BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

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

Image

Insulated whole-house fan cover

Image

Certified Insulated Siding: Quality, Comfort and Energy Performance

Presentation

This presentation will help you define insulated siding, understand R-value testing of insulated siding, describe proper installation of insulated siding, comply with energy codes and understand building energy performance program and software recognition.

Wrong – Fibrous insulation does not air seal

Image

Insulating and Air Sealing Existing Non-ICAT Recessed Lights

Guide

Guide describing how to air seal and insulate a non-ICAT recessed "can" light from an accessible attic in an existing home.

Air seal and insulate drawer and closet boxes in attic kneewalls

Image

Right - A wood dam was constructed to hold back the attic floor insulation

Image

Wrong – Whole house fan installed without an insulated cover

Image

Triple-pane windows use three panes of glass separated by gaps filled with krypton or argon gas, insulated spacers, and low-emissivity coatings to achieve high insulation performance

Image

Wrong – Drop down stairs do not have insulation cover installed

Image

Wrong – Attic access panel does not have an insulation cover installed

Image

Comparison of three homes showing the amount of wall insulation needed to achieve a whole-wall insulation value of R-19 when the wall has double- versus triple-pane windows

Image

Exterior Doors Are Insulated, Impact Rated, and Fire Rated

Guide

Guide describing the use of doors that are insulated and are impact rated or have protective coverings for resistance to hurricane, high winds, wildfires, and thermal losses.

Wrong – Fibrous insulation is not an air barrier and cannot be used for sealing holes.

Image

Wrong – Fibrous insulation is not an air barrier and cannot be used for sealing holes.

Image

Wrong – No blocking installed to prevent attic insulation from falling into stairs and opening

Image

The pulleys in this old window frame were once used for counterbalancing weights to help raise and lower the window; this window can be restored with new pulley ropes or the weight pockets can be insulated with caulk and rigid insulation.

Image

Wrong – Fibrous insulation is not an air barrier and cannot be used to air-seal openings.

Image

To get an average whole-wall R value of R-19 with double-pane windows, you’d need R-330 of wall insulation; triple-pane windows can achieve an R-19 total wall R Value with R-38 of insulation

Image

Right – Blocking has been installed around the perimeter of this attic access to prevent insulation falling into the house

Image

Install an ENERGY STAR labeled insulated door with an automatic closer. Weather strip the door frame

Image

Insulating cellular blinds purchased from a manufacturer should contain a blinds assembly, mounting brackets, and mounting screws.

Image

Right – Attic access hatch has been properly insulated by attaching a fiberglass batt, gasketed, and opening has blocking

Image

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

Image

Window attachments like insulated blinds, solar screens, and low-e storm windows provide many benefits including heating and cooling savings at a low first cost

Image

Window coverings like insulated blinds, cellular shades, sun-blocking roller shades, and low-e storm windows can provide heating and cooling energy savings

Image

Standard Practice for the Installation of Mounting Flange Windows into Walls Utilizing Foam Plastic Insulating Sheathing (FPIS) with a Separate Water-Resistive Barrier (WRB), FMA/AAMA/WDMA 500-16

Reference

Guide describing the installation of windows in walls that have foam plastic insulating; guide provides several methods for attaching, supporting, and flashing windows in walls with rigid foam sheathing. (Note: The link only goes to the table of contents for the guide, the full guide can be...

Even with R-30 of insulation in the wall, its overall R-value is R-5 if it has single-pane windows; triple-pane windows bring that up to R-16

Image

Triple-Pane windows can be used as a tradeoff for continuous wall insulation or stricter air sealing targets when showing compliance with the 2021 IECC using the UA path

Image

Air Sealing Attic Access Panels/Doors/Stairs

Guide

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