Section 408.30547d. Building thermal envelope.

Rule 547d. Sections N1102.2.6, N1102.2.12, N1102.3.3, N1102.3.6, N1102.4, N1102.4.1.1, N1102.4.1.2, N1102.4.2, N1102.4.3, N1102.4.4, tables N1102.1.1, N1102.1.3,

and N1102.4.1.1 of the code are amended to read as follows:

N1102.2.6 (R402.2.6). Steel-frame ceilings, walls, and floors. Steel-frame ceilings, walls, and floors shall meet the insulation requirements of table N1102.2.6 or shall meet the U-factor requirements in table N1102.1.3. The calculation of the U-factor for a steel-frame envelope assembly shall use a series-parallel path calculation method.

N1102.2.12 Thermally isolated sunroom insulation. The minimum ceiling insulation R-values shall be R-24 in zones 5 to 7. The minimum wall R-value shall be R-13 in all zones. New wall or walls separating a sunroom from conditioned space shall meet the building thermal envelope requirements.

N1102.3.3 (R402.3.3). Glazed fenestration exemption. Up to 15 square feet (1.4m2) of glazed fenestration per dwelling unit may be exempt from U-factor requirements in section N1102.1.1. This exemption shall not apply to the U-factor alternative approach in section N1102.1.1 and the total UA alternative in section N1102.1.4.

N1102.3.6 (R402.3.6). Replacement fenestration. Where some or all of an existing fenestration unit is replaced with a new fenestration product, including sash and glazing, the replacement fenestration unit shall meet the applicable requirements for U-factor in table N1102.1.3. Where some or all of an existing fenestration unit is replaced with a new fenestration product, including sash and glazing, the replacement fenestration unit shall meet the applicable requirements for U-factor in table N1102.1.1.

N1102.4 (R402.4). Air leakage.  The building thermal envelope shall be constructed to limit air leakage in accordance with the requirements of sections N1102.4.1 through N1102.4.4.

N1102.4.1 (R402.4.1). Building thermal envelope. The building thermal envelope shall comply with sections N1102.4.1.1 and N1102.4.1.2.

N1102.4.1.1 (R402.4.1.1). Installation (mandatory). The components of the building thermal envelope as listed in table N1102.4.1.1 shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and the criteria listed in table N1102.4.1.1, as applicable to the method of construction. The sealing methods between dissimilar materials shall allow for differential expansion and contraction.

N1102.4.1.2 (R402.4.1.2). Testing (prescriptive). The building or dwelling unit shall be tested and verified as having an air leakage rate of not exceeding 4 air changes per hour. Testing shall be conducted with a blower door at a pressure of 0.2” w.g. (50 pascals). Where required by the code official, testing shall be conducted by a certified independent third party. Certification programs shall be approved by the state construction code commission. A written report of the results of the test shall be signed by the party conducting the test and provided to the code official. Testing shall be performed at any time after creation of all penetrations of the building thermal envelope.

During testing all of the following apply:

1.       Exterior windows and doors, fireplace, and stove doors shall be closed, but not sealed, beyond the intended weather stripping or other infiltration control measures.

2.      Dampers including exhaust, intake, makeup air, backdraft, and flue dampers shall be closed, but not sealed beyond intended infiltration control measures.

3.    Interior doors, if installed at the time of the test, shall be open.

4.       Exterior doors for continuous ventilation systems and heat recovery ventilators shall be closed and sealed.

5.    Heating and cooling systems, if installed at the time of the test, shall be turned off.

6.    Supply and return registers, if installed at the time of the test, shall be fully open.

N1102.4.2 (R402.4.2). Fireplaces (mandatory). New wood-burning masonry fireplaces shall have tight-fitting flue dampers and outdoor combustion air.

N1102.4.3 (R402.4.3). Fenestration air leakage (mandatory). Windows, skylights, and sliding glass doors shall have an air infiltration rate of no more than 0.3 cfm per square foot (1.5 L/s/m2), and swinging doors no more than 0.5 cfm per square foot (2.6 L/s/m2), when tested according to NFRC 400 or AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440 by an accredited, independent laboratory and listed and labeled by the manufacturer.

Exception: Site-built windows, skylights, and doors.

N1102.4.4 (R402.4.4). Recessed lighting (mandatory).  Recessed luminaires installed in the building thermal envelope shall be sealed to limit air leakage between conditioned and unconditioned spaces. All recessed luminaires shall be IC-rated and labeled as having an air leakage rate not more than 2.0 cfm (0.944 L/s) when tested in accordance with ASTM E 283 at a 1.57 psf (75 Pa) pressure differential. All recessed luminaires shall be sealed with a gasket or caulk between the housing and the interior wall or ceiling covering.

