BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Right – This coated OSB sheathing product is available with an integrated insulation layer.

Publication Date

Mon, 09/30/2019 - 12:00

Wrong - Batt insulation is poorly installed leaving gaps along the ceiling.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/26/2018 - 12:00

Wrong - Insulation does not fill entire cavity leading to heat losses.

Vented crawlspace foundation insulated under floor joists with rigid foam.

Right - Mineral Wool insulation is installed on the exterior of wall with furring strips.

Publication Date

Tue, 10/09/2018 - 12:00

Excavationless: Exterior-Side Foundation Insulation for Existing Homes, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Author(s)

University of Minnesota

Organization(s)

UMN,

NorthernSTAR,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Publication Date

September, 2014

Case study describing novel technique for installing exterior spray foam on foundation walls that uses high-pressure water sprayer and a “hydro vac” to remove dirt along the foundation wall.

Right: Ducts are completely buried beneath insulation to the depth specified in the plans

Moisture levels are checked in the blown cellulose insulation before enclosing the walls.

Spray foam insulates and air seals the exterior wall behind the fireplace.

Right – An insulated space is provided in the home’s attic to house the HVAC equipment.

Publication Date

Mon, 09/30/2019 - 12:00

Spray foam insulates and air seals the underside of the attic roof and walls.

Publication Date

Thu, 09/01/2011 - 12:00

The seams of the rigid insulation are not taped and it will not provide a complete capillary break

Publication Date

Tue, 02/01/2011 - 12:00

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.

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 – Whole house fan installed without an insulated cover

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right - A wood dam was constructed to hold back the attic floor insulation

Hot water heating pipes insulated with 1 inch of jacketed fiberglass

Publication Date

Sun, 09/01/2013 - 12:00

Wrong - Sub-floor insulation has gaps, compression, and misalignment.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Spray Foam Insulation Applied over the Siding of Existing Exterior Walls

Guide describing how to install spray foam on the exterior of the existing home after framing over the existing siding.

CPVC fire sprinkler piping insulated using the box-in method.

Publication Date

Wed, 06/23/2021 - 12:00

Triple-pane windows use three panes of glass separated by gaps filled with krypton or argon gas, insulated spacers, and low-emissivity coatings to achieve high insulation performance

Publication Date

Mon, 01/01/2024 - 12:00

Wrong – The framing and wind baffle installation will not allow for required insulation depth.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Wall assembly with non-combustible fiber cement cladding, metal hat-channel furring for air gap and fire-resistant or retardant rigid insulation, sheathing, framing and cavity insulation.

Publication Date

Mon, 06/28/2021 - 12:00

Inset band joist at mudsill - 1 1/2 inch rigid insulation

DWG

PDF

Wrong – Drop down stairs do not have insulation cover installed

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Wrong – Attic access panel does not have an insulation cover installed

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

A standard site-built roof of rafters may pinch the insulation at the eaves

Publication Date

Sat, 01/01/2011 - 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

Advanced framing details include insulated headers over windows and doors.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Verify two member headers with rigid insulation between are installed

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Verify single member headers with insulation on one side are installed

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Advanced framing details throughout house including insulated and open headers

Publication Date

Thu, 02/16/2012 - 12:00

Building America Energy Performance Brief: Insulating & Air Sealing Tubs

Author(s)

Gilbride Theresa L

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

October, 2011

Case study describing the techniques involved with insulating and air sealing tub space prior to installation in order to prevent drafts and moisture escaping.

Smart Vapor Barrier - CertainTeed Dryright-vs-Kraft-Faced Insulation

Author(s)

Zhong Zhipeng

Organization(s)

Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,

CARB,

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA

Publication Date

September, 2009

Report describing a comparison of hydrothermal performances of DryRightTM fiberglass batts and kraft-faced fiberglass batts in a south facing wall assembly with a moisture storage cladding material.

This community of production homes in central New York state was built with insulated concrete forms (ICFs), which provide a highly insulated, airtight structure that is fire-, pest-, wind-, and earthquake-resistant.

Wrong: Ducts are held above the ceiling plane with strapping to provide a good angle into top-entry boots. Once the ceiling insulation is added, this duct will protrude from the ceiling insulation and will not be buried

The improved three-stud corner allows insulation to be installed later, in sequence

Reference

Building America Best Practices Series - 40% Whole-House Energy Savings in the Cold and Very Cold Climates, Volume 12

Author(s)

Baechler Michael C,

Gilbride Theresa L,

Hefty Marye G,

Cole Pam C,

Love Pat M

Organization(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Guide describing measures that builders in the cold and very cold climates can take to build homes that have whole-house energy savings of 40% over the Building America benchmark with no added overall costs for consumers.

