BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Heat loss through the roof of a home in a cold climate zone leads to snow melting to form ice dams.

Image

IECC Climate Zone 2A: Unvented Attic with Spray Foam at Roof Deck, 2x6 Wall/CMU Wall, Elevated Slab

Image

IECC Climate Zone 2A: Unvented Attic with Spray Foam at Roof Deck, 2x6 Wall/CMU Wall, Elevated Slab

Image

The polyethylene ceiling vapor barrier is sealed to form an air barrier around the exhaust fan in this very cold climate location (≥ CZ 6).

Image

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.

Image

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.

Image

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.

Image

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.

Improving Attic Thermal Performance

Reference

Article describing the effect metal roofs have on thermal performance in hot-humid climates.

Reexamining Roof Ventilation

Reference

Article describing moisture and ice dam issues in attics and how to air seal the attic floor.

Building America Energy Performance Brief: Installing a Radiant Barrier in the Attic

Case Study

Case study describing the benefits of installing a radiant barrier in the attic as well as varying options and guidelines for doing so.

Avoiding Moisture Problems

Reference

Technical article describing issues and moisture concerns related to weatherization efforts.

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.

Building America Energy Performance Brief: Insulating Attic Kneewalls

Case Study

Case study describing the options and techniques one should consider when trying to insulate attic knee walls in order to reduce air leakage.

Westford House, BSI-018

Reference

Report describing sloped roof assemblies with high levels of thermal performance.

Your Northern Home: Attics/Air leakage/Stack effect

Video

Video from Cold Climate Housing Research Center on how warm air typically leaks out of homes through attics via the stack effect and how to mitigate these effects through building practices.

Radiant Barrier: Effect of Radiant Barriers on Heating and Cooling Bills

Reference

Fact sheet describing analysis of potential heating and cooling savings from radiant barriers in attics.

Building America Top Innovations 2013: Attic Air Sealing Guidelines

Reference

Fact sheet describing research sponsored by DOE's Building America program to research the importance of attic air-sealing and best practice attic air-sealing techniques for new and existing homes.

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.

Unvented Attic Insulation

Guide

Guide describing methods for insulating an unvented attic along the roof line.

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.

Retrofit of Blown Attic Insulation in Existing HUD-Code Manufactured Homes: Needs Assessment Report

Reference

Report describing the costs, benefits, and challenges of attic insulation retrofits in HUD-code manufactured homes.

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.

Spray foam insulation is applied along the underside of the roof deck to provide a conditioned and non-vented attic space for ducts and air handlers.

Image

Framing is sequenced to install an air barrier of OSB, plywood, or rigid foam between the porch and the attic.

Image

Building America Top Innovations 2014: Cost-Optimized Attic Insulation Solution for Factory-Built Homes

Case Study

Case study describing a DOE Building America 2014 Top Innovation about the development and testing of a new attic insulation method for dense packing the shallow attic space in manufactured homes with blown fiberglass insulation based on research conducted by the Levy Partnership.