BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

This assembly can be used to thermally isolate heated or partially heated garages with slab foundations from the exterior in multifamily row houses/townhouses in IECC Climate Zones 3 and higher.

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Right- This concrete block home in the hot-humid climate is insulated on the interior with rigid EPS foam; all framing uses mold- and termite-resistant borate-treated lumber.

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Masonry wall interior retrofit with fluid-applied water control layer, mineral wool rigid foam, and wood or metal stud service cavity (climate zones 1-4 only)

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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.

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Right – The underside of this low-sloped roof is insulated with open-cell spray foam in this dry climate to achieve the code-required R-value; the builder used the same foam to insulate exterior walls.

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Masonry wall interior retrofit with parge coat, fluid-applied water control layer, mineral wool rigid foam, and wood or metal stud service cavity (climate zones 1-4 only)

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Walls in cold climates with a polyethylene vapor barrier interior of the wall cavity should have either no exterior insulation or a vapor-open continuous insulation like mineral wool that allows drying to the exterior

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Right – Spray foam air seals and insulates the walls including the walls behind the fireplace and covers the underside of the roof deck of this mixed-dry climate home to provide an insulated attic space for HVAC ducts.

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The builder in this very cold climate installed three layers of unfaced mineral wool batt in the double wall with a code-required vapor barrier between the middle and inner layers of wall insulation that is taped to barriers in the ceiling and floor.

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A typical Las Vegas hot-dry climate home made of wood frame construction and insulated with R-25 expanded polystyrene externally over a drainage plane, with an unvented wood frame insulated attic and roof assembly.

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Right – R-23 of blown fiberglass fills the walls and unvented vaulted attic cavities of this marine-climate home while an additional R-20 (4-inches) of graphite-enhanced expanded polystyrene is installed above the roof sheathing.

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Right – This hot-humid climate home is constructed with concrete block that is insulated on the inside with rigid foam; the framing is borate-treated lumber; the roof design is a high-wind-resistant hip roof with only one small gable over the entry.

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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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Types of Insulation

Reference

Information sheet about types and installation of insulation.

Analysis of Joint Masonry Moisture Content Monitoring

Reference

Report on adding insulation to load-bearing mass masonry buildings.

Concrete Floor Problems, BSI-003

Reference

Information guide describing issues with concrete floors, in multiple climate zones.

BSD-163: Controlling Cold-Weather Condensation Using Insulation

Reference

Article describing selecting insulation for minimizing condensation risks.

Building America Energy Performance Brief: Preventing Ice Dams

Case Study

Case study describing the source of ice dams and how to prevent them from occurring in varying climate conditions with different types of attics.

Attic Retrofits Using Nail-Base Insulated Panels

Reference

This report outlines research activities that are expected to facilitate the adoption of energy retrofits by remodeling contractors and roofing contractors using retrofit panels which applicable to many existing house designs in most climates and markets.

Building America Special Research Project - High-R Foundations Case Study Analysis, RR-1003

Reference

Research study describing a number of promising foundation and basement insulation strategies that can meet the requirement for better thermal control in colder climates while enhancing moisture control, health, and comfort.

Evaluation of Savings in Energy-Efficient Public Housing in the Pacific Northwest

Reference

Research study documenting market-ready energy solutions to improve the efficiency of new affordable housing in the marine climate of Washington State.

Your Northern Home: Understanding Crawl Spaces

Video

Video describing crawlspace insulation configurations and problems that may arise in cold climates like Alaska.

Your Northern Home: Walls

Video

Video describing how walls in cold climates must address three key issues: air leakage, moisture movement, and conductive heat losses.

ReVision Home: Building Insulation

Reference

Information sheet about insulation retrofits for the hot-dry climate zones.

Multi-Family Construction Air Sealing Guide

Reference

Report providing guidance to air-sealing multifamily homes.

Double Walls for More Insulation

Guide

Guide describing construction and insulation techniques for double wall framing.

Installation of Cavity Insulation, Info-501

Reference

Article explaining installing cavity insulation.

ReVision Home: Exterior Insulation Finish (EIFS)

Reference

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

Mass Save Deep Energy Retrofit Builder Guide, GM-1302

Reference

Guidebook providing useful examples of high performance retrofit techniques for the building enclosure of wood frame residential construction in a cold and somewhat wet climate.

Insulation Below Attic Platforms

Guide

Guide describing how to install insulation below platforms constructed in the attic for walkways, HVAC equipment, or storage.