2015 IECC Air Sealing Multifamily For Code Compliance 2 Funding - PDF document

11/7/2018 2015 IECC Air Sealing Multifamily For Code Compliance 2 Funding for Energy Code Training 1

11/7/2018 Sponsor Also Recognize Resources Provided by Department of Energy: DOE Building America Program https://www.energycodes.gov/ DOE Building Energy Codes Program https://basc.gov/ & RobbySchwarz ‐ EnergyLogic IECC Residential Buildings: (Different from IBC definition)  One- and two-family dwellings, townhouses of any size and R-2, R-3, R-4 ≤ 3 stories – (all R’s except for hotels/motels)  All buildings that are not “residential” by definition are “commercial”  R-1 Hotel/Motel  R-2 Sleeping > than 2 units- Apartments  R-3 Dwelling – not more than 2 units  R-4 24 hour custodial care 1831523 4 2

11/7/2018 5 Focus Townhouse Projects – applies to all Multi-Family 6 Infiltration • Uncontrolled leakage of outside air into the occupied space through openings in the building envelope. 3

11/7/2018 7 Building Thermal Envelope - Section R402.4.1 –Air Leakage Two options to demonstrate compliance  Whole-house pressure test • By State Amendment, all climate zones test to 5 ACH @ 50 pa • January 1, 2019- 3.5 ACH @ 50 pa • January 1, 2021- 3.0 ACH @ 50 pa • Testing may be by any certified testing- including contractors and sub contractors • Testing may occur any time after creation of all building envelope penetrations OR  Field verification of items listed in Table R402.4.1.1  Homes testing 3 ACH @ 50 pa require mechanical ventilation- IRC 303.4 NEW Table R402.4.1.1 - new format – separate columns Component Air Barrier Criteria Insulation Installation Criteria General A continuous air barrier shall be installed in the Air-permeable insulation shall not be used as a requirements building envelope. sealing material. The exterior thermal envelope contains a continuous air barrier. Breaks or joints in the air barrier shall be sealed. Ceiling/attic The air barrier in any dropped ceiling/soffit The insulation in any dropped ceiling/soffit shall be aligned with the insulation and any shall be aligned with the air barrier. gaps in the air barrier sealed. Access openings, drop down stair or knee wall doors to unconditioned attic spaces shall be sealed. Walls The junction of the foundation and sill plate Cavities within corners and headers of frame walls shall be insulated by completely filling the cavity with a shall be sealed. material having a thermal resistance of R-3 per inch The junction of the top plate and the top of minimum. exterior walls shall be sealed. Exterior thermal envelope insulation for framed walls Knee walls shall be sealed. shall be installed in substantial contact and continuous alignment with the air barrier. Windows, skylights The space between window/door jambs and and doors framing and skylights and framing shall be sealed. (partial table) 4

11/7/2018 NEW 9 Rooms Containing Fuel-burning Appliances - OPEN COMBUSTION AIR Both Residential and Commercial Buildings-IECC Requirement • Appliances and combustion air openings to be located outside the building thermal envelope or enclosed in a room isolated from inside the thermal envelope in Climate Zones 3-8- ALL of Utah • Where open combustion air ducts provide combustion air to open combustion fuel-burning appliances • Furnaces, boilers, water heaters • Rooms to be sealed and insulated per envelope requirements • Doors into the rooms fully gasketed • Water lines and ducts insulated Exceptions: • Combustion air ducts that pass through • Direct Vent conditioned space, insulated to > R-8 • Fireplaces • Does not apply if combustion air is drawn from inside the home • Stoves 10 Two Important Decisions Impacting Air Tightness Locate Furnace/Air-Handler Inside Duct inside the Envelope Envelope • Reduce duct penetrations through • Duct leakage will not contribute to the thermal/air barrier envelope envelope leakage • Furnace closets off garages are • Supply boots and return boxes difficult to seal don’t penetrate the air barrier • Other benefits include elimination of duct heat loss and gain, no duct testing requirement 5

11/7/2018 11 Direct Furnace Installed Direct Vent • Two pipe venting • Upper compartment sealed 12 Building Cavities Section R403.3.5 - Mandatory Framing cavities cannot be used as ducts or plenums State amendment allows panning Difficult to pass a duct test if panned May Leak to Outside Envelope 6

