Building Science Corporation Attic Air Sealing

This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the united states government.

Building science corporation attic air sealing.

In hot climates the primary purpose of attic ventilation is to expel solar heated hot air from the attic to lessen the building cooling load. What s wrong with this practice. Require air sealing and air barriers including attic hatches flues piping lighting wiring chases attic eaves dropped ceilings and knee walls. Department of energy s building america program.

Building science corporation guide 7 pages. Guide to attic air sealing joseph lstiburek. The guide to attic air sealing provides information and specifications to the following groups. This assessment is adapted from the measure guideline report guide to attic air sealing prepared by building science corporation for the u s.

Other guides for air sealing are available. A building science consulting and full service architecture firm specializing in building technology for all types of buildings including commercial institutional and residential. Tenwolde and carll 1992 also observed that during summer attic vents provide some cooling but with sufficient ceiling insulation the effect on cooling loads should be minor. Retrofit of blown attic insulation in existing hud code manufactured homes needs.

Building science corporation may 15 2014 typical penetrations through the primary components of the air barrier system include plumbing pipes and vents electrical wires and conduits electrical fixtures other mechanical services and in some cases structural members. A sample work plan can be found in appendix a. Understanding and resolving ice dams. The guide to attic duct sealing.

Spray foam under roof sheathing. Air sealing details for most common attic situations are provided in this guide on page 15. Air seal the attic once the issues identified above have been addressed proceed to develop the attic air sealing work plan. The attic air sealing details section provides a scope of work and specification for the air sealing of many points of air leakage in common attic spaces.

Neither the united states government nor any agency thereof nor any of their employees. Attic air sealing guide. Building science corporation. The following sections provide greater detail on these conditions.

Ductwork furnaces and air handlers should be sealed against air leakage. Building science corporation building technologies program recognizing top innovations in building science. Building science corporation guide 47 pages. The only place air should be able to leave the supply duct system and the furnace or air handling unit is at the supply registers.