BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Headers over windows on non-load-bearing walls are open to allow room for insulation.

Right – Graphite enhanced EPS fills these SIP panels, providing additional insulation value.

Publication Date

Mon, 09/30/2019 - 12:00

All of the pipes are insulated on this high-efficiency 50-gallon heat pump water heater.

Publication Date

Fri, 01/01/2016 - 12:00

Wrong- A tie strap should not be used over the duct outer liner because it can compress the insulation. Tuck in the fibrous insulation and seal the outer liner to the connecting duct with mastic or foil tape (Steven Winter Associates 2013).

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

Right - Ladder blocking allows insulation to be installed in exterior walls at interior-exterior wall intersections.

Publication Date

Fri, 12/31/2021 - 12:00

American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) D7793: Standard Specification for Insulated Vinyl Siding

Author(s)

American Society for Testing and Materials

Organization(s)

ASTM

Publication Date

April, 2024

This specification requires that insulated vinyl siding demonstrate a thermal insulation value of R-2.0 or greater. The specification also establishes other performance requirements and test methods including materials properties and dimensions, warp, shrinkage, impact strength, expansion...

All other supply ducts and all return ducts in unconditioned space have insulation ≥ R-6

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Some builders use cantilevered trusses to get full height insulation over the exterior wall.

Publication Date

Sat, 09/01/2001 - 12:00

Unfaced batt and blown fiberglass wall insulation are installed to RESENET Grade 1 standards with no gaps or voids.

Right - Spray foam insulates the attic eave between the attic floor and the SIP roof panel.

Right - This heated garage plenum is insulated and has an opening to access the interior, allowing for repairs and maintenance.

Publication Date

Sat, 09/14/2024 - 12:00

Right - Walls and ceilings shared by the garage and living space must be air sealed and insulated.

Wrong - Rigid insulation blocking is installed but not air-sealed with spray foam around edges.

Insulated headers can be hung with metal hangers instead of jack studs to reduce lumber usage

Right – A termite inspection gap is left at the top of the rigid foam board basement wall insulation.

Publication Date

Mon, 09/30/2019 - 12:00

Wrong - Insulation beneath window is compressed and there are more support studs than necessary to left of window.

Publication Date

Tue, 02/19/2019 - 12:00

2021 IECC Climate Zone 4C: Vented Attic, 2x4 Wall, Interior Insulated Basement

Publication Date

Sat, 01/13/2024 - 12:00

Rigid foam insulation and a thin slab were installed over the dirt and gravel of this sealed crawlspace

2021 IECC Climate Zone 5A: Vented Attic, 2x4 Wall, Interior Insulated Basement

Publication Date

Mon, 01/15/2024 - 12:00

2021 IECC Climate Zone 5B: Vented Attic, 2x4 Wall, Interior Insulated Basement

Publication Date

Tue, 01/16/2024 - 12:00

2021 IECC Climate Zone 5C: Vented Attic, 2x4 Wall, Interior Insulated Basement

Publication Date

Tue, 01/16/2024 - 12:00

2021 IECC Climate Zone 6A: Vented Attic, 2x4 Wall, Interior Insulated Basement

Publication Date

Tue, 01/16/2024 - 12:00

2021 IECC Climate Zone 6B: Vented Attic, 2x4 Wall, Interior Insulated Basement

Publication Date

Wed, 01/17/2024 - 12:00

2021 IECC Climate Zone 4C: Vented Attic, Strapped 2x6, Interior Insulated Basement

Publication Date

Mon, 01/15/2024 - 12:00

2021 IECC Climate Zone 5B: Vented Attic, Strapped 2x6, Interior Insulated Basement

Publication Date

Tue, 01/16/2024 - 12:00

2021 IECC Climate Zone 5A: Vented Attic, Strapped 2x6, Interior Insulated Basement

Publication Date

Tue, 01/16/2024 - 12:00

2021 IECC Climate Zone 5C: Vented Attic, Strapped 2x6, Interior Insulated Basement

Publication Date

Tue, 01/16/2024 - 12:00

2021 IECC Climate Zone 6A: Vented Attic, Strapped 2x6, Interior Insulated Basement

Publication Date

Wed, 01/17/2024 - 12:00

2021 IECC Climate Zones 7 and 8: Vented Attic, Strapped 2x6, Interior Insulated Basement

Publication Date

Thu, 01/25/2024 - 12:00

2021 IECC Climate Zone 6B: Vented Attic, Strapped 2x6, Interior Insulated Basement

Publication Date

Thu, 01/25/2024 - 12:00

2021 IECC Climate Zones 7 and 8: Vented Attic, 2x4 Wall, Interior Insulated Basement

Publication Date

Wed, 01/17/2024 - 12:00

The missing top plate in a kneewall was covered with lumber and rigid foam insulation and then sealed with spray foam

Air Sealing Retrofits: Conducting an IR Camera Inspection of an Existing Home - Displaced Insulation in Ceiling

Publication Date

December, 2022

Author(s)

Louie Edward

Organization(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL

Video describing how to use an infrared camera to detect missing insulation (indicated by blue areas) in a cathedral ceiling.

