BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Spray foam insulation is installed in open wall cavities to air seal and insulate

Reference

40% Whole-House Energy Savings in the Marine Climate, Volume 11

Author(s)

Baechler Michael C,

Gilbride Theresa L,

Hefty Marye G,

Cole Pam C,

Williamson Jennifer,

Love Pat M

Organization(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Report providing builders in marine climates with guidance for building homes that have whole-house energy savings of 40% over the Building America benchmark with no added overall costs for consumers.

Publication Date

Wed, 09/01/2010 - 12:00

Insulating Existing Floor Overhang

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.

Insulation Installation Achieves RESNET Grade 1

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

Batt Insulation for Existing Exterior Walls

Guide describing how to achieve RESNET Grade 1 installation standards, and meet/exceed code using batt insulation in existing walls.

Insulating Existing Floors over Garage

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.

Batt Insulation for Existing Vented Attics

Guide describing how to increase insulation in existing homes by installing batt insulation on the ceiling plane of a vented attic.

Blown Insulation for Existing Vented Attic

Guide describing how to insulate a vented attic in an existing home using blown insulation added to the attic floor.

Batt insulation should be cut to fit around wiring so that insulation can completely fill the wall cavity

Publication Date

Thu, 01/01/2009 - 12:00

Insulation Installation (RESNET Grade 1) - Part 1

Publication Date

July, 2015

Video describing how to properly install the OPTIMA insulation system.

Blown Insulation for Cavities of Existing Exterior Walls

Guide describing blown insulation into exterior wall cavities of existing homes with minimal disruption to occupants.

The attic kneewall and the open floor cavities under kneewall are both sealed and insulated in one step with spray foam insulation

Publication Date

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 12:00

Faced fiberglass batt insulation incorrectly installed

Reference

Energy Renovations Insulation - A Guide for Contractors to Share with Homeowners, Volume 17

Author(s)

Baechler Michael C,

Adams Karen T,

Hefty Marye G,

Gilbride Theresa L,

Love Pat M

Organization(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Document providing descriptions of the many insulation options available to homeowners, along with guidance on where, when, and how to install insulation throughout your house.

Publication Date

Tue, 05/01/2012 - 12:00

Rigid Foam Insulation for Existing Exterior Walls

Guide describing how to apply an air control layer directly over existing wall sheathing and cover with two layers of insulating sheathing held in place by vertical furring strips.

Single framed wall converted to double wall and insulated with closed-cell spray foam and loose-fill fibrous insulation

Publication Date

Fri, 05/01/2015 - 12:00

RESNET Grade I installation of spray foam insulation

Wrong – Insulation has misalignment, compression, and gaps

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – RESNET grade I installation of batt insulation

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – RESNET Grade I installation of blown insulation

Spray Foam Insulation for Cavities of Existing Exterior Walls

Guide describing how to insulate the walls of an existing home with spray foam insulation.

Spray Foam Insulation Applied to Existing Attic Floor

Guide describing how to apply spray foam insulation to ceilings in existing homes.

Blown fiberglass insulation fills netted wall cavities

Reference

Energy Renovations Insulation - A Guide for Contractors to Share with Homeowners, Volume 17

Author(s)

Baechler Michael C,

Adams Karen T,

Hefty Marye G,

Gilbride Theresa L,

Love Pat M

Organization(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Document providing descriptions of the many insulation options available to homeowners, along with guidance on where, when, and how to install insulation throughout your house.

Publication Date

Fri, 05/03/2013 - 12:00

Below Deck Spray Foam Insulation for Existing Roofs

Guide describing how to add spray foam insulation to the underside of the existing roof deck as part of the conversion of a vented attic to an unvented, insulated attic.

Don't Be Dense - Cellulose and Dense-Pack Insulation, BSI-043

Author(s)

Lstiburek Joseph W

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

December, 2010

Information about dense pack, cellulose insulation.

Controlling Cold-Weather Condensation Using Insulation, BSD-163

Author(s)

Straube John

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

October, 2011

Article describing research encouraging use of exterior insulation to warm interior sheathing surfaces in walls and roof assemblies to reduce the likelihood of condensation during cold weather

Wrong – Compression and misalignment because insulation is not split around wires

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Wrong – Compression and misalignment because insulation is not split around plumbing

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

2009 and 2012 IECC Code Level Insulation – ENERGY STAR Requirements

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

Spray Foam Insulation Applied over the Siding of Existing Exterior Walls

Guide describing how to install spray foam on the exterior of the existing home after framing over the existing siding.

Blown cellulose insulation completely fills the netted wall and ceiling cavities.

Reference

Building America Best Practices Series - 40% Whole-House Energy Savings in the Cold and Very Cold Climates, Volume 12

Author(s)

Baechler Michael C,

Gilbride Theresa L,

Hefty Marye G,

Cole Pam C,

Love Pat M

Organization(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Guide describing measures that builders in the cold and very cold climates can take to build homes that have whole-house energy savings of 40% over the Building America benchmark with no added overall costs for consumers.

