic installation available — add -1 after part number (e.g., VE80510-1). For VE82029 with IP67 requirement, contact Gore sales representative. Part number may vary by country of production (e.g., VE90510-C).
Environmental Performance
| Test | Method | Conditions / Notes |
| Ingress Protection | IEC 60529 | IP68 at 2 m for 1 hr; interior mount VE72029/VE92029 at 1.5 m for 30 min; IP ratings depend on housing design, part size, and mounting location |
| Flammability / UV Resistance | UL 94 V-0 f2 (VE7); UL 94 VTM0 f2 (VE9) | ePTFE membrane resistant to flames and ultraviolet light |
| Salt Fog | IEC 60068-2-11 (salt fog); IEC 60068-2-52 (cyclic salt fog) | — |
| Corrosive Gas | GR-3108-CORE | NOx, SOx, H2S, Clx |
| Humidity | IEC 60068-2-78 | 85 °C, 85% RH, 1,000 hours |
| Temperature — Low | IEC 60068-2-1 | -40 °C |
| Temperature — High | IEC 60068-2-2 | 100 °C (VE8); 125 °C (VE7, VE9) |
| Temperature — Cycling | IEC 60068-2-14 | -40 °C to 100 °C (VE8); -40 °C to 125 °C (VE7, VE9) |
Packaging and Storage
| Property | Value |
| Carrier roll inner diameter | 76.2 mm |
| Storage conditions | 20–25 °C / 30–50% RH, out of direct sunlight, in original packaging |
| Shelf life | Use within one year of delivery date |
Compliance
- RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU — No restricted substances intentionally added
- IEC 60529 — IP rating test standard
- UL 94 V-0 f2 — Flammability (VE7)
- UL 94 VTM0 f2 — Flammability (VE9)
- ISO 9001 — Manufacturing quality management system
- ISO 14001 — Environmental management system
- Pressure equalization and condensation reduction in sealed outdoor electronic enclosures exposed to rainstorms, dust, sand, and high winds
- Ingress protection at enclosure vent openings in telecommunications, industrial, and utility electronics requiring IP64 through IP68 ratings
- Salt and corrosive liquid exclusion at vent apertures in marine, coastal, and chemical plant electronic enclosures
- Interior or exterior adhesive vent integration in enclosures where flexible installation orientation is required (VE7 and VE9)
- High-airflow pressure equalization in large sealed enclosures with significant internal volume where rapid seal stress relief is critical (VE8)
Common industries: Telecommunications, industrial electronics, outdoor enclosures, utilities, marine electronics, smart grid and metering.
GORE® Protective Vents Adhesive Series provide pressure equalization and ingress protection for sealed outdoor electronic enclosures exposed to rainstorms, dust, sand, high winds, salts, and corrosive liquids.
Pressure buildup inside sealed enclosures caused by changing environmental conditions — temperature, altitude, and humidity cycling — stresses enclosure seals over time, leading to failures that allow contaminants to enter and damage internal electronics. The ePTFE membrane allows free bidirectional airflow to equalize these pressure differentials while providing a hydrophobic and oleophobic barrier against liquids, particulates, and corrosive agents.
The three series cover different airflow, mounting, and adhesive requirements. Series VE8 — highest airflow in the family at 3,300 ml/min/cm² — uses acrylic adhesive and PET nonwoven backing and is restricted to interior mounting with the membrane or adhesive side facing the external environment.
Series VE7 — lowest airflow at 290 ml/min/cm² — uses silicone adhesive without backing material and offers the flexibility of interior or exterior mounting, with a black membrane. Series VE9 — intermediate airflow at 1,150 ml/min/cm² — shares the silicone adhesive and no-backing construction of VE7 but uses a white membrane and is also suitable for interior or exterior mounting.
All series are available in one-up configurations for automatic installation (indicated by -1 suffix after part number) in the sizes noted in the standard parts table.
Environmental performance has been independently tested and verified for ingress protection (IEC 60529, IP68 tested at 2 meters for 1 hour; interior mount of VE72029 and VE92029 tested at 1.5 m for 30 minutes), flammability/UV resistance (UL 94 V-0 f2 for VE7; UL 94 VTM0 f2 for VE9), salt fog (IEC 60068-2-11 and IEC 60068-2-52), corrosive gas (GR-3108-CORE), humidity (IEC 60068-2-78: 85 °C, 85% RH, 1,000 hours), and temperature cycling (IEC 60068-2-14: -40 °C to 100 °C for VE8; -40 °C to 125 °C for VE7 and VE9).
W. L. Gore & Associates declares that no restricted substances listed in RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU are intentionally added. Manufactured under ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
How do I choose between Series VE8, VE7, and VE9?
The primary differentiators are airflow rate, mounting flexibility, and adhesive type. VE8 delivers the highest airflow (3,300 ml/min/cm²) with acrylic adhesive and PET nonwoven backing but is restricted to interior mounting only. VE7 offers the lowest airflow (290 ml/min/cm²) with silicone adhesive, no backing, and interior or exterior mounting flexibility; its black membrane also suits applications where visual discretion on exterior surfaces matters. VE9 is the intermediate option (1,150 ml/min/cm²) combining VE7's silicone adhesive and mounting flexibility with a white membrane.
Why does airflow rate matter for sealed enclosure venting?
Airflow rate determines how quickly the vent can equalize pressure differentials between the enclosure interior and the external environment. Higher airflow means faster equalization — which reduces the duration and magnitude of pressure stress on enclosure seals. The relationship is direct: higher airflow → faster pressure equalization → lower seal stress → longer seal life. For large enclosure volumes or applications with rapid temperature swings, higher-airflow grades (VE8, then VE9) minimize cumulative seal fatigue.
What are the operating temperature ranges for GORE® Protective Vents Adhesive Series?
VE8 is tested to -40 °C (low) and 100 °C (high) with cycling per IEC 60068-2-14 between -40 °C and 100 °C. VE7 and VE9 are tested to -40 °C (low) and 125 °C (high) with cycling between -40 °C and 125 °C.
Are GORE® Protective Vents Adhesive Series suitable for regulated environments?
W. L. Gore & Associates declares that no restricted substances listed in RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU are intentionally added. VE7 is rated UL 94 V-0 f2 for flammability; VE9 is rated UL 94 VTM0 f2. Environmental performance is verified by independent laboratories per IEC 60529 (ingress), IEC 60068-2-11/52 (salt fog), GR-3108-CORE (corrosive gas), IEC 60068-2-78 (humidity), and IEC 60068-2-1/2/14 (temperature). Manufactured under ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
How should GORE® Protective Vents Adhesive Series be specified?
Specify series (VE8, VE7, or VE9), part number (ID × OD dimension), required IP rating, mounting orientation (interior for VE8; interior or exterior for VE7/VE9), installation method (manual, semi-automated, or automated), and whether one-up automatic configuration (-1 suffix) is needed. Note housing design and enclosure material water absorption per ASTM D570 for housing compatibility evaluation.
