BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Band joist insulation and air sealing

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Interior details of an insulated closed crawlspace

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Right - The underside of the attic roof deck is insulated with open-cell spray foam to provide an insulated space for HVAC equipment.

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Right – Spray foam insulation was sprayed onto the ground and along the sides of the foundation walls and piers of this insulated crawl space.

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Remove and replace the old insulation on the refrigerant line of your air conditioner’s compressor unit if the insulation becomes cracked or damaged.

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Scraps of rigid foam insulation can be used to fill in gaps and insulate narrow sections along the edges of the garage door.

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Right – Insulated concrete forms (ICFs) provide the insulated stem wall for the slab-on-grade foundation for this SIP house.

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Rim joists are insulated with R-20 of open-cell spray foam which is air sealing and insulating but vapor permeable.

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Right - The attic access panel is insulated and weather stripped and a dam is built to hold back the blown attic floor insulation

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Right - Section view showing how to air-seal and insulate a basement wall with perforated blanket insulation by installing it over air-sealed rigid insulation board to reduce condensation risk in the fiberglass blanket.

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Wrong - Moisture from within the basement foundation wall can migrate into the insulation cavity in a conventional blanket insulation installation.

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Right - Potential locations for basement insulation in new construction, slab insulation should always be underneath, with walls insulated (a) inside, (b) outside, (c) sandwiched inside, or (d) inside and outside of walls.

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Insulation Installation (RESNET Grade 1) - Part 2

Video

Video describing how to properly install insulation.

Rigid insulation and water control layers are installed on the exterior of a flat foundation wall; spray foam insulates the rim joist

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Insulating Heated Garage Plenums in Multifamily Buildings

Guide

Guide describing methods for insulating heated garage plenums in multifamily parking garages.

Insulation Installation (RESNET Grade 1) - Part 1

Video

Video describing how to properly install the OPTIMA insulation system.

This hot climate zone home uses high quality batt insulation between studs to insulate this connecting garage wall.

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

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Blown Insulation for Cavities of Existing Exterior Walls

Guide

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

Exterior Edge Insulation for Existing Foundation Slabs

Guide

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

EPS Foam Insulation | Madrona Passive House

Video

Video discussing the EPS foam insulation used on the floor of a passive house.

Interior intersecting wall with 2 studs and rigid insulation

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ReVision Home: Exterior Insulation Finish (EIFS)

Reference

Information sheet about exterior insulation in the hot-dry climate zones.

Faced fiberglass batt insulation incorrectly installed

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Measure Guideline: Hybrid Foundation Insulation Retrofits

Reference

Document providing information on basement insulation, air sealing and water management retrofits.

Building Science Education 3.9: Insulation Materials

Presentation

Video describing various insulation materials used in the building industry.

Insulate Steam Distribution and Condensate Return Lines

Reference

Fact sheet describing principles of insulating steam distribution and condensate return lines as an effective way to prevent energy loss.

Moisture Durability with Vapor-Permeable Insulating Sheathing

Reference

Report about exterior sheathing insulation and inward driven moisture issues.

Measure Guideline: Internal Insulation of Masonry Walls

Reference

Report summarizing the importance of properly insulating and air sealing masonry walls, providing step by step instructions and approaches.

Rigid Foam Insulation for Existing Exterior Walls

Guide

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.