BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Air Sealing Light Tubes

Guide

Guide describing how to air-seal around light tubes.

Air seal and insulate light tube

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Air sealing at recessed lighting in attic - site built

CAD File

Air sealing at recessed lighting in attic - pre made

CAD File

Air Sealing Recessed Light Fixtures Below Unconditioned Space

Guide

Guide describing how to air-seal around recessed light fixtures below unconditioned space.

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.

How to air seal attic can lights – Rule Your Attic! with ENERGY STAR

Video

Video describing how homeowners can save energy by air sealing their home's attic can lights.

Air Sealing Retrofits: Conducting an IR Camera Inspection of an Existing Home - Recess Lighting

Video

Video showing how to use an infrared camera to check for air leakage around recessed can lights during a blower door test in winter.

Air-seal around recessed can light fixtures that are installed through ceilings to keep conditioned air from leaking into unconditioned space.

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Wrong - IR image shows a lack of air-sealing and insulation around a ceiling light fixture.

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Install a sealed enclosure over a non-IC rated recessed light fixture to air-seal the can and to prevent insulation from touching the recessed can light.

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Right – The insulating enclosure over this non-IC rated recessed light fixture is centered and air sealed

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The grey ring around the back of this LED retrofit ceiling fixture trim kits is a foam gasket to air seal the fixture.

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Recessed can not caulked and sealed

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Air Leakage in Recessed Lighting

Reference

Article describing recessed lighting, which if installed incorrectly may contribute to air leakage and compromise building envelope efficiency.

Wrong – This recessed can light has not been sealed to the drywall.

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Right – The recessed can light penetration is sealed with caulk to the drywall.

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This IR camera image shows a recessed can light that is well sealed and insulated.

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The very dark area around the recessed light fixture indicates significant heat loss while the purple streaks radiating out indicate air leakage; the purple area around the heating register to the left indicates heat loss likely due to missing insulation

The very dark area around the recessed light fixture shows significant heat loss while the purple streaks radiating out indicate air leakage; the purple area around the heating register (left) indicates heat loss likely due to missing insulation

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Right – Airtight boxes are installed for LED can lights.

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Existing Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County, Lake Worth, Florida

Case Study

Case study describing an energy efficient retrofit project in hot-humid climates.

Right – The top of the enclosure over this recessed can light remains clear of attic insulation

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Wrong – Insulation is in direct contact with this non-insulation contact (IC)-rated recessed light fixture

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New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Schneider Homes, Inc., Village at Miller Creek, Burien, WA

Case Study

Case study describing new home construction in the marine climate that achieved 50% savings over the 2004 IECC.

Thermal Protection in Recessed Luminaires

Reference

Article on thermal protectors in recessed light fixtures.

Improving Recessed Lighting

Reference

Report providing information about techniques and approaches to improve the efficiency of recessed lighting.

Wrong – This recessed light is not ICAT labeled.

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Wrong – The installed recessed light is not ICAT labeled.

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Wrong – This recessed light does not have a gasket installed.

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Right – This recessed light was installed with a trim kit and is ICAT labeled.

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