BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Unvented Roof Assemblies for All Climates, BSD-149

Reference

Report reviewing unvented roof assemblies, such as conditioned attics and unvented cathedral ceilings that are becoming common in North American construction.

Compact Buried Ducts in a Hot-Humid Climate House

Reference

Report on heating and cooling air-distribution ducts that are insulated, installed close to the ceiling in a vented attic and covered with attic insulation to minimize energy loss.

Field Testing Unvented Roofs with Asphalt Shingles in Cold and Hot-Humid Climates

Reference

Report to understand the long-term moisture performance of unvented roof assemblies with fibrous insulation.

Technology Solutions Case Study: Field Testing an Unvented Roof with Asphalt Shingles in a Cold Climate

Case Study

Case study describing an experiment to build and instrument unvented test roofs using air-permeable insulation in a cold climate and to analyze the moisture effects over time.

Existing Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Retrofitting a 1960s Split-Level Cold-Climate Home

Case Study

Case study describing the retrofit of a 1960s split-level home.

Cost Analysis of Roof-Only Air Sealing and Insulation Strategies on 1 1/2-Story Homes in Cold Climates

Reference

Report exploring alternative methods to find long-term solutions to energy loss in 1 ½-story homes to save energy, improve comfort, prevent frost buildup on the underside of the roof deck, and reduce the risk of ice dam formation/reformation.

Alaska Residential Building Manual, 7th Edition

Reference

Manual describing best practices or home construction in Alaska and northern climates.

Insulation Below Attic Platforms

Guide

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

Installation of Cavity Insulation, Info-501

Reference

Article explaining installing cavity insulation.

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.

Measure Guideline: Guide to Attic Air Sealing

Reference

Guideline describing information and specifications relevant to air-seal existing attics.

Application of Spray Foam Insulation Under Plywood and Oriented Strand Board Roof Sheathing, BA-1312

Reference

Report covering moisture and leakage issues associated with spray foam insulation application to the underside of roof sheathing.

Encapsulated Ducts

Guide

Guide that illustrates how and when to encapsulate ductwork in unconditioned attics, increasing the R-value of duct insulation, mitigating condensation issues, and reducing air leakage.

Measure Guideline: Air Sealing Attics in Multifamily Buildings

Reference

Guideline describing the importance of the different types of multifamily building attics and their unique challenges, and outlines strategies and materials used in air-sealing them.

Unvented-Cathedralized Attics: Where We've Been and Where We're Going, RR-9904

Reference

Report focusing on the performance and durability of unvented-cathedralized attics in hot-humid climates with both tile and asphalt shingle roofing.

Field Evaluation of Four Novel Roof Designs for Energy-Efficient Manufactured Homes

Reference

Report of a field evaluation of four novel roof designs to see how each design would reduce space-conditioned energy use so that the knowledge gained could be applied to the design of new manufactured homes.

Below Deck Spray Foam Insulation for Existing Roofs

Guide

Guide describing how to add spray foam insulation to the underside of the existing roof deck as part of the conversion of a vented attic to an unvented, insulated attic.

Attic Knee Walls

Guide

Guide describing how to insulate and air-seal attic knee walls and floor joist cavities under knee walls.

Attic Eave Minimum Insulation

Guide

Guide providing guidance on insulating attic eaves in new and existing single-family homes and multifamily buildings.

Air Sealing and Insulating Ceilings in Vented Attics

Guide

Guide describing how to air-seal and insulate a ceiling where the insulation is installed on top of the ceiling (on the attic floor) in a vented attic.