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Ventilation system intakes must be sufficiently separated away from potential contaminant sources, and locations of dust and debris. Mechanical sealed combustion equipment intake should also be… Read More
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The Manual J (i.e. heating and cooling load) calculations typically yield the airflow requirements to the various rooms to meet those design loads. These airflow volumes are then used to size and lay… Read More
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Ductwork, furnaces and air handlers should be sealed against air leakage. The only place air should be able to leave the supply duct system and the furnace or air handling unit is at the supply… Read More
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The location of the duct system can have a significant impact on the overall performance of the system—both the utility use and the ability to provide comfort. The energy loss from the ducts for… Read More
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These systems are completely decoupled from the interior environment through the use of dedicated outdoor air intake and exhaust ducts connected directly to the unit. This change completely… Read More
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In climates where the average monthly temperature for the coldest month of the year goes below 45°F, the temperature of the slab perimeter may be below the dew point of interior air for a significant… Read More
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Crawlspaces should be designed and constructed as mini-basements. Crawlspaces should not be vented to the exterior (see FAQ on Crawlspace Venting). They should have their floors uninsulated, the… Read More
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Basements are part of a home, within the building boundary—despite repeated attempts over the years to disconnect them from the living space. Because of this, basements should be designed and… Read More
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Polyisocyanurate insulation is a common commercial and residential roof and wall insulation. It has one of the highest R-values per inch of thickness among common insulations.
However, labeled R-… Read More
Very Cold, Cold
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Cavity insulation combined with insulating sheathings are common in residential wall construction. Cavity insulations can be categorized as rolled batt; blown-in or loose-fill (fibrous insulation—… Read More
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The information presented has been compiled from:ASHRAE Fundamentals - 2001Moisture Control in BuildingsCMHCNRC/IRCIEA Annex 24Manufacturer dataWhen using this information, it MUST be done in the… Read More
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In building air barriers, the field of the opaque wall typically does not contribute strongly to the building’s overall air leakage. Instead, details that connect building components are often the… Read More
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Some common locations for large holes in the air barrier include bathtubs, showers, fireplace enclosures, and chimneys. Holes behind tub and shower enclosures are common, as these enclosures are… Read More
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Windows are elements of the building enclosure system that perform many building enclosure functions. One of the building enclosure functions that windows must fulfill is that of an air barrier. As a… Read More
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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… Read More
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Gypsum board drywall is, itself, a suitable air barrier material. The taping of drywall seams results in a plane of airtightness at the field of the wall. However, several steps must be taken to use… Read More
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Good design and practice involve controlling the wetting of building assemblies from both the exterior and interior and different climates require different approaches.Vapor Permeance… Read More
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As they are typically used in buildings today, vapor barriers are a cold climate artifact that has migrated into other climates more from ignorance than need. However, they often prevent assemblies… Read More
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The requirements in the code can be used for wood framed structures with temperature and humidity conditions typical of residential occupancy.Three classes of vapor control are defined depending on… Read More
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Managing exterior sources of liquid water, i.e. rainwater and groundwater, are one of the principal functions of the building enclosure system, and site work (refer to Information Sheets 101, and 301… Read More
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Claddings made of wood, fiber cement, stucco, concrete, and masonry all absorb water to varying degrees. Once the reservoirs get wet, the stored water can migrate elsewhere and cause problems.… Read More
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It is common practice to install a complete WRB on a wall assembly before attaching a deck ledger. Then, when the deck ledger is attached, structural connections at this location breech this water… Read More
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Gravity is the driving force behind drainage. The “down” direction harnesses the force of gravity and the “out” direction gets the water away from the building enclosure assemblies, openings,… Read More
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Window and doors are typically installed using one of two approaches: 1) barrier system installation or 2) a drained system installation. Barrier installations do not provide for forgiveness to water… Read More
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“Rain is the single most important factor to control in order to construct a durable structure.” - Dr. Joseph LstiburekDrainage planes (also referred to as “water resistive barrier” or WRB) are… Read More
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