BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Fill in the hole left by the missing top plate with a rigid air blocking material or rolled batt insulation that is spray foamed in place

Publication Date

Fri, 06/01/2012 - 12:00

Stucco is installed over rigid insulation, which is installed over a drainage plane consisting of a drainage gap and building wrap layer over the sheathing

Baffles provide an air space over the insulation to guide ventilation air from the soffit vents up along the underside of the roof deck

Publication Date

Thu, 06/28/2012 - 12:00

Foil-faced rigid foam and spray foam can be used to insulate a basement on the interior; use good moisture management techniques to keep the basement dry

Rigid insulation can be used as a thermal break between a garage slab with a heated plenum space and a separately cast garage slab without a heated plenum space.

Publication Date

Sat, 09/14/2024 - 12:00

Raised heel energy trusses extend past the exterior wall and are deeper at the wall allowing room for full insulation coverage over the top plate of the exterior walls.

Publication Date

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 12:00

Right - This ceiling-mounted mini whole-house fan has built-in insulated covers to reduce heat loss when the fan is not in use

Publication Date

Sat, 10/01/2011 - 12:00

Air-seal the floor above a garage when there is living space above the garage and make sure floor insulation is in full contact with the underside of the subfloor.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Exterior fiberglass insulation on this new home was (incorrectly) cut to terminate below-grade after backfill, which will expose the above-grade portions of the foundation wall to cold temperatures

Publication Date

Mon, 10/01/2012 - 12:00

Right - New flashing has been installed to complete the air and water control layers at the window openings of this wall retrofit that includes insulating the wall cavities with spray foam

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

Rigid insulation and air-sealing can be used to thermally isolate garages from multifamily row houses/town houses with basement foundations in IECC Climate Zones 3 or higher.

Publication Date

Sat, 09/14/2024 - 12:00

This wall assembly for above-grade garage walls uses cavity insulation and should only be used in IECC Climate Zones 4 or lower due to the risk of condensation on the interior surface of the concrete wall.

Publication Date

Tue, 09/17/2024 - 12:00

Right – Structural insulated sheathing can provide racking strength (lateral load resistance), and serve as an air barrier and thermal barrier if installed according to manufacturer’s specifications with taped, sealed seams

Insulating the exterior and garage-side faces of the garage plaza deck can reduce thermal bridging. If the garage is heated or partially heated, the spray foam on the garage side of the plaza deck should extend to perimeter of garage.

Publication Date

Tue, 09/17/2024 - 12:00

Assembly can be used in IECC CZ 3 and above to thermally isolate garages in multifamily row houses with slab foundations. For unheated garages, it is unnecessary to insulate wall between garage and exterior of slab or slab underneath garage.

Publication Date

Sat, 09/14/2024 - 12:00

Thermally isolate heated garages in multifamily buildings from ambient space, and thermally isolate all garages in multifamily buildings from interior occupied space. This parking garage is thermally isolated from space above with spray foam insulation.

Publication Date

Tue, 09/17/2024 - 12:00

Skylight Shaft Walls

Guide describing insulation techniques for skylight shaft walls.

Floor Above Garage

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.

Floor Above Unconditioned Basement or Vented Crawlspace

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

Double-Wall Architectural Feature

Guide describing air barrier installation, insulation installation, and air-sealing for double walls (half or full walls included in a home design as an architectural feature that provides a more dimensional appearance).

Attic Knee Walls

Guide describing how to insulate and air-seal attic knee walls and floor joist cavities under knee walls.

Vented versus Unvented Attic

Guide describing options for designing and locating the thermal boundary at either the attic floor or along the roof line in new and existing homes.

Continuous Air Barrier in Exterior Walls

Guide describing how to install continuous air barriers in exterior walls.

Monolithic slab with a grade beam

Publication Date

Fri, 05/01/2009 - 12:00

Slab independent of foundation wall

Publication Date

Fri, 05/01/2009 - 12:00

Wind Washing

Guide describing wind washing and how to prevent it.

Dropped Ceiling/Soffit Below Unconditioned Attic

Guide describing how to insulate and air-seal dropped ceilings and soffits to prevent air leakage.

Vinyl Siding with Integrated Rigid Foam for Existing Walls

Guide describing the design and installation considerations for recladding of above grade walls using insulated vinyl siding.