Publication Date

Tue, 02/01/2011 - 12:00

DOE Siding Retrofit: Insulating Concrete Block Walls, Phoenix AZ

Author(s)

Theresa Gilbride,

Kohta Ueno

Organization(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

December, 2022

Case study describing a wall retrofit of a 1940s home in Phoenix AZ that included adding 2 inches of rigid polyisocyanurate insulation while adding stucco siding to a previously unsided and uninsulated slump-block home.

2x10 Rafter - Insulation Above Roof Deck and In Rafter Cavity CAD

DWG

PDF

2x10 Rafter - Insulation Below Roof Deck In Rafter Cavity CAD

DWG

PDF

2x12 Rafter - Insulation Above Roof Deck and In Rafter Cavity CAD

DWG

PDF

2x12 Rafter - Insulation Below Roof Deck In Rafter Cavity CAD

DWG

PDF

Exterior Doors Are Insulated, Impact Rated, and Fire Rated

Guide describing the use of doors that are insulated and are impact rated or have protective coverings for resistance to hurricane, high winds, wildfires and thermal losses.

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.

Blown cellulose insulation completely fills the netted wall and ceiling cavities.

Reference

Building America Best Practices Series - 40% Whole-House Energy Savings in the Cold and Very Cold Climates, Volume 12

Author(s)

Baechler Michael C,

Gilbride Theresa L,

Hefty Marye G,

Cole Pam C,

Love Pat M

Organization(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Guide describing measures that builders in the cold and very cold climates can take to build homes that have whole-house energy savings of 40% over the Building America benchmark with no added overall costs for consumers.

Publication Date

Fri, 05/03/2013 - 12:00

Technology Solutions Case Study: Moisture Durability of Vapor Permeable Insulating Sheathing

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

October, 2013

Case study describing research about using exterior, vapor permeable insulation of retrofit walls with vapor permeable cavity insulation.

Measure Guideline: Deep Energy Enclosure Retrofit for Interior Insulation of Masonry Walls

Author(s)

Musunuru Sravanthi,

Pettit Betsy

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

April, 2015

Report describing a deep energy enclosure retrofit solution for insulating mass masonry buildings from the interior.

Rigid foam forms an insulating bond break between the foundation wall and the slab

Publication Date

Fri, 05/01/2009 - 12:00

Building America Energy Performance Brief: Insulating and Air Sealing Cantilevered Floors

Author(s)

Gilbride Theresa L

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

October, 2011

Case study describing the proper techniques and steps in insulating and air sealing a cantilevered floor, as well as the consequences for failing to do so properly.

Sealing and Insulating Existing Floors above Unconditioned Spaces - Code Compliance Brief

Publication Date

May, 2016

From a model code perspective, submittal of construction documentation, permitting, plan review, and field inspection may be required depending upon the specific details of renovating the floor above an unconditioned space (e.g., floor over a vented crawl space). Several different approaches can be taken to seal and insulate existing floors during a renovation project.

Air seal and insulate around the exhaust fan with a rigid foam box

Exterior XPS basement insulation is correctly installed to completely cover the foundation wall

Publication Date

Mon, 10/01/2012 - 12:00

Wrong - Flex duct resting on floor compressing insulation and causing condensation

Keeping The Heat In - Chapter 6: Basement Insulation Floors, Walls and Crawl Spaces

Author(s)

Natural Resources Canada

Organization(s)

Natural Resources Canada

Publication Date

December, 2016

Information sheet providing links and resources for insulating basements in cold climates.

Listing Information of SIPA - Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), SPEC ID: 32805

Author(s)

Intertek,

Structural Insulated Panel Association

Organization(s)

SIPA

Publication Date

March, 2021

Test results used by multiple structural insulated panel manufacturers confirming a one-hour fire rating for specific SIP assemblies.

Building America Top Innovations 2013: Exterior Rigid Insulation Best Practices

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

Home Innovation Research Labs,

Building Science Corporation,

University of Minnesota

Organization(s)

PNNL,

PHI,

HIRL,

BSC,

NorthernSTAR

Publication Date

September, 2013

Case study describing a 2013 DOE Building America Top Innovation for the installation of rigid foam insulation on the exterior of home roofs and walls as a thermal, air, and moisture barrier.

The batt insulation shown here was properly installed to fill the ceiling cavities.

Reference

40% Whole-House Energy Savings in the Hot-Humid Climate, Volume 15

Author(s)

Baechler Michael C,

Gilbride Theresa L,

Hefty Marye G,

Cole Pam C,

Adams Karen T,

Noonan Chrissy F,

Love Pat M

Organization(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

A guidebook helping builders in hot-humid climates design and construct homes for energy efficiency, durability, health, safety, and comfort.

