BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

No insulation installed in cavity and not air sealed

Inadequate amount of insulation installed with compression, misalignment, and voids

Monitoring of Unvented Roofs with Fibrous Insulation, Diffusion Vents, and Interior Vapor Control in a Cold Climate

Author(s)

Ueno Kohta,

Lstiburek Joseph W

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

September, 2020

Report detailing a three-winter study on unvented roof assemblies in a cold climate, assessing insulation material, ridge diffusion vent presence, vapor control membranes, relative humidity, and interstitial airflow. Results indicate that utilizing air-permeable fibrous fill insulations in unvented...

Monitoring of Unvented Roofs with Fibrous Insulation, Diffusion Vents, and Interior Vapor Control in a Cold Climate

Author(s)

Ueno Kohta,

Lstiburek Joseph W

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

September, 2020

Report detailing a three-winter study on unvented roof assemblies in a cold climate, assessing insulation material, ridge diffusion vent presence, vapor control membranes, relative humidity, and interstitial airflow; results indicate that utilizing air-permeable fibrous fill insulations in unvented...

If HVAC duct must be installed in an exterior wall, separate it from the exterior with at least R-6 of continuous rigid insulation

Wrong: open wall cavity connected to this return air plenum is allowing cellulose attic insulation to be pulled into the furnace

Publication Date

Sun, 06/01/2014 - 12:00

HVAC ducts, cavities used as ducts, and combustion inlets and outlets may pass perpendicularly through exterior walls but shall not be run within exterior walls unless at least R-6 continuous insulation is provided on exterior side of the cavity

Builders Challenge High Performance Builder Spotlight: David Weekley Homes, Houston, Texas

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

December, 2009

Case study describing new home construction in the hot-humid climate, optimizing thermal enclosure, HVAC, water heating and lighting measures.

Air Sealing Duct and Flue Shafts

Guide describing how to air-seal duct and flue shafts.

Building Code Training - Residential Thermal Envelope - Air Sealing

Author(s)

Southface Energy Institute

Organization(s)

SEI

Publication Date

May, 2020

Presentation describing the Georgia State Minimum Standard Energy Code air barrier requirements, envelope concepts including air flow and thermal properties, and common missed insulation and air-sealing opportunities.

HVAC Ducts Shall Not Be Run within Exterior Walls

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

Form a sheet metal shield around the flue pipe

Form sheet metal shield around pipe keeping 3-inch clearance

Install wood framing cross pieces in the attic rafter bays on each side of the duct chase

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Insight Homes: Deep Creek, Seaford, Delaware

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

April, 2012

Case study describing a home builder that has refined its home designs to achieve HERS scores of 49 to 56 on 40 to 70 homes per year.

Flashing of Wall Penetrations in Existing Homes

Guide describing how to install flashing that is integrated with air and water control layers around piping, vents, and other wall penetrations as part of an exterior wall retrofit.

Small Commercial Building Fact Sheet - Building Envelope

Author(s)

Southface Energy Institute

Organization(s)

SEI

Publication Date

November, 2016

Fact sheet describing building envelope performance measures applicable to residential and small commercial construction.

Ducts in Dropped Ceilings

Guide describing method for installing ducts in a duct chase above a dropped ceiling.

Building America Best Practices Case Study Whole-House Solutions for New Homes - Artistic Homes, Albuquerque, NM

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

September, 2013

Case study about Artistic Homes of Albuquerque, New Mexico, the first home builder in the United States to offer true net zero energy construction to the average home buyer on every home it builds.

Existing Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Deep Energy Retrofit in the Pacific Northwest

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

December, 2011

Case study describing a whole-house, deep energy retrofit project in the marine climate.

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Tom Walsh & Co., New Columbia, Portland, OR

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

February, 2013

Case study describing a new construction building project of 20 homes that earned HERS scores that represent greater than 50% energy savings in heating and cooling over the 2004 IECC.

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Nelson Construction: Hamilton Way, Farmington, CT

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

April, 2012

Case study describing the design and testing of 10 high-performance homes in Farmington, Connecticut.