The existing slab is retrofitted with epoxy paint, rigid foam insulation, sleepers (furring strips), and subfloor.

Publication Date

Sun, 06/01/2008 - 12:00

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

Author(s)

The Levy Partnership,

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

ARIES,

PNNL

Publication Date

December, 2014

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.

2021 IECC Climate Zone 5: Vented Attic, 2x4 Wall, Interior Insulated Basement

Publication Date

Thu, 10/19/2023 - 12:00

All ceiling, wall, floor, and slab insulation shall achieve RESNET-defined Grade I installation

Publication Date

Sat, 10/01/2011 - 12:00

Ceiling, wall, floor, and slab insulation levels shall meet or exceed Builders Challenge levels

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Technology Solutions Case Study: Exterior Rigid Foam Insulation at the Edge of a Slab Foundation, Fresno, California

Author(s)

IBACOS

Organization(s)

IBACOS

Publication Date

October, 2013

Case study describing installation of exterior rigid foam insulation on a slab foundation.

Advanced framing details include framing aligned to allow for insulation at interior-exterior wall intersections.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Install a continuous air barrier below or above ceiling insulation and install wind baffles.

Publication Date

Sat, 10/01/2011 - 12:00

Frame, insulate, and air seal the walls of the skylight shaft as you would an exterior wall

Publication Date

Sat, 01/01/2005 - 12:00

Right - This concrete basement wall has exterior rigid insulation and comprehensive moisture management details.

Publication Date

Tue, 09/01/2020 - 12:00

Insulating both exterior and garage-side faces of plaza deck can reduce thermal bridging. If garage is heated or partially heated, hybrid spray foam/batt insulation on garage side of plaza deck should extend to the perimeter of the garage.

Publication Date

Tue, 09/17/2024 - 12:00

Right - Wind baffle installation will allow proper insulation depth over the top plate.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Rigid foam insulation is installed on the garage side of the shared garage wall and roof of an existing home

Publication Date

Mon, 07/01/2013 - 12:00

2015 IECC Air Barrier and Insulation Installation Component Guide - 2019 Georgia Energy Code

Author(s)

Southface Energy Institute

Organization(s)

SEI

Publication Date

January, 2015

Document describing the air leakage provisions of Appendix RA of the 2015 IECC (prepared for the State of Georgia to assist with compliance with their 2019 Energy Code).

The existing slab is retrofitted by coating with epoxy paint, then installing rigid foam insulation and a floating subfloor.

Publication Date

Mon, 07/01/2013 - 12:00

Technology Solutions Case Study: Retrofit Measures for Embedded Wood Members in Insulated Mass Masonry Walls

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

October, 2015

Case study describing retrofit measures for embedded wood members in insulated mass masonry walls.

Faced fiberglass batt insulation can be stapled to the stud faces or slightly inset, but avoid compressing the batts

Reference

Energy Renovations Insulation - A Guide for Contractors to Share with Homeowners, Volume 17

Author(s)

Baechler Michael C,

Adams Karen T,

Hefty Marye G,

Gilbride Theresa L,

Love Pat M

Organization(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Document providing descriptions of the many insulation options available to homeowners, along with guidance on where, when, and how to install insulation throughout your house.

Publication Date

Tue, 05/01/2012 - 12:00

Right - Rigid foam slab edge insulation is installed along the exterior edge of a monolithic slab foundation.

Publication Date

Fri, 05/01/2009 - 12:00

To get an average whole-wall R value of R-19 with double-pane windows, you’d need R-330 of wall insulation; triple-pane windows can achieve an R-19 total wall R Value with R-38 of insulation

Publication Date

Mon, 01/01/2024 - 12:00

Buried Ducts within Ceiling Insulation of Vented Attics in all Climate Zones - Code Compliance Brief

Publication Date

January, 2020

The intent of this brief is to provide code-related information about buried ducts in vented attics to help ensure that the measure will be accepted as being in compliance with the code. Providing notes for code officials on how to plan review and conduct field inspections can help provide jurisdictional officials with information for acceptance. Providing the same information to all builders, designers, and others is expected to result in increased compliance and fewer innovations being questioned at the time of plan review and/or field inspection.

Right - Potential locations for crawlspace insulation: vapor sheeting should always cover the floor with insulation (a) outside walls, (b) inside walls, (c) both sides of walls, (d) sandwiched inside walls, or (e) under the first floor.

Publication Date

Tue, 01/01/2013 - 12:00

These floor joist bays have been properly air sealed with caulked rigid foam insulation

Smegal Jonathan,

Lstiburek Joseph W

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

September, 2013

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

Holes in the exterior walls are flashed and flashing is integrated with housewrap before installing rigid mineral wool insulation.

Right – Rigid foam was attached to the tops of the precast foundation walls to form an insulated edge for the floor slab.

Publication Date

Mon, 09/30/2019 - 12:00

Right – Precast concrete basement walls come to the site with integrated insulation and steel-faced concrete studs.

Publication Date

Mon, 09/30/2019 - 12:00