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CONTENTS

FORWARD

INTRODUCTION

Program Goals and Eligibility

Code Compliance

Documenting Installed Measures

Inspections and Inspection Process

Waivers for Unusual Conditions

Human Contact Areas

ATTIC INSULATION

Attic Preparation Work

Attic Air Sealing

Knob and Tube Wiring

Passive Attic Ventilation: Sizing and Distribution

Baffles for Eave and Soffit Vents

Baffles for Light Fixtures, Fan/Lights, Chimneys and Miscellaneous

Dryer Exhaust Fans

Water Pipes in Attics

Inside Attic Access Doors

Pull-Down Stairs

Outside Attic Access Doors

Kneewalls in Attic Areas

GENERAL ATTIC INSULATION REQUIREMENTS

Installing Loose-Fill Insulation

Installing Batt Insulation

Sloped Ceilings with Side Attics and Upper Attics

Vented Vaulted Ceilings

Unvented Vaulted Ceilings

Insulating Side Attics

UNDERFLOOR INSULATION

Underfloor Preparation Work

Sealing Floor Penetrations

Basic Installation Procedures

Floor Insulation Support Materials

Spacing Requirements for Support Systems

Water Pipe Insulation

Inside Access Doors for Underfloors

Outside Access Doors for Underfloors

Miscellaneous Underfloor Specifications

PERFORMANCE-BASED DUCT SEALING

Duct Testing Replication Standard

Supporting Repaired Ductwork

Materials and Application

Manufactured Homes

Site-Built Homes

DUCT INSULATION

Duct Air Sealing

Insulating Ductwork

Supporting/Repairing Ducts

WALLS

Knob and Tube Wiring

Insulating Closed Walls

Plugs and Finish Work

Removing and Replacing Siding

WINDOWS AND PATIO DOORS

General Requirements for Glazing

Surface-Mounted Windows

Stucco-Mounted Windows

Exposed to the Elements

Miscellaneous Requirements

Health and Safety Requirements

General Safety Glazing Requirements

Hazardous Locations Requiring Safety Glazing

Miscellaneous Safety Glazing Requirements

Emergency Egress Openings

CAULKING WINDOWS AND DOORS

Installing Caulk

WEATHERSTRIPPING DOORS

General Requirements for Weatherstripping

Door Weatherstripping – Types Allowed

Door Bottom Weatherstripping – Types Allowed

FLAT AND LOW-SLOPED ROOFS

Attic Configurations

Increased-Pitched Roofs

MANUFACTURED HOMES

Verifying R-Values

General Requirements for Insulating Roofs

Blowing Underfloor Insulation

Installing Batt Insulation in Underfloors

Replacement Windows

Duct Insulation and Sealing

Maximum Air Tightness

Mechanical Ventilation

Non-Heat Recovery Ventilation - Intermittent Operation

Unbalanced Non-Heat-Recovery Ventilation - Continuous Operation

Balanced Flow Non-Heat Recovery Ventilation - Continuous Operation

Air-to-Air Heat Exchangers

Other Mechanical Ventilation Systems

AIR SEALING

Dense Pack Insulation

HOME ENERGY SOLUTIONS – R-Values

ILLUSTRATED GLOSSARY

GLOSSARY

LINKS

HOME ENERGY SOLUTIONS

Weatherization Specification Manual

AIR SEALING

AS 1.0—Introduction

Material shall be installed according to the provisions of the current Oregon Building Code or other applicable codes and shall meet the requirements of the Home Energy Solutions program. Air sealing is meant to increase comfort and energy efficiency of the home without sacrificing indoor air quality and health issues.

AS 1.1—Caulking

Clean all surfaces of dirt, loose paint and other debris before caulking.
Use a caulk that has a minimum life expectancy of 20 years.
Openings that are 1/4” or more are to use a foam backer rod.
Siliconized acrylic latex caulking is preferred on exterior applications.
A paintable or clear acrylic may be used on interior applications.
Expandable foam may be used for large holes in enclosed areas such as basements, crawl spaces and attics.
For fireplaces or heat producing fixtures, refer to federal, state, or local code regulations.

AS 1.2—Blower Door

A blower door shall be used in conjunction with air sealing.
Pre and post CFM50 data shall be recorded on the company invoice, or on an attachment to the company invoice, and submitted with the incentive application to Home Energy Solutions.
The minimum air leakage or ACH shall not be lower than 8 ACH50. If whole house mechanical ventilation is installed the ACH may be lower depending on size and type of ventilation system.

AS 1.3—Dense Pack Insulation

To minimize air infiltration in the walls closed ceilings and between joist spaces, it is recommended to insulate with cellulose dense pack. Dense pack wall insulation is defined as installing cellulose insulation at 3.0 to 4.0 pounds per cubic foot or about 1 pound per sq. ft. in a 2x4 wall.
Perform a blower test before and after dense packing to capture air leakage reduction.

Photos at top: Duct sealing at a Portland-area home; a heat pump; installing new windows at Rachel Anne Apartments in Gresham.

© 2008 Energy Trust of Oregon, Inc.

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