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Obvious Ventilation Controls

Guide describing how to install obvious ventilation controls.

Ventilation Air Inlet Locations

Guide describing how to install ventilation air inlets in open locations at a safe distance from potential air contamination sources.

Blown Insulation for Existing Vented Attic

Guide describing how to insulate a vented attic in an existing home using blown insulation added to the attic floor.

Unvented Attic Insulation

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

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.

Continuously Operating Ventilation and Exhaust Fans

Guide describing how to install continuously operating exhaust fans.

Vented versus Unvented Attic

Guide describing options for designing and locating the thermal boundary at either the attic floor or along the roof line in new and existing homes.

Attic Radiant Barriers

Guide describing application of a radiant barrier layer in the attic to block radiant heat transfer between hot surfaces and heat-absorbing surfaces.

Attic Eave Minimum Insulation

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

Construct Roofs and Attics for Ice Dam Prevention

Guide describing how ice dams form and how roofs can be constructed to prevent them.

Vertical Radon Ventilation Pipe

Guide describing how to install a radon-mitigating vertical ventilation pipe in new and existing homes with various types of house foundations.

Condensation Control in Attics and Roofs in Cold Weather

Guide describing causes of condensation in attics and roof assemblies during cold weather and ways to reduce this condensation.

Whole House Ventilation Strategies for Existing Homes

Guide describing how to select and install whole-house ventilation systems for existing homes.

Spray Foam Insulation Applied to Existing Attic Floor

Guide describing how to apply spray foam insulation to ceilings in existing homes.

Air Sealing and Insulating Ceilings in Vented Attics

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.

Mechanical Ventilation for Attached Garage

Guide describing how to install an exhaust fan in an attached garage to pull fumes out of the garage and to depressurize the garage with reference to the home.

Managing Indoor Humidity and Ventilation in Cold Weather

Guide describing steps to take to minimize indoor humidity in preparation for cold winter weather.

Unvented Conditioned Attic with Spray Foam Insulation Below Roof Deck

Guide describing a method for insulating an unvented attic by spraying foam insulation along the underside of the roof deck.

Whole-House Ventilation Strategies for New Homes

This guide describes how to install a whole-building ventilation system to provide adequate dilution of indoor air contaminants.

Air Sealing Attic Access Panels/Doors/Stairs

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

Dropped Ceiling/Soffit Below Unconditioned Attic

Guide describing how to insulate and air-seal dropped ceilings and soffits to prevent air leakage.

Disaster-Resistant Roof Venting

Guide describing the installation of roof vents that are resistant to damage from high winds and entry of wind-borne rain, wildfire embers, or pests.

Below Deck Spray Foam Insulation for Existing Roofs

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.

Bathroom Exhaust Fans

Guide describing how to install a bathroom exhaust fan to remove excess moisture.

Install Top Plates or Blocking at the Top of Walls Adjoining Unconditioned Spaces

Guide describing how to correctly air-seal a wall with missing top plates or open wall cavities.

Above Deck Rigid Foam Insulation for Existing Roofs

Guide describing the installation of insulating sheathing above the roof deck on existing homes. This retrofit assembly is appropriate for homes with conditioned attics or where the retrofit is intended to create a conditioned attic.

Kitchen Exhaust Fans

Guide describing how to install efficient kitchen exhaust systems.

Wind Washing

Guide describing wind washing and how to prevent it.

Water Managed Roof – Re-roofing and Adding Insulation Over a Sloped Roof

Guide describing how to re-roof an existing home with a sloped and add insulation above the roof deck.

Whole-House Fans

Guide describing the types of whole-house fans, installation details to reduce energy loss, and how to operate them for comfort and energy savings based on climate zone.

Air Sealing Bathroom and Kitchen Exhaust Fans

Guide describing how to air-seal bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans.

Radon Fan

Guide describing how to install a radon mitigation fan with various types of house foundations.

Outdoor Air Intake Damper Controlled

No outdoor air intakes connected to return side of the HVAC system, unless controls are installed to operate intermittently & automatically based on a timer and to restrict intake when not in use (e.g., motorized damper)

Back-Draft Dampers at Shared Common Exhaust Duct

Guide describing how to install back-draft dampers in exhaust fans to make a shared duct possible.

Managing Snow Loads on Roofs and Decks

Guide describing how to construct homes and decks to manage heavy snow loads in winter weather.