Publication Date

Fri, 05/03/2013 - 12:00

Rigid foam forms an insulating bond break between the foundation wall and the slab

Publication Date

Fri, 05/01/2009 - 12:00

Expanded polystyrene insulation is installed with joints taped and lath attached in preparation for the application of stucco

Limited attic access can make inspections for missing air barriers and insulation challenging

Publication Date

Wed, 04/01/2015 - 12:00

All ceiling, wall, floor, and slab insulation shall achieve RESNET-defined Grade I installation

Publication Date

Sat, 10/01/2011 - 12:00

Ceiling, wall, floor, and slab insulation levels shall meet or exceed Builders Challenge levels

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Faced fiberglass batt insulation can be stapled to the stud faces or slightly inset, but avoid compressing the batts

Reference

Energy Renovations Insulation - A Guide for Contractors to Share with Homeowners, Volume 17

Author(s)

Baechler Michael C,

Adams Karen T,

Hefty Marye G,

Gilbride Theresa L,

Love Pat M

Organization(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Document providing descriptions of the many insulation options available to homeowners, along with guidance on where, when, and how to install insulation throughout your house.

Publication Date

Tue, 05/01/2012 - 12:00

Right - Rigid foam slab edge insulation is installed along the exterior edge of a monolithic slab foundation.

Publication Date

Fri, 05/01/2009 - 12:00

Siding has been removed so cellulose insulation can be dense-packed into the exterior walls of this home

Building America Existing Home Case Study: Insulated Siding Retrofit in a Cold Climate, New Paltz, New York

Author(s)

Florida Solar Energy Center

Organization(s)

BA-PIRC,

FSEC

Publication Date

April, 2015

Case study describing the application of insulated siding on an existing home.

Right – This attic knee wall and the floor joist cavity openings beneath it are being sealed and insulated with spray foam.

Publication Date

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 12:00

Unfaced fiberglass batt insulation is installed to completely fill the wall cavities and is sliced to fit around wiring, piping, and other obstructions in the wall cavities

Reference

Energy Renovations Insulation - A Guide for Contractors to Share with Homeowners, Volume 17

Author(s)

Baechler Michael C,

Adams Karen T,

Hefty Marye G,

Gilbride Theresa L,

Love Pat M

Organization(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Document providing descriptions of the many insulation options available to homeowners, along with guidance on where, when, and how to install insulation throughout your house.

Publication Date

Tue, 05/01/2012 - 12:00

Right-- IR photo shows how effectively spray foam insulated/air sealed attic kneewall and the floor cavities under kneewall

Publication Date

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 12:00

Infrared thermography during depressurization testing reveals air leakage at corner of spray foam-insulated room where wood-to-wood seams in framing were not air sealed

Support at Intervals for Flex Ducts

Guide describing how to hang ducts with supporting straps or saddles to adequately support ducts so they do not sag and are not pinched or compressed in a manner that would cause damage to the ducts, the duct insulation, or the duct air barrier covering.

Technology Solutions Case Study: Stand-Off Furring in Deep Energy Retrofits

Author(s)

IBACOS

Organization(s)

IBACOS

Publication Date

May, 2014

Case study describing a stand-off furring strategy that minimizes the physical connections to each existing wall stud, uses spray foam to encapsulate existing siding materials (including lead paint), and creates a vented rain screen assembly to promote drying.

Sidewall Blowing Tips and Tricks

Author(s)

Wisconsin Focus on Energy

Organization(s)

Wisconsin Focus on Energy

Publication Date

March, 2003

High-density sidewall cavity insulation can be a major comfort and savings boost. It saves energy by slowing both conductive and convective losses, but only if the right things are done and done right. This always requires site-specific thinking.

Home Performance Assessment

Information guide describing how to apply a whole-house approach to home improvement with energy efficiency upgrades, improved indoor air quality, and increased comfort.

Attic Radiant Barriers

Guide describing application of a radiant barrier layer in the attic to block radiant heat transfer between hot surfaces and heat-absorbing surfaces.

Wrong – Spray foam installed with voids

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right - Batt was properly split around wires to achieve RESNET Grade I

Publication Date

Sat, 10/01/2011 - 12:00

Whole-House Fans

Guide describing the types of whole-house fans, installation details to reduce energy loss, and how to operate them for comfort and energy savings based on climate zone.

Building America Special Research Project - High R-Value Enclosures for High Performance Residential Buildings in All Climate Zones, BA-1005

Author(s)

Straube John

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

February, 2011

This report will review, and summarize the current state of understanding and research into enclosures with higher thermal resistance, so-called “High-R Enclosures.” Recommendations are provided for further research.