Proper flashing around windows is especially important when the rigid foam serves as the drainage plane in the wall

Publication Date

Mon, 10/01/2007 - 12:00

Air Sealing Attic Access Panels/Doors/Stairs

Guide describing how to air-seal attic access panels, doors, and stairs to provide a continuous air barrier at the ceiling.

Advanced Framing vs Traditional Framing

Publication Date

December, 2012

Author(s)

Risinger

Organization(s)

Build with Matt Risinger

Video describing traditional 2x4 16 inch on center framing versus advanced framing with 2x6 stud walls at 24 inch on center, insulated corners and headers, wall stud-ceiling joist alignment, etc. providing a strong wall with more room for insulation.

Cantilevered Floor

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

Staircase Walls

Guide describing how to create a fully aligned air barrier behind a staircase.

Ducts in Raised Ceiling Sections

Guide describing method for designing and installing ducts in a raised ceiling chase.

Walls Behind Showers and Tubs

This guide describes how to install a rigid air barrier to walls behind showers and tubs.

Install Top Plates or Blocking at the Top of Walls Adjoining Unconditioned Spaces

Guide describing how to correctly air-seal a wall with missing top plates or open wall cavities.

Walls Behind Fireplaces

This guide describes how to install a rigid air barrier to walls behind fireplaces.

Rooms Containing Fuel-Burning Appliances - Code Compliance Brief

An entirely new section in the 2015 IECC/IRC regarding fuel-burning appliances basically requires the appliance to be isolated from the building thermal envelope, located either outside or within a separate room if the fuel-burning appliance is supplied by open combustion air ducts. This brief provides an overview of the requirements and further details of approving the actual "room".

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.

DOE ZERH HIA 2017 Case Study: United Way of Long Island, United Veterans Beacon House, Huntington Station, NY

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

U.S. Department of Energy

Organization(s)

PNNL,

DOE

Publication Date

September, 2017

Case study showing project and performance data and energy-efficiency measures for a DOE 2017 Housing Innovation Award winning home that was certified to the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home criteria.

Cold Climate Building Techniques & Concepts: Furring In an Outside Wall

Publication Date

January, 2017

Author(s)

Benesch

Organization(s)

Cold Climate Housing Research Center,

CCHRC

Video describing a furring in framing technique to further insulate a pre-existing Alaskan house.

Garage Rim/Band Joist Adjoining Conditioned Space

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

Air Sealing Drywall to Top Plate

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

This technique for installing electrical wiring avoids the need to cut into the SIP panel

Publication Date

Tue, 01/01/2008 - 12:00

Install a housewrap drainage plane between the SIP panels and the exterior cladding

Publication Date

Tue, 01/01/2008 - 12:00

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.

Lay out the rigid foam sheathing joints so they do not align with the window and door edges

Publication Date

Mon, 10/01/2007 - 12:00

SIP panel walls are less susceptible to air leakage and convection issues than stick-built walls

Publication Date

Tue, 01/01/2008 - 12:00

A surface spline reduces thermal bridging much more than a structural spline at SIP panel seams

Publication Date

Tue, 01/01/2008 - 12:00

Air leaking through the home's envelope wastes a lot of energy and increases energy costs.

Publication Date

Wed, 01/01/2020 - 12:00

ETW: Wall - ICF Wall Construction

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

November, 2014

Information sheet that summarizes Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) construction including advantages and disadvantages of this construction strategy.

After installing the house wrap over the SIPS, window flashing is installed

Publication Date

Wed, 11/14/2012 - 12:00

A structural spline made of a solid 2x is used where needed to meet structural load requirements at SIP panel seams

Publication Date

Tue, 01/01/2008 - 12:00

Make sure the beads of caulk are continuous the full length at each SIP panel seam, such as at the wall-roof seam, to maintain air barrier continuity

Publication Date

Tue, 01/01/2008 - 12:00

Air Sealing Duct and Flue Shafts

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

With a quality installation, tape can last a long time

Publication Date

Sun, 04/01/2012 - 12:00

Air-seal the attic kneewall door opening with weatherstripping.

Publication Date

Thu, 01/01/2009 - 12:00

Use flashing tape to seal around any pipes or vents that penetrate through the foam

Publication Date

Sun, 04/01/2012 - 12:00

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.

Technology Solutions Case Study: Complete and Fully Aligned Air Barrier

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

August, 2012

Case study describing the elimination of excessive humidity in the attic of a multi-floor, single-family home that was causing condensation and water damage along the roof and eaves.