Cool Roofs and Walls to Reduce Heat Gain

Guide providing information on how cool roofing and wall cladding surfaces work, which climates can most benefit from them, and how to find and select cool roofing and wall cladding products.

Screens and Other Deterrents for Birds, Rodents, and Other Pests

Guide describing steps to keep birds, rodents, and other pests out of vent openings and other locations in new and existing homes.

Wiring Conduit for Solar PV Systems

This guide describes the need for installing a wiring conduit for future solar photovoltaic installations.

Solar Plumbing and Wiring Chase

This measure guide describes the need to install a plumbing and wiring chase for a future solar hot water installation.

Kitchen Exhaust Retrofit Duct Guide

Guide describing the retrofit of kitchen exhaust systems, including duct sizing and routing considerations.

Passive and Low-Energy Cooling

Guide describing various ways of implementing passive and low-energy cooling techniques for a house.

Support at Intervals for Flex Ducts

Guide describing how to hang ducts with supporting straps or saddles to adequately support ducts so they do not sag and are not pinched or compressed in a manner that would cause damage to the ducts, the duct insulation, or the duct air barrier covering.

Ducts in Raised Ceiling Sections

Guide describing method for designing and installing ducts in a raised ceiling chase.

Proper Installation of Furnace and Air-Handler Filters

Guide describing proper installation of high-MERV furnace and air-handler filters.

Building Cavities Not Used as Supply or Return Ducts

Guide describing the use of building cavities as supply or return ducts.

Jump Ducts

Guide describing how to install jump ducts in bedroom walls to balance air pressures between rooms, enabling constant air flow for conditioning and freshness even when room doors are closed.

Roof Eaves Sealed with Self-Adhering Membrane in Cold Climates

Guide describing how to apply heavy membranes at eaves in cold climates to help guard against ice dams.

Sealed and Insulated Flex Ducts

Guide describing how to air seal and insulate flex ducts.

Air Sealing the Air Handler Closet

Guide describing the repair and reconfiguration of the air handler closet and platform when replacing the air handler.

Ducted Returns

Guide describing how to install ducted returns in bedroom walls to balance air pressures between rooms and to enable stale air to return to a central heating system's air handler for reconditioning even when room doors are closed.

Compact Air Distribution

Guide describing design and installation of compact duct systems for central heating and cooling systems.

Duct Leakage to Outdoors

Guide describing how to conduct duct leakage tests on all components of the HVAC system (including the air handler, ductwork, register boxes/boots, and all air devices such as diffusers, registers, or grilles).

Sealed and Insulated Metal Ducts

Guide describing how to air seal and insulate metal ducts.

Total Duct Leakage Tests

Guide describing how to conduct duct leakage tests per RESNET protocols.

No Ducts or Air Handlers Located in Garage

Guide describing how to design HVAC systems to be located within the conditioned space of the home, either in a utility closet or in an air sealed conditioned attic, basement, or crawl space.

No Kinks or Sharp Bends in Flex Duct Installation

Guide outlining how to correctly install flex ducts without kinks or sharp bends.

Air Sealing Modular Home Marriage Joints

Guide describing how to air-seal modular home marriage joints.

Whole-House Dehumidification

Guide describing options for adding dehumidification equipment to a home to maintain indoor relative humidity below 60%.

Water Managed Roof – Re-roofing and Adding Insulation over a Flat Roof

Guide describing an approach to re-roofing an existing flat roof to improve thermal, water, and air control performance.

Indoor Sprinklers for Fire Protection

Guide describing the design and installation of indoor automatic fire sprinklers in residential settings.

Air Seal HVAC Cabinet Seams

Guide describing air-sealing of the seams and holes in HVAC air handler and furnace cabinets.

Condensing HVAC has Corrosion-Resistant Condensate Drain Pan

Guide describing how to install a corrosion-resistant drain pan in condensate-producing HVAC equipment.

No Excessive Coiled or Looped Flex Ducts

Guide outlining how to correctly install flex ducts without excessive coils or loops.

Sufficient Cavity Space for Flex Ducts

This measure guide describes how to correctly install ducts, ensuring enough cavity space to avoid compression.

Low-E Exterior Storm Windows

Guide describing how to install low-e exterior storm windows.