Publication Date

Thu, 09/01/2011 - 12:00

Right – An insulated spline reduces heat transfer at the SIP panel joints.

Publication Date

Mon, 09/30/2019 - 12:00

Right – Structural insulated panels are quickly assembled on site for this SIP house.

Publication Date

Mon, 09/30/2019 - 12:00

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.

Right - The ceiling above the garage is air-sealed and insulated with spray foam.

Comparison of three homes showing the amount of wall insulation needed to achieve a whole-wall insulation value of R-19 when the wall has double- versus triple-pane windows

Publication Date

Mon, 01/01/2024 - 12:00

Measure Guideline: Installing Rigid Foam Insulation on the Interior of Existing Brick Walls

Author(s)

Natarajan Hariharan,

Puttagunta Srikanth,

Klocke Steve

Organization(s)

Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,

CARB,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL,

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA

Publication Date

June, 2012

Information sheet providing information on installing Rigid XPS foam board insulation to existing brick masonry walls.

The 12-inch-thick double walls provide plenty of space for insulation.

Headers over windows and doors are insulated rather than solid wood.

Energy Code - Module 2: Window and Insulation Tables (Climate Zones 1,2)

Author(s)

Nebbia

Organization(s)

Newport Partners

Publication Date

November, 2021

Webinar that discusses code requirements found in the prescriptive window and insulation requirements for climate zones 1 and 2.

Expert Meeting Report: Interior Insulation Retrofit of Mass Masonry Wall Assemblies

Author(s)

Ueno Kohta,

Van Straaten R

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Publication Date

February, 2012

Expert Meeting about interior insulation retrofit of mass masonry wall assemblies held on July 30, 2011.

Validation Study of Experimental Insulating and Air-Sealing Technology for Enclosed Roof Cavities

Author(s)

Lamm Douglas,

Bell Alexander

Organization(s)

Building Envelope Materials,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Publication Date

February, 2024

Research report that validates Pinhole Insulation®, offering a cost-effective, minimally invasive solution for enhancing insulation and air sealing in enclosed roof cavities, improving R-value by 60% compared to traditional methods.

Energy Code - Module 3: Window and Insulation Tables (Climate Zones 3,4,5)

Author(s)

Nebbia

Organization(s)

Newport Partners

Publication Date

December, 2021

Webinar that discusses code requirements found in the prescriptive window and insulation requirements for climate zones 3, 4 and 5.

Energy Code - Module 4: Window and Insulation Tables (Climate Zones 6,7,8)

Author(s)

Nebbia

Organization(s)

Newport Partners

Publication Date

December, 2021

Webinar that discusses code requirements found in the prescriptive window and insulation requirements for climate zones 6, 7 and 8.

An insulated spline is another option for avoiding thermal bridging at SIP panel seams

Publication Date

Tue, 01/01/2008 - 12:00

Walls in cold climates with a polyethylene vapor barrier interior of the wall cavity should have either no exterior insulation or a vapor-open continuous insulation like mineral wool that allows drying to the exterior

Publication Date

Sun, 01/15/2017 - 12:00

Right – The underside of this low-sloped roof is insulated with open-cell spray foam in this dry climate to achieve the code-required R-value; the builder used the same foam to insulate exterior walls.

Publication Date

Fri, 12/31/2021 - 12:00

This house with interior insulated crawlspace is protected from pests with termite shield at sill plate, borate-treated framing, flashing at end of wall insulation, and a termite inspection gap at the top of the rigid foam

Publication Date

Mon, 03/01/2021 - 12:00

Technology Solutions Case Study: Guidance on Taped Insulating Sheathing Drainage Planes

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

November, 2014

Case study describing best practices for using rigid foam sheathing as a drainage plane in new and retrofit wall construction.

Instead of solid timber headers over windows, insulated headers can be used consisting of prefabricated structural insulated panels or site-fabricated with two sheets of plywood sandwiching a layer of rigid foam.

Publication Date

Thu, 09/01/2011 - 12:00

A second layer of rigid insulation is installed over the 2 in. by 4 in. retaining strip

Publication Date

Wed, 10/08/2014 - 12:00

Rigid foam is sandwiched between lumber to form insulated headers over windows.

How To Strengthen Your Home for Under $10,000 – Insulated Concrete Forms

Publication Date

September, 2014

Video interview explaining the benefits of installing insulated concrete forms for both energy efficiency and disaster resistance in either new or existing homes for under $10,000. Recommendations from FLASH Strong Homes.