BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Conceptual insulation at cape-style roof - roof cavity insulation with rigid insulation closure

Conceptual insulation at cape-style roof - ceiling and knee wall cavity insulation

DWG

PDF

Wrong – Insulation is misaligned

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Air Sealed, Insulated Basements

Guide describing how to insulate a basement to improve the overall thermal performance of the building and provide more dry, usable conditioned space for home occupants and HVAC equipment.

Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs)

Publication Date

July, 2015

Video describing insulated concrete forms.

Advanced Framing: Insulated Corners

Guide describing how to frame and insulate corners to reduce heat losses and gains though structural framing.

Right – Insulation is properly installed

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Batt Insulation for Existing Vented Attics

Guide describing how to increase insulation in existing homes by installing batt insulation on the ceiling plane of a vented attic.

Stucco Over Rigid Foam Insulation

Guide describing how to install stucco over rigid foam insulation in new and existing homes.

Material Properties of Rigid foam Insulation

Publication Date

Mon, 10/01/2007 - 12:00

Insulating sheathing is installed on exterior of an existing framed wall with water control between existing sheathing and insulating sheathing

Publication Date

Mon, 07/01/2013 - 12:00

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

Publication Date

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 12:00

Wrong – Insulation is misaligned with air barrier

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Wrong – Insulation has compression and misalignment

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Rigid Foam Insulation for Existing Exterior Walls

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.

Continuous Rigid Insulation Sheathing/Siding (1)

Publication Date

September, 2015

Video describing exterior rigid foam insulation.

Certified Insulated Siding: Quality, Comfort and Energy Performance

Author(s)

Dobson,

Brignati

Organization(s)

Vinyl Siding Institute,

Newport Ventures

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--No insulation installed behind fireplace

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Air sealing behind shower with cavity rigid insulation

DWG

PDF

Right – The knee wall is properly insulated and air sealed.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Air sealing behind tub with cavity rigid insulation

DWG

PDF

Insulated Interior Exterior Wall Intersections – Code Compliance Brief

The intent of this brief is to provide code-related information about insulated interior/exterior wall intersections to help ensure that the feature will be accepted as being in compliance with the code.

Sealing and Insulating Existing Exterior Walls - Code Compliance Brief

Publication Date

May, 2016

The intent of this brief is to provide code-related information about sealing and insulating existing walls in existing residential buildings to help ensure that the measures will be accepted as being in compliance with the code. Providing notes for code officials on how to conduct plan reviews and field inspections can provide jurisdictional officials with information for acceptance. Providing the same information to builders, contractors, designers, and others is expected to result in increased compliance and fewer innovations being questioned at the time of plan review and/or field inspection.

Install insulation and an air barrier around skylight shafts.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Insulation properly installed before air barrier

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Key elements of a wall system clad with insulated vinyl siding

Rigid Foam Board Interior Insulation for Existing Foundation Walls

Guide describing how to insulate closed crawlspace walls and band joist areas with rigid foam board insulation.

Install an air barrier on the exterior of attic knee wall insulation.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – The backing on this knee wall was air sealed prior to insulation.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Rigid Foam Insulation Installed Between Existing House and Garage Walls

Guide describing how to upgrade walls that separate the garage from the house by providing a continuous air control layer on the garage side of the wall and adding rigid foam insulation.

Continuous Insulation – Cladding/Furring Attachment - Code Compliance Brief

Guidance is needed for code-compliant installations of various cladding materials when installed over thicker foam sheathing also known as insulated sheathing or continuous insulation (c.i.).

Wrong – Rigid air barrier not installed to hold insulation in place

Right – Rigid air barrier is installed to hold insulation in place

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Wrong – The backing on this knee wall was not air sealed prior to adding insulation.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Rigid backing was installed prior to insulating the attic knee walls.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Top and bottom plates were installed prior to backing and insulation.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Insulation installed behind fireplace prior to air barrier installation

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Insulation meets RESNET Grade I prior to air barrier installation

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

The attic knee walls were constructed from 2x6s and insulated with R-19 batt, backed with 1 inch of XPS foam board with taped joints to provide a solid air barrier over the insulated surfaces.

Publication Date

Thu, 08/17/2023 - 12:00

Conceptual insulation practice at attic-style truss system - above unconditioned space

DWG

PDF

Conceptual insulation practice at attic-style truss system - above conditioned space

DWG

PDF

Taped plywood provides an air barrier beneath the cork insulation installed on the exterior of this home.

Publication Date

Wed, 12/29/2021 - 12:00

Limited attic access can make inspections for missing air barriers and insulation challenging

Publication Date

Wed, 04/01/2015 - 12:00

Air barrier at garage band joist - 1 1/2 inch rigid insulation with 2x4 sleepers

DWG

PDF

Right - Walls and ceilings shared by the garage and living space must be air sealed and insulated.

Wrong - Rigid insulation blocking is installed but not air-sealed with spray foam around edges.

The wall behind the fireplace is an exterior wall and requires a thermal barrier that is continuous with the rest of the wall’s insulation

Wrong - Wall cavities behind shower are not completely filled with insulation and are lacking the solid interior air barrier.

Publication Date

Sat, 04/10/2021 - 12:00

Building America Existing Home Case Study: Insulated Siding Retrofit in a Cold Climate, New Paltz, New York

Author(s)

Florida Solar Energy Center

Organization(s)

BA-PIRC,

FSEC

Publication Date

April, 2015

Case study describing the application of insulated siding on an existing home.

