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This 4-inch layer of rigid foam insulation (R-20) will be sandwiched between two layers of concrete poured on site for a highly insulated foundation wall.

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Right - Foil-faced polyisocyanurate insulating rigid foam sheathing is installed rather than fibrous insulation below the floor framing of this house built on piers

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Rigid foam insulation was installed at the perimeter of the one-level apartments before installing ceiling drywall to ensure a minimum R-21 attic perimeter insulation.

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Right - This poured concrete basement wall is insulated on the exterior and under the slab with rigid insulation; footing details include interior and exterior footing drain pipe.

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Existing band joist insulation retrofit with spray foam

CAD File

One way to air seal and insulate kneewalls – add insulation and a rigid air barrier along roof line of unconditioned attic space outside kneewall

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Air sealing behind tub with cavity rigid insulation

CAD File

2x4 Raised Truss - Insulation Below Roof Deck CAD

CAD File

Rigid Foam Board Interior Insulation for Existing Foundation Walls

Video

Video describing how to properly insulate crawlspaces.

Pumpkin Ridge Passive House video #006: Insulation Details

Video

Video describing the EPS foam used to insulate the exterior of a passive house.

Building America Energy Performance Brief: Insulating Plumbing Pipes

Case Study

Case study describing the steps involved and subsequent benefits of insulating plumbing pipes in a home.

Insulating and Air Sealing Existing Floors above Unconditioned Spaces

Guide

Guide describing how to insulate a floor over an uninsulated basement or crawl space.

Builders Guide to Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) for all Climates

Reference

A book about structurally insulated panels.

BSD-163: Controlling Cold-Weather Condensation Using Insulation

Reference

Article describing selecting insulation for minimizing condensation risks.

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

Reference

Information about dense pack, cellulose insulation.

Stud Walls With Continuous Exterior Insulation for Factory Built Housing

Case Study

Case study describing a panelized construction method for stud walls with continuous rigid foam insulation.

High-Performance Slab-on-Grade Foundation Insulation Retrofits

Reference

Report assessing slab-on-grade foundation insulation energy savings.

Rigid Foam Insulation Installed over Existing Foundation Slabs

Guide

Guide describing how to insulate an existing slab floor by adding rigid foam insulation over the slab then installing a floating subfloor.

Protect Your Family from Asbestos - Contaminated Vermiculite Insulation

Reference

This page provides important information on how to protect yourself and your family if you suspect that you might have vermiculite insulation from Libby, Montana.

Attic Air Sealing, Insulating, and Ventilating for Ice Dam Prevention

Information Guide

Information guide describing proper attic air-sealing, insulation, and ventilation to combat ice dam formation on roofs in cold climate zones.

Expert Meeting Report: Cladding Attachment Over Exterior Insulation

Reference

Report about an expert meeting focused on issues surrounding cladding attachment and performance of walls with exterior insulating sheathing.

Controlling Cold-Weather Condensation Using Insulation, BSD-163

Reference

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

A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Sealing and Insulating with Energy Star

Reference

Guide for homeowners describing how to find and seal basement and attic air leaks, determine if attic insulation is adequate, make improvements safely, and reduce energy bills.

Right – The basement of this cold-climate home is insulated along interior walls with 2 inches of foil-faced rigid foam; finished basement walls also have a 2x4 interior wall insulated with R-19 blown-in fiberglass insulation and a poly vapor barrier.

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Assembly Sequence for Concrete Wall with Interior Foam Spray Insulation

Video

Video animation showing an assembly sequence for a concrete basement wall with interior spray foam insulation.

Assembly Sequence for Concrete Crawl Space Wall with Exterior Insulation

Video

Video animation showing an assembly sequence for a concrete crawl space wall with exterior insulation.

This exterior insulated slab-on-grade monolithic grade beam foundation is protected from pests by termite shield at the sill plate, borate-treated framing, flashing at end of wall insulation, brick veneer over slab-edge insulation, and rock ground cover.

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UMN NorthernSTAR: DOE Building America: Exterior Foundation Insulation

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Video describing an “excavationless” retrofit technique developed by the University of Minnesota to install exterior insulation around the foundation of an existing home by using high-pressure water to cut a trench through the dirt along the edge of a concrete foundation, remove the mud with a...

This assembly for above-grade or below-grade garage walls in any climate zone uses a hybrid of continuous rigid insulation and cavity insulation on the interior side of the wall.

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Wrong - The roof insulation panels for this building were not installed in multiple layers with joints offset. The snow melt pattern shows thermal bypasses at the insulation panel joints.

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