Asphalt Shingle Roofs

Guide discussing disaster resistance related to asphalt shingle roofing when installing roofing on new construction or when repairing or replacing roofing on existing homes.

Air Conditioning

Guide describing refrigerant-based compression-cooling air conditioning systems for space cooling.

Sealed and Insulated Fiber Board Ducts

Guide describing how to air seal and insulate fiber board ducts.

Creating a Cool Room for Extreme Heat Events

Guide describing how to create a designated shelter-from-heat space in a home to help occupants successfully weather an extreme heat event.

HVAC Ducts Shall Not Be Run within Exterior Walls

Guide describing the use of building cavities as supply or return ducts.

Heat Pump Water Heaters for Single-Family Homes

Guide describing the planning and installation process for Heat Pump Water Heaters (HPWHs) in single-family homes, including model selection, installation location, thermal resource adequacy, and condensate removal.

Proper Clothes Dryer Venting

Guide describing how to correctly vent a clothes dryer.

Interior Storm Windows and Panels

Guide describing how to install low-e interior storm windows.

Air Sealing Doors Adjacent to Unconditioned Space

Guide describing how to air-seal doors that are next to unconditioned spaces.

Reduce Pest Intrusion

Guide describing ways builders can block off entry points and otherwise make homes inhospitable to all manner of pests.

Direct Vent Equipment

Guide describing categories of direct-vent combustion space- and water-heating equipment and combustion safety testing.

Seismic and Insulation Retrofits of Solid Masonry Walls

Guide describing how to retrofit older solid masonry homes to withstand seismic activity while including energy efficient retrofits.

Roof Valleys and Penetrations Sealed

Guide describing how to seal roof valleys and how to seal around pipes, chimneys, and other roof deck penetrations.

Metal Roofs

Guide discussing disaster resistance related to metal roofing when installing roofing on new construction or when repairing or replacing roofing on existing homes.

Capillary Break at Crawlspace Floor - Polyethylene Sheeting under Concrete Slab

Guide describing how to install a capillary break to help manage moisture in foundations.

Existing Skylights Repaired or Replaced and Fully Flashed

Guide describing how to repair or replace skylights in existing homes.

Ductless (Mini-Split) Heat Pumps

Guide describing ductless heat pump systems used for single-room or whole-house heating and cooling.

Traditional Split Heat Pumps

Guide describing the split system heat pumps used for central forced air heating and cooling.

Moisture-, Impact-, Fire-, and Pest-Resistant Exterior Siding

Guide describing how to select the siding materials best suited to withstand hazards the home is likely to face within its lifetime.

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.

High-MERV Filters

Guide describing the uses, selection process, and specification of high-MERV filters.

Enclosure Leakage Test

Guide describing how to use a blower door test to determine building envelope air leakage.

Defensible Space for Protection Against Wildfires

Guide describing how to effectively create defensible space between a residence and potential wildfire fuels in high-risk fire hazard areas.

Transfer Grilles

Guide describing how to install transfer grilles in bedroom walls to balance air pressures between rooms and to enable stale air to return to a central heating system's air handler for reconditioning even when room doors are closed.

Condensing Boilers

Guide describing condensing boilers and hot water heat distribution systems used for home heating.

Clay or Concrete Tile Roofs

Guide discussing disaster resistance related to clay or concrete tile roofing when installing roofing on new construction or when repairing or replacing roofing on existing homes.

Evaporative Cooling Systems

This guide describes evaporative cooling technologies which can be used to cool homes in dry climates.

Oil-Fired Boilers

Guide describing oil-fired boilers and hot water heat distribution systems used for home heating.

Decks are Wildfire-Resistant

Guide describing how to properly construct decks and other building attachments to be resistant to ignition in the event of a wildfire.

Air Sealing Attached Garage

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

Ventless (Condensing) Clothes Dryers

Guide describing condensing clothes dryers, which have a secondary heat exchanger and do not require exterior venting.

Combustion Furnaces

Guide describing combustion furnaces with selection and installation guidance.

Gas-Fired Boilers

Guide describing gas-fired boilers and hot water heat distribution systems used for home heating.

Taped Insulating Sheathing Drainage Planes

Guide describing techniques for installing insulating sheathing as a continuous drainage plane on walls.

Emergency Air Conditioning and Food Refrigeration

Guide describing methods for providing space cooling and refrigeration during extreme heat events and/or power outages.