Wrong – Insulation does not fill entire cavity nor is there an air barrier present between the double wall

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – This attic knee wall and the floor joist cavity openings beneath it are being sealed and insulated with spray foam.

Publication Date

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 12:00

This farmhouse was retrofit by removing the existing siding and adding taped insulated sheathing and battens before installing new siding

Wrong – The batt insulation on this knee wall is not properly supported and there is no air sealed rigid backing to provide a solid air barrier.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Air seal and insulate double-walls that are half-height or full-height walls used as architectural features in homes.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – The rigid insulation covers all exterior walls and all seams are taped to provide a complete drainage system

Publication Date

Tue, 02/01/2011 - 12:00

Wrong - The faced batt insulation does not provide an air barrier in the joist bay between the garage and the conditioned space of the home.

This house design in the Hot-Humid climate uses a slab foundation, masonry walls, and an Exterior Insulation Finish System (EIFS) cladding.

Publication Date

Thu, 09/01/2011 - 12:00

Right-- IR photo shows how effectively spray foam insulated/air sealed attic kneewall and the floor cavities under kneewall

Publication Date

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 12:00

The Perfect Wall includes water, air, thermal, and vapor layers with continuous insulation exterior of the sheathing to reduce the condensation potential in the wall.

Publication Date

Thu, 07/15/2010 - 12:00

Limited attic access may make it necessary to use a bore scope when inspecting for missing air barriers and insulation in existing buildings.

Publication Date

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 12:00

Right - These attic knee walls are insulated with rigid foam and sealed with spray foam to form a continuous air barrier at the gable end of this cathedral ceiling.

Publication Date

Fri, 01/01/2016 - 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

Right - Closed-cell spray foam is installed as a skim coat to provide air tightness to an exterior wall cavity before installing batt or blown cavity insulation.

Publication Date

Fri, 01/01/2010 - 12:00

To ensure a complete air barrier between the garage and the house, the wall between the garage and the house was insulated and air-sealed with four inches of high-density spray foam.

Right – Closed-cell spray foam insulation in the shared wall between the garage and living space helps to air-seal the wall and protect occupants from garage pollutants.

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.

Skylight Shaft Walls

Guide describing insulation techniques for skylight shaft walls.

Walls Adjoining Porch Roof

This guide describes how to install a rigid air barrier to separate the porch attic from the conditioned space.

Double Wall Framing - Code Compliance Brief

Double stud wall wood framing is not specifically addressed in the International Residential Code (IRC) or International Energy Conservation Code (IECC); it is neither encouraged nor discouraged. Recommendations of where the vapor retarder and air barrier should be placed, based on research and testing are further defined in this Code Compliance Brief.

Roof/Attic to Exterior Wall Air Control Upgrade

Guide outlining how to retrofit an exterior wall and/or attic to provide continuous air sealing.

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.

Continuous Air Barrier in Exterior Walls

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

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.

Passive House Wall Assembly Mock | Hammer & Hand

Publication Date

March, 2015

Video showing a mock wall assembly used in Hammer and Hand’s passive houses.

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.

Staircase Walls

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

Walls Behind Showers and Tubs

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

Walls Behind Fireplaces

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

Garage Rim/Band Joist Adjoining Conditioned Space

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

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.

Air Sealing Duct and Flue Shafts

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

Building Code Training - Residential Thermal Envelope - Air Sealing

Author(s)

Southface Energy Institute

Organization(s)

SEI

Publication Date

May, 2020

Presentation describing the Georgia State Minimum Standard Energy Code air barrier requirements, envelope concepts including air flow and thermal properties, and common missed insulation and air-sealing opportunities.

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.

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.

Air Sealing Attached Garage

Guide describing ways to air-seal an attached garage in new and existing homes.

Inspection of taped joint

The mistake of not staggering siding and foam sheathing joints

Right – This foil-faced foam sheathing has taped seams and proper flashing details so it can serve as a drainage plane.

Advances in Manufactured Home Energy Efficient Design

Author(s)

ARIES

Organization(s)

ARIES Collaborative

Webinar explaining advances in energy efficient design for manufactured homes.

Are the Walls Closing In?

Author(s)

Kochkin

Organization(s)

Home Innovation Research Labs

Webinar describing research on moisture performance in high-R walls.

Vinyl Siding Installation Manual

Author(s)

Vinyl Siding Institute

Organization(s)

Vinyl Siding Institute

Publication Date

October, 2022

Publication with installation guidance for vinyl siding.

Furred-out siding

Publication Date

Sun, 10/01/2000 - 12:00

Wrong – No top plate was installed.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

All About Water-Resistive Barriers

Author(s)

Holladay Martin

Organization(s)

Green Building Advisor

Publication Date

January, 2011

Article about different types of weather resistant barrier.

All About Larsen Trusses

Author(s)

Holladay Martin

Organization(s)

Green Building Advisor

Publication Date

July, 2011

Website article interviewing the inventor of the Larsen truss, a history of its use, and a discussion of its advantages and disadvantages.

Flow-Through Assemblies, BSI-091

Author(s)

Lstiburek Joseph W

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

January, 2016

Article discussing flow-through assemblies of walls.

Wrong – No rigid backing was installed on the attic knee wall.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Flood-hardy, drainable, dryable wall

Publication Date

October, 2017

Video explaining a design option for homes in the case of a flood that would negate the need for gutting the home post-flood. Recommendations from LSU AgCenter.