Foundations & Floors -

Air Sealing/Insulation

This guide describes IECC 2009 and 2012 and ENERGY STAR Certified Homes insulation requirements.

This guide describes IECC 2015 and DOE Zero Energy Ready Home insulation requirements.

Guide describing how to insulate a basement to improve the overall thermal performance of the building and provide more dry, usable conditioned space for home occupants and HVAC equipment.

Guide describing the principal of compartmentalization in multifamily buildings - the separation of dwelling units from each other and from common areas in terms of air flow. Locations where air-sealing is critical to maintain separation of air spaces and air-sealing methods especially for party walls are also described.

Guide describing ways to air-seal an attached garage in new and existing homes.

Guide describing ways to seal drywall to the top plate of an exterior wall to air-seal the wall cavity.

Guide describing how to air-seal electrical wiring throughout a home.

Guide describing how to air-seal modular home marriage joints.

Guide describing how to air-seal common walls between dwelling units in multifamily housing.

Guide describing how to air-seal around plumbing and piping penetrations through walls, ceilings, and floors.

Guide describing how to air-seal sill plates in single-family homes and multifamily buildings.

Guide describing the repair and reconfiguration of the air handler closet and platform when replacing the air handler.

Guide describing Installing blanket fiberglass insulation on the interior walls of a conditioned, unfinished basement as an alternative to best practice solutions.

Guide describing the use of building cavities as supply or return ducts.

Guide describing how to avoid using wet materials and reduce moisture exposure in construction.

Guide describing how to air-seal and insulate a cantilevered floor.

Guide describing how to install a capillary break to help manage moisture in foundations.

Guide describing how to create a capillary break at all crawlspace floors using polyethylene sheeting to manage moisture in crawlspaces.

Guide describing how to install a capillary break under a slab foundation using either polyethylene sheeting or rigid insulation installed over aggregate or over sand and geotextile matting.

Guide describing continuous rigid insulation installation procedures to reduce thermal bridging and help provide thermal protection.

Guide describing how to install slab edge insulation when retrofitting existing slab-on-grade foundations.

Guide describing how to insulate a new foundation wall or an existing foundation wall by adding rigid insulation to the exterior side.

Guide describing how to create an air barrier between the garage and the conditioned space above it to prohibit pollutants from entering a home's interior.

Guide describing how to air-seal and insulate the floor above an unconditioned basement or crawl space.

Guide describing the air-sealing of rim joists on walls connecting homes and attached garages.

Guide describing how to install insulated concrete forms to block excessive heat loss and gain though structural framing.

Guide describing how to insulate a floor over unconditioned space with conditioned space above by adding insulation and air-sealing.

Guide describing how to upgrade a wall with a floor overhang (or cantilever) on an existing home by adding insulation (rigid insulating sheathing and/or closed-cell spray foam) and air-sealing.

Guide with information about how to upgrade a garage ceiling when a portion of the interior of the house is located directly above the attached garage by adding insulation and air sealing.

Guide describing how to upgrade a crawlspace floor in an existing home by adding insulation.

Guide describing RESNET Grade 1 level installation of insulation in walls, attics, and floors.

Guide describing steps to take to minimize indoor humidity in preparation for cold winter weather.

Vapor retarder plastic should not be installed over fibrous insulation on basement or crawlspace walls unless rigid foam or spray foam is installed directly against the concrete, behind the blanket insulation.

Guide describing methods for installing pest-resistant ground cover around foundations to resist borrowing rodents and other pests.

Guide describing ways builders can block off entry points and otherwise make homes inhospitable to all manner of pests.

Guide describing different options for providing seismic and thermal resistance for homes with 'cripple' wall crawlspace foundations, which are known for their instability.

Guide describing principles of insulating and air sealing band joists as a stand alone energy upgrade, or as part of creating a closed crawlspace.

Guide describing how to insulate closed crawlspace walls and band joist areas with rigid foam board insulation.

Guide describing how to insulate an existing slab floor by adding rigid foam insulation over the slab then installing a floating subfloor.

Guide describing how to construct and retrofit homes built on slab-on-grade foundations in earthquake-prone areas to withstand seismic forces by properly installing wall to foundation connections.

Guide describing how to insulate slabs on grade in climate zones 3 and higher.

Guide describing how to insulate an existing foundation wall by adding spray foam insulation to the interior side of the wall.

Guide describing techniques and measures for increasing the termite resistance of a home's foundations.

Guide describing methods for insulating an unvented crawlspace or conditioned basement with rigid foam on the interior side of the walls to provide an insulated space for HVAC equipment.

Guide describing how to insulate the sill beam or sill plate on the exterior side in a way that allows drying to the exterior, as part of an exterior wall upgrade.