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Air Sealing, Insulating, and Venting Attics and Roofs to Reduce Heat Gain

Information Guide

Information guide providing links to guides describing specific ways to air-seal, insulate, and ventilate attics and roofs to minimize heat gain in new and existing homes.

Spray Foam Insulation Applied to Existing Attic Floor

Guide

Guide describing how to apply spray foam insulation to the floor of the attic in existing homes.

How to Keep Attic Vent From Freezing Up in Winter

Video

Video describing techniques to prevent attic plumbing vents from freezing during Alaskan winters.

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.

Seal all drywall-to-top plate seams and penetrations at the attic floor

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Air seal the attic access panel with weatherstripping.

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Pre-Retrofit Assessment of Attics, Ceilings, and Roofs

Information Guide

Information guide describing things to consider in the attic, ceiling, or roof before attempting retrofits of items including HVAC, wiring, or structural systems.

Mechanical Ventilation for Attached Garage

Guide

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.

Unvented Conditioned Attic with Spray Foam Insulation Below Roof Deck

Guide

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

Field Performance of Unvented Cathedralized (UC) Attics in the USA, PA-0502

Reference

Journal article reporting on field experience of unvented cathedralized (UC) attics in several environments in the United States.

Miami-Dade County – Checklist #0155 for the Approval of Roof Ventilators, Turbines, and Ridge Vents

Reference

Report covering the selection of roof vents for rainwater resistance.

Managing Indoor Humidity and Ventilation in Cold Weather

Guide

Guide describing steps to take to minimize indoor humidity during cold winter weather.

Right – Spray foam fills the roof joist cavities of this vaulted, unvented attic.

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Whole-House Ventilation Strategies for New Homes

Guide

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

Air seal and insulate drawer and closet boxes in attic kneewalls

Air seal and insulate drawer and closet boxes in attic kneewalls

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1 inch rigid insulation as attic eave baffle cut around manufactured vent

1 inch rigid insulation as attic eave baffle cut around manufactured vent

CAD File

Conceptual insulation practice at attic-style truss system - above unconditioned space

CAD File

Conceptual insulation practice at attic-style truss system - above conditioned space

CAD File

Air seal the attic access pull-down stairs opening with weatherstripping.

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Vent the kitchen fan exhaust directly to the outside, not into an attic, crawlspace, or space between floors

Vent the kitchen fan exhaust directly to the outside, not into an attic, crawlspace, or space between floors

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Air Sealing Attic Access Panels/Doors/Stairs

Guide

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

Whole-house fans draw outside air through windows into the home and exhaust it into a vented attic

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Dropped Ceiling/Soffit Below Unconditioned Attic

Guide

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

Existing Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Inverted Attic Bulkhead for HVAC Ductwork, Roseville, California

Case Study

Case study describing ductwork installation.

This solar powered attic fan runs when the sun is shining and does not draw any power from the home’s electrical system

This solar powered attic fan runs when the sun is shining and does not draw any power from the home’s electrical system

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Baffles provide an air space over the insulation to guide ventilation air from the soffit vents up along the underside of the roof deck

Baffles provide an air space over the insulation to guide ventilation air from the soffit vents up along the underside of the roof deck

Image

The spray foam-insulated attic provides a temperate place for the ERV ducts, which provide filtered fresh air to every room in the house.

The spray foam-insulated attic provides a temperate place for the ERV ducts, which provide filtered fresh air to every room in the house.

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Duct Leakage Testing for Central Exhaust and Ventilation Systems in Multifamily Buildings

Guide

Guide describing the testing of duct leakage in central ventilation systems for multi-story, multi-family buildings.

Batt insulation is installed in two layers in perpendicular directions against the baffle to full required insulation height

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Batt insulation is installed in two layers with offset seams against the baffle to full code-required insulation height

Batt insulation is installed in two layers with offset seams against the baffle to full code-required insulation height

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