11/7/2018 NEW 13 Section R403.6 - Mechanical Ventilation Required (IRC) if blower door tested tighter than 3 ACH@50pa (State amended from 5 ACH@50pa)  Ventilation • Building to have ventilation meeting IRC or IMC or with other Blower door testing approved means (previously deleted by the 2012 amendments) is an optional air • Outdoor air intakes and exhausts shall have automatic or gravity sealing compliance dampers that close when the ventilation system is not operating method by amendment  Whole-house mechanical ventilation system fans to meet efficacy in Table R403.6.1  Exception  When fans are integral to tested and listed HVAC equipment, they shall be powered by an electronically commutated motor 14 Two Challenging Design Details Garage – Partially Under Living Space Offset Walls 7

11/7/2018 15 Energy Code Guide • All termination have dampers? • Do the dampers meet air leakage standards • Consider better gravity dampers 16 The Challenge 8

11/7/2018 17 Fire/Party Walls Lack Air Barriers, Coverings 18 Insure Typical Issues in all Dwellings Addressed • Fireplaces • Tubs • Showers • Cantilevers • Penetrations • Sills • Dampers 9

11/7/2018 19 Two Approaches to Air Sealing Multi-Family Drywall/Framing Framing/Sheathing 20 Airtight Drywall Approach – Interior Air Barrier Using Drywall and Framing Provide a continuous and complete air barrier System 10

11/7/2018 21 Sealing Perimeter of Drywall Assemblies • all exterior wall bottom and top plates • all top plates at insulated ceilings • rough opening perimeters • and both sides of the first interior stud of partition walls 22 Electric Box Penetrations 11

11/7/2018 23 Air Sealing at Partition • Adhesive at bottom and top of partition stud allows air barrier to transition uninterrupted to other side of partition • Penetrations through first partition stud must also be sealed 24 Airtight Drywall • Drywall sealed to top and bottom plates • Bottom plate sealed to subfloor • Subfloor sealed to rim closure board • Rim closure board sealed to top plate 12

11/7/2018 25 Top Plate with Unconditioned Space Above • Penetrations through top plate must be sealed • Electrical and communication Wires • Plumbing • Exhaust ducts • Refrigerant lines 26 Recessed Fixture in Insulated Ceiling • Fixture labeled IC-rated and airtight as determined by ASTM E-283 air leakage test • Housing (not decorative trim piece) sealed to ceiling with caulk or gasket 13

11/7/2018 27 Air Barrier Continuity at Rim Joist/Band Joist • Continuous fillet bead applied at bottom of rim closure board • Continuous bead of adhesive applied to top of rim closure board • Sealant applied at all butt joints in rim closure board and sill plate/top plate • Spray foam may also be used to seal between the sill/top plate, rim/band joist, and floor deck. 28 Framing – Sheathing Air Sealing Discussion based on Shaft Liner Similar practices apply with -2- one hour walls Fire wall design focused on: • Fire & Smoke, with an IBC requirement also for sound If air leaks, odors leak 14

11/7/2018 29 Compartmentalize Party Walls • ‘Picture Frame’ each level • Block/Seal at floor/foundation • Each floor system • Ceiling / Attic • Exterior front and rear spaces 30 Architectural Detail – Ceiling / Attic 15

11/7/2018 31 Top Floor – Ceiling to Attic • Shaft liner continues up parapet- or fire rated sheathing • Framing change- wall to gable truss • Critical to create an air seal at the ceiling plane • Packed fiberglass or mineral wool is NOT an air seal 32 Solid Fiber Blocking • Fills majority of space • Requires additional sealing • Space may not allow 1” shaft liner, other solid material OK 16

11/7/2018 33 Alternate Method 34 Identical Issue at End of Wall – Exterior Wall • Block and seal vertically • and/or seal on the exterior 17

11/7/2018 35 Insure Foam used for Fire Blocking is Approved 36 Stairs From Garage Under Living Space • Block and seal • Also walls between first level garage and first level living space 18

11/7/2018 37 Between Floors 38 Concrete Floor or Foundation 19

11/7/2018 39 Rim at Foundation 40 Rim Between Dwellings 20

11/7/2018 41 Crawlspace Wall Between Dwellings 42 Questions? • Ventilation- when should it happen? • Duct Systems and Locations • Your Experiences • Suggestions • Comments 21

11/7/2018 43 Thank You! • Questions/comments may be addressed to me at: • Brent Ursenbach • bursenbach@gmail.com • brentu@WC-3.com • C: 801-381-1449 If you would like a copy of this or other presentations, please go to www.utahenergycode.com 22