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Flashing of Penetrations in Existing Roofs

Guide describing how to provide a continuous water control layer across the roof assembly by sealing all penetrations for pipes, vents, etc. in existing roofs.

Landscaping to Reduce Cooling Load

Guide describing ways to use landscaping to keep a home cooler.

Spray Foam Insulation for Cavities of Existing Exterior Walls

Guide describing how to insulate the walls of an existing home with spray foam insulation.

Masonry Wall Insulation

Many home walls have inadequate insulation resulting in excessive heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. Adding wall insulation can significantly address this home performance challenge. However, critical installation best practices need to be followed to ensure a successful project. In particular, the traditional exterior “drill and fill” approach will not work with masonry brick or concrete walls. Use this checklist to get the significant energy savings and enhanced comfort benefits possible with quality installed masonry wall insulation.

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.

Walls Behind Showers and Tubs

This guide describes how to install a rigid air barrier to walls behind showers and tubs.

Capillary Break at Crawlspace Floor - Polyethylene Sheeting under Concrete Slab

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

Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs)

Guide describing how to install insulated concrete forms to block excessive heat loss and gain though structural framing.

Toilets

Guide describing toilet and urinal requirements and selection for EPA's WaterSense program.

Vinyl Siding with Integrated Rigid Foam for Existing Walls

Guide describing the design and installation considerations for recladding of above grade walls using insulated vinyl siding.

Exterior Edge Insulation for Existing Foundation Slabs

Guide describing how to install slab edge insulation when retrofitting existing slab-on-grade foundations.

Oil-Fired Boilers - Code Compliance Brief

The focus of this brief is on boiler efficiency, sizing requirements, controls, combustion air, and pipe insulation for the 2015 version of the IRC/IECC.

Windows and Doors are Fully Flashed

Guide describing how to install flashings to help direct water down and out of windows and doors openings in exterior walls.

Radon Fan

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

Gas-Fired Boilers - Code Compliance Brief

The intent of this brief is to provide code-related information about gas-fired boilers 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 reviews and conduct field inspections can help builders or remodelers...

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.

Water-Efficient Landscape Design

Guide describing how to design a water-efficient landscape that will minimize the need for supplemental water by using the WaterSense® Water Budget Tool.

Hurricanes and High Winds Overview

Overview guide outlining home construction techniques used in hurricane and high wind areas.

Managing Indoor Humidity and Ventilation in Cold Weather

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

Capillary Break at Crawlspace Floors - Polyethylene Lapped Up Walls and Piers or Secured in the Ground

Guide describing how to create a capillary break at all crawlspace floors using polyethylene sheeting to manage moisture in crawlspaces.

Retrofit Existing Crawl Space Foundations with Cripple Walls to Increase Seismic Resistance and Thermal Performance

Guide describing different options for providing seismic and thermal resistance for homes with 'cripple' wall crawlspace foundations, which are known for their instability.

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.

Building Science Introduction - Moisture Flow

Information guide providing background information about moisture flow in residential buildings.

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.

Structural Sheathing (plywood/OSB) in Exterior Walls

Guide describing the need for adequate structural sheathing in exterior walls in homes in high-wind areas.

Evaporative Cooling - Code Compliance Brief

This brief discusses the provisions in the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and International Residential Code (IRC) related to evaporative cooling.

Walls Adjoining Porch Roof

This guide describes how to install a rigid air barrier to separate the porch attic from the conditioned space.

Window Sash Retrofit

Guide describing how to modify an existing window sash for high-efficient windows.

Hip Roof vs Gable Roof

Guide describing the advantages and disadvantages of gable roofs and hip roofs and how both designs react under high wind loads.

Flooding Overview

Overview guide describing residential floodproofing steps.

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.

Unvented Attic Insulation

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

Reduce Pest Intrusion

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

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.

Design and Retrofit for Flood Protection

Information guide describing constructed flood protection measures to minimize damage and increase structural resilience during a flood.

Flood-Resistant Raised-Slab Foundations

Guide describing ways to construct a raised-slab foundation to increase a home's resistance to floods.

Heat Pump Water Heaters - Code Compliance Brief

Publication Date

November, 2017

Applicable codes and standards regarding heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) that are an energy-efficient alternative to electric resistance water heaters.

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.

No Vapor Retarders on Interior Side of Air-Permeable Foundation Insulation

Vapor retarder plastic should not be installed over fibrous insulation on basement or crawlspace walls unless rigid foam or spray foam is installed directly against the concrete, behind the blanket insulation.

Sealing and Insulating Existing Exterior Walls - Code Compliance Brief

Publication Date

May, 2016

The intent of this brief is to provide code-related information about sealing and insulating existing walls in existing residential buildings to help ensure that the measures will be accepted as being in compliance with the code. Providing notes for code officials on how to conduct plan reviews and field inspections can provide jurisdictional officials with information for acceptance. Providing the same information to builders, contractors, 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.

Sealing and Insulating Existing Crawl Space Walls - Code Compliance Brief

Publication Date

May, 2016

The intent of this brief is to provide code-related information about sealing and insulating crawl space walls in existing residential buildings to help ensure that the measures will be accepted as being in compliance with the code. Providing the same information to all interested parties (e.g., code officials, builders, contractors, designers, etc.) is expected to result in increased compliance and fewer innovations being questioned at the time of plan review and/or field inspection.