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Electrical boxes are sealed with air sealing tape.

Electrical boxes are sealed with air sealing tape.

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Air Sealing Electrical Wiring

Guide

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

Air-seal the electrical panel.

Air-seal the electrical panel.

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Air sealing at whole house fan enclosure

Air sealing at whole house fan enclosure

CAD File

Air seal at top plate electrical penetration

Air seal at top plate electrical penetration

CAD File

Wrong – Hole has not been air-sealed.

Wrong – Hole has not been air-sealed.

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Air sealing at recessed lighting in attic - site built

Air sealing at recessed lighting in attic - site built

CAD File

Air sealing at recessed lighting in attic - pre made

CAD File

Air-seal wiring holes in top plates with foam.

Air-seal wiring holes in top plates with foam.

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Wrong – Fibrous insulation is not an air barrier and cannot be used for sealing holes.

Wrong – Fibrous insulation is not an air barrier and cannot be used for sealing holes.

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How to air seal attic electrical boxes – Rule Your Attic! With ENERGY STAR

Video

Video describing how homeowners can save energy by air sealing their home's attic electrical boxes.

Right – A flexible tape is used to air-seal around wiring holes in the coated sheathing.

Right – A flexible tape is used to air-seal around wiring holes in the coated sheathing.

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Air-seal around all wiring installed through walls, ceilings, and flooring to keep conditioned air from leaking into unconditioned space.

Air-seal around all wiring installed through walls, ceilings, and flooring to keep conditioned air from leaking into unconditioned space.

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Wrong - Hole around electrical box is cut too large; gap needs to be air-sealed.

Wrong - Hole around electrical box is cut too large; gap needs to be air-sealed.

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Plan view of electric box installation in exterior wall showing flashing and air sealing details

Plan view of electric box installation in exterior wall showing flashing and air sealing details

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Section view of electric box installation in exterior wall showing flashing and air sealing details

Section view of electric box installation in exterior wall showing flashing and air sealing details

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When wiring is installed in ICF walls, openings made for wire runs should be air-sealed with caulk.

When wiring is installed in ICF walls, openings made for wire runs should be air-sealed with caulk.

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Wrong – Holes have been cut larger than needed, making them difficult to air-seal.

Wrong – Holes have been cut larger than needed, making them difficult to air-seal.

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Right - The plumbing and wiring holes in this garage-to-house wall have been air sealed with spray foam

Right - The plumbing and wiring holes in this garage-to-house wall have been air sealed with spray foam

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The electrical conduit (metal) on the left has been sealed to the subfloor using fire-rated caulk, while the penetration for the yellow electrical wire on the right has not been air-sealed yet.

The electrical conduit (metal) on the left has been sealed to the subfloor using fire-rated caulk, while the penetration for the yellow electrical wire on the right has not been air-sealed yet.

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Wrong - HVAC duct and flue are too close to wall and will be difficult to properly air seal and insulate around when ceiling is installed.

Wrong - HVAC duct and flue are too close to wall and will be difficult to properly air seal and insulate around when ceiling is installed.

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Wrong - This is a poorly sealed chase with no solid air barriers along the sides of the chase and no caulk around the electrical wires installed through the ceiling of the chase.

Wrong - This is a poorly sealed chase with no solid air barriers along the sides of the chase and no caulk around the electrical wires installed through the ceiling of the chase.

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Wrong – Electrical bypass not sealed.

Wrong – Electrical bypass not sealed.

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Right – Every wiring hole is sealed with tape.

Right – Every wiring hole is sealed with tape.

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Technology Solutions Case Study: Apartment Compartmentalization with an Aerosol-Based Sealing Process

Case Study

Case study describing air sealing building enclosures using aerosolized sealant.

Wrong – Electrical wiring hole in top plate is not sealed with caulk.

Wrong – Electrical wiring hole in top plate is not sealed with caulk.

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Right - Electrical box in exterior wall is completely sealed with liquid flashing.

Right - Electrical box in exterior wall is completely sealed with liquid flashing.

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Wrong - Tape is not well adhered to house wrap and wiring penetration is not sealed.

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Right – Wiring penetrations have been neatly sealed with foam.

Right – Wiring penetrations have been neatly sealed with foam.

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Wrong – Hole was not neatly cut with a saw, making it difficult to seal.

Wrong – Hole was not neatly cut with a saw, making it difficult to seal.

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