TABLE N1102.1.1 (R402.1.1)

INSULATION AND FENESTRATION REQUIREMENTS BY COMPONENTa

Clima te Zone	Fenestrati on U-Factorb	Skylig htb U- Factor	Ceili ng R- Value	Wood Frame Wall R-Value	Mass Wall R- Valueg	Floor R- Value	Baseme ntc Wall R-Value	Slabd R- Value & Depth	Crawl Spacec  Wall R-Value
5A	0.32	0.55	38	20 or 13 + 5f	13/17	30e	10/13	10, 2 ft	15/19
6A	0.32	0.55	49	20 or 13 + 5f	15/20	30e	15/19	10, 4 ft	15/19
7	0.32	0.55	49	20 or 13 + 5f	19/21	38e	15/19	10, 4 ft	15/19

a.    R-values are minimums. U-factors are maximums. When insulation is installed in a cavity which is less than the label or design thickness of the insulation, the installed R-value of the insulation shall not be less than the R-values specified in the table.

b.    The fenestration U-factor column excludes skylights.

c.    “15/19” means R-15 continuous insulation on the interior or exterior of the home or R-19 cavity insulation at the interior of the basement wall. “15/19” may be met with R-13 cavity insulation on the interior of the basement wall plus R-5 continuous insulation on the interior or exterior of the home. “10/13” means R-10 continuous insulation on the interior or exterior of the home or R-13 cavity insulation at the interior of the basement wall.

d.    R-5 shall be added to the required slab edge R-values for heated slabs.

e.    Or insulation sufficient to fill the framing cavity, R-19 minimum.

f.    First value is cavity insulation, second is continuous insulation or insulated siding, so “13 + 5” means R-13 cavity insulation plus R-5 continuous insulation or insulated siding. If structural sheathing covers 40% or less of the exterior, continuous insulation R-value may be reduced by no more than R-3 in the locations where structural sheathing is used – to maintain a consistent total sheathing thickness.

g.    The second R-value applies when more than 1/2 the insulation is on the interior of the mass wall.

TABLE N1102.1.3 (R402.1.3) EQUIVALENT U-FACTORSa

Clim ate Zone	Fenestrati on U-Factor	Skylig ht U- Factor	Ceiling U- Factor	Frame Wall U-Factor	Mass Wall U-Factorb	Floor U- Factor	Basemen t Wall U-Factor	Crawl Space Wall U- Factor
5A	0.32	0.55	0.030	0.057	0.082	0.033	0.059	0.055
6A	0.32	0.55	0.026	0.057	0.060	0.033	0.050	0.055
7	0.32	0.55	0.026	0.057	0.057	0.028	0.050	0.055

a.    Nonfenestration U-factors shall be obtained from measurement, calculation, or an approved source.

b.    When more than half the insulation is on the interior, the mass wall U-factors shall be a maximum of 0.065 in zone 5 and marine 4, and

1.57      in zones 6 and 7.

TABLE N1102.4.1.1 (R402.4.1.1)

AIR BARRIER AND INSULATION INSTALLATION

COMPONENT	CRITERIAa
Air barrier and thermal barrier	A continuous air barrier shall be installed in the building envelope. Exterior thermal envelope contains a continuous air barrier. Breaks or joints in the air barrier shall be sealed. Air-permeable insulation shall not be used as a sealing material.
Ceiling/attic	The air barrier in any dropped ceiling/soffit shall be aligned with the insulation and any gaps in the air barrier sealed. Access openings, drop down stair, or knee wall doors to unconditioned attic spaces shall be sealed.
Walls	Corners and headers shall be insulated and the junction of the foundation and sill plate shall be sealed. The junction of the top plate and top of exterior walls shall be sealed. Exterior thermal envelope insulation for framed walls shall be installed in substantial contact and continuous alignment with the air barrier. Knee walls shall be sealed.
Windows, skylights, and doors	The space between window/door jambs and framing, and skylights and framing shall be sealed.
Rim joists	Rim joists shall be insulated and include the air barrier.
Floors (including above-garage and cantilevered floors)	Insulation shall be installed to maintain permanent contact with underside of subfloor decking. The air barrier shall be installed at any exposed edge of insulation.
Crawl space walls	Where provided in lieu of floor insulation, insulation shall be permanently attached to the crawlspace walls. Exposed earth in unvented crawl spaces shall be covered with a class I vapor retarder with overlapping joints taped.
Shafts, penetrations	Duct shafts, utility penetrations, and flue shafts opening to exterior or unconditioned space shall be sealed.
Narrow cavities	Batts in narrow cavities shall be cut to fit, or narrow cavities shall be filled by insulation that on installation readily conforms to the available cavity space.
Garage separation	Air sealing shall be provided between the garage and conditioned spaces.
Recessed lighting	Recessed light fixtures installed in the building thermal envelope shall be air tight,

	IC rated, and sealed to the drywall.
Plumbing and wiring	Batt insulation shall be cut neatly to fit around wiring and plumbing in exterior walls, or insulation that on installation readily conforms to available space shall extend behind piping and wiring.
Shower/tub on exterior wall	Exterior walls adjacent to showers and tubs shall be insulated and the air barrier installed separating them from the showers and tubs.
Electrical/phone box on exterior walls	The air barrier shall be installed behind electrical or communication boxes or air- sealed boxes shall be installed.
HVAC register boots	HVAC register boots that penetrate the building thermal envelope shall be sealed to the subfloor or drywall.
Fireplace	An air barrier shall be installed on fireplace walls.

a.    In addition, inspection of log walls shall be in accordance with the provisions of ICC-400.

History: 2015 AACS.