A pumper is used to place the concrete into the foam form walls

Publication Date

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 12:00

ICF forms are filled with the use of a concrete pumper truck

Publication Date

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 12:00

Two layers of XPS are installed with staggered seams over a liquid-applied membrane on the structural sheathing

Publication Date

Sun, 04/01/2012 - 12:00

Air Sealing Light Tubes

Guide describing how to air-seal around light tubes.

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.

The ICF consists of foam forms that are held in place with plastic or metal spacers and reinforced with metal rebar

Publication Date

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 12:00

Wrong – Either this tape was not pressed down firmly or the surface was wet or dirty so the tape is not sticking properly even during construction.

Publication Date

Sun, 04/01/2012 - 12:00

Corner installed plywood or OSB as shear bracing

DWG

PDF

2-stud corner with 1x4 backer

DWG

PDF

Mastic Home Exteriors Installation Guide

Author(s)

Ply Gem Siding Group

Organization(s)

Ply Gem Siding Group

Publication Date

April, 2015

Siding installation guide for Ply Gem Siding Group products.

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.

Air Sealing Recessed Light Fixtures Below Unconditioned Space

Guide describing how to air-seal around recessed light fixtures below unconditioned space.

Advanced Framing: Minimum Wall Studs

Guide describing how to frame a wall with minimal wall studs to prevent heat losses and gains through walls.

Interior intersecting wall with 1x6

DWG

PDF

2-stud corner with drywall clips

DWG

PDF

DOE ZERH HIA 2017 Case Study: Thrive Home Builders, Courtyard Rows, Lone Tree, CO

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

U.S. Department of Energy

Organization(s)

PNNL,

DOE

Publication Date

September, 2017

Case study describing a DOE Zero Energy Ready Home 2017 Housing Innovation Award winner that scored HERS 41 without PV and 8 with PV.

Mini truss header - section

DWG

PDF

Outset header with head plate

DWG

PDF

Interior intersecting wall with drywall clips

DWG

PDF

Interior intersecting wall with ladder blocking

DWG

PDF

All Electric & Fossil Fuel Free: The Ultimate Z.E.N. Home

Author(s)

Rich Binsacca,

Sam Rashkin,

Bill Rectanus,

Jack Armstrong,

Karla Butterfield

Organization(s)

Pro Builder,

EEBA

Publication Date

October, 2020

Webinar from a group of green residential home building experts on how the Ultimate Z.E.N. Home, a production-built home is able to operate comfortably and successfully without the use of fossil fuels, including insulation, heating and cooling strategies, and other energy efficient design measures.

Air Sealing Sill Plates

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

Air Sealing Bathroom and Kitchen Exhaust Fans

Guide describing how to air-seal bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans.

Building America's Optimized Solutions for New Homes: Mixed-Humid Climate

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

March, 2015

Case study describing Building America's Optimized Solutions for energy efficient home construction in a mixed-dry climate.

Building America's Optimized Solutions for New Homes: Cold Climate

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

March, 2015

Case study describing Building America's Optimized Solutions for energy efficient home construction in cold and very cold climates.

Advanced Framing: Minimal Framing at Doors and Windows

Guide describing how to minimize framing around doors and windows to reduce heat losses and gains through structural framing.

Building America's Optimized Solutions for New Homes: Hot-Humid Climate

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

March, 2015

Case study describing Building America's Optimized Solutions for energy efficient home construction in a hot-humid climate.

Building America's Optimized Solutions for New Homes: Hot-Dry Climate

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

March, 2015

Case study describing Building America's Optimized Solutions for energy efficient home construction in hot-dry and mixed-dry climates.

Extended Plate Wall System Expands Adoption of High-R Envelope Solutions

Author(s)

Burkett Lena,

Gunderson Patti

Organization(s)

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Publication Date

August, 2020

Fact sheet describing the Extended Plate Wall (EPW) a system that incorporates a 2-inch layer of foam plastic insulative sheathing within the framing for top and bottom plates, streamlining air sealing, window and door installation, weather resistive barrier application, and cladding attachment for...

Aerosol Sealing Building Enclosures, Single and Multifamily Dwellings - Code Compliance Brief

Publication Date

January, 2020

The intent of this brief is to provide code-related information for aerosol sealing building enclosures to achieve durable air tightness levels that will be accepted as being in compliance with the code.

Technology Solutions Case Study: Preventing Thermal Bypass

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

October, 2012

Case study describing techniques used to prevent thermal bypass in new homes.