Unvented Roofs - Air Permeable Insulation2015 Building Technologies Office Peer ReviewJoseph Lstiburek, joe@buildingscience.comBuilding Science Corporation
Project SummaryTimeline:Key Partners:Start date: July 2014Planned end date: July 2015Key Milestones1. Instrumentation Completed; December20142. Analysis Completed; July 2015Owens CorningBudget:Total DOE to date: 200,000Total future DOE : noneTarget Market/Audience:Residential homebuildersDOE Weatherization program2DupontJohns ManvilleDavid WeekleyHomesK. HovnanianHomesProject Goal:To develop methods of constructing unventedconditioned attics using air permeableinsulations such as fiberglass and cellulose.This has application in new houseconstruction and in the weatherization ofexisting houses.
Purpose and ObjectivesProblem Statement: In the design and construction of unvented conditionedattics spray polyurethane foam is expensive and there are environmentalconcerns. Dense pack cellulose is very risky in the weatherization of existinghouse rafter assemblies.Target Market and Audience: This has application for new home construction andin the retrofit of existing houses.Impact of Project: This is a potential game changer. It can reduce the constructionof unvented roofs by more than 50 percent and allow the use of dense packcellulose in retrofit applications without risk.1. Project endpoint(s): Code change allowing use of air permeable insulation inthe construction of unvented conditioned attics.2. Impact path:a. Near-term – the moisture content of the roof sheathingb. Intermediate-term – adoption by IRCc. Long-term – significant market penetration3
ApproachApproach: Construction of test houses in Orlando and Houston with bothdiffusion vented and unvented attics using fiberglass and cellulose.Key Issues: Moisture content of roof sheathing remaining below 20percent over the service life of the assembly.Distinctive Characteristics: Allows the use of off-the-shelf products in aunique way. Standard ridge vents are used with standard vapor openbuilding films with standard fiberglass and cellulose insulation. No lowerventing at soffits is provided. Only ridge vents are installed. The ventopenings are covered with an air tight but vapor open film to allow vaporto escape but not air to escape.4
Progress and AccomplishmentsLessons Learned: Roof slope is important. Vapor transmission of vent film needsto be higher than expected – greater than 50 perms. Climate limit is likely IECCClimate Zone 5 for new houses.Accomplishments: The approach works for both cellulose and fiberglass in IECCClimate Zones 1, 2 and 3 without limitation. In IECC Climate Zones 4 and 5 sometype of vapor retarder on the underside of the insulation layer is likely necessary.Market Impact: There is no market impact at this point – too soon. However, themanufacturer partners intend to pursue the approach as a high priority.1. The private sector is prepared to take this to market immediately.2. The DOE Weatherization program is not aware of this work and needs tobe informed of its significance with respect to reducing the risks of densepack insulation in roof rafter assemblies.Awards/Recognition: None.5
Project Integration and CollaborationProject Integration: Data is shared on a weekly basis. Discussions withindustry R & D staff occur bi—monthly. The issue is that industry partnerswant to move faster than we believe the physics allows.Partners, Subcontractors, and Collaborators: Manufacturing partners areOwens Corning, Johns Manville and Dupont. Builder partners are DavidWeekley Homes and K. Hovnanain Homes. The builder partners providedthe test houses. The manufacturing partners provided the product.Communications: This has been presented in a DOE webinar, to the ARMASteep Slope roofing technical committee and at the Passive Houseconference.6
Next Steps and Future PlansNext Steps and Future Plans: We plan to write it up as a conference peerreviewed paper. The private sector intends on providing the next levelfunding and intends on bringing the technology to market. We plan tointroduce code language for the next round of code changes to allow theimplementation of the technology.7
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Project BudgetProject Budget: 200,000.Variances: No variances.Cost to Date: Total budget has been spent.Additional Funding: None at this point. However, manufacturing partners intendon proceeding with the technology and intend to bring it to market.Budget HistoryJuly - FY2014FY2015FY2016( 200,000)(none)(none)DOE 200,00030Cost-share 50,000DOEn/aCost-sharen/aDOEn/aCost-sharen/a
Project Plan and Schedule 31Project original initiation date: July 2014Project planned completion date: July 2015Schedule: Instrumentation completed December 2014Schedule: Analysis expected to be completed July 2015Go/no-go decision points: Moisture contents above 20 percentCurrent and future work: No future work planned with the DOE on thistechnology. The private sector intends to take the technology to market.
Owens Corning, Johns Manville and Dupont. Builder partners are David Weekley Homes and K. Hovnanain Homes. The builder partners provided the test houses. The manufacturing partners provided the product. Communications: This has been presented in a DOE webinar, to the ARMA Steep Slope roofing technical committee and at the Passive House .
Key Words: permeable interlocking concrete pavement. permeable pavement design. permeable pavement hydrologic and structural design. permeable pavement construction. permeable pavement maintenance. 1. Chapter 1 - Overview . Since 2009, PICP use in the United States has grown 15% to 20% annually due to national,
6—Factors Affecting the Selection of Permeable Formwork . 27 Costs and Cost-Benefits of Using Permeable Formwork . 27 Misuse of Permeable Formwork . 29 Difficulties in Handling . 29 7—Long-Term Testing of Surfaces Formed with Permeable
P-3 Permeable pavers (PP) Other variations of permeable pavement that are DDOE-approved permeable pavement surface materials, such as synthetic turf systems with reservoir layer, are also encompassed in this section. Permeable pavement systems are not typically designed to provide stormwater detention of
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Unvented room heaters are NOT FOR COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL USE. qualified installer, service agency or the gas This is an unvented gas-fired heater. It uses air (oxygen) from the room in which it is installed. Provisions for adequate combustion and ventilation air must be provided. Refer to page 7. Blue
This is an unvented gas-fired heater. It uses air (oxygen) from the room in which it is installed. Provisions for adequate combustion and ventilation air must be provided. Refer to the Installation section on page 3. Unvented Gas-Fired Room Heater Blue Flame Heaters Models: RMC-LC10NG, RM
15. This is an unvented gas-fired heater. It uses air (oxygen) from the room in which it is installed. Provi-sions for adequate combustion and ventilation air must be provided. See page 8. 16. Keep room area clear and free from combustible materials, gasoline and other flammable vapors and liquids. 17. Unvented gas heaters are a supplemental .
the Municipalities buildings. Green roofs are also a part of the city’s Strategy for Biodiversity. Since 2010 green roofs are mandated in most new local plans. A calculation based on approved new local plans mandating green roofs gives a total of 200.000 m2 of green roofs to be installed. Today The