Information Sheets are short, descriptive overviews of basic building science topics, from duct sealing to reservoir claddings. Through illustrations, photographs, and straightforward explanations, each Information Sheet covers the essential aspects of a single topic. Common, avoidable mistakes are also examined in the What’s Wrong with this Project? and What’s Wrong with this Practice? mini-series.
Information Sheets are useful both as an introduction to building science and as a handy reference that can be easily printed for use in the field, in a design meeting, or at the building permit counter.
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-value differs from in-service R-value for many insulations. Building Science Corporation (BSC), and others have been examining this difference. BSC has found significant thermal performance differences between different manufacturers of insulation products and significant differences based on in-service temperature. The following discussion relates to BSC’s work to date with polyisocyanurate roof insulation.
Basements need to be dry for reasons of indoor air quality, pest control, and durability of the building.
The crawlspace is insulated to control heat flow and to minimize cold surfaces that can condense water and elevate local relative humidity.
For slab on grade construction, the slab edge represents a significant heat loss potential. This is important not only to the energy performance of a building but moisture management of the building as well.
In order to ensure good indoor air quality, all combustion appliances are recommended to be sealed combustion units, as opposed to naturally aspirated units.
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.
Ductwork, furnaces and air handlers should be sealed against air leakage.
The ductwork systems in these houses are designed to supply air to the individual rooms, and to have the air return to a central return grille.
Ventilation system intakes must be sufficiently separated away from potential contaminant sources, and locations of dust and debris.
The performance of the cooling system is evaluated and assured through a series of measurements including: air flow, pressures, temperatures, humidity levels, and power draw.
A brief explanation of system charging, superheat and subcooling including results of improper charging.
All buildings require controlled mechanical ventilation, or the controlled, purposeful introduction of outdoor air to the conditioned space.
High performance homes—due to superior insulation, better performing windows and more efficient lighting and appliances, can be expected to have smaller sensible cooling loads than typical new homes in the same geographic region.
This series of Information Sheets discusses a specific residential construction project with framing issues in Phoenix, Arizona. Top chord bearing truss in conventional residential construction framing consumes considerably more wood than necessary resulting in extra costs of both time and materials.
This series of Information Sheets discusses a specific residential construction project with framing issues in Phoenix, Arizona. Inset flanged windows in a 2x6 wall resulted in significant extra wood around window opening.
This series of Information Sheets discusses a specific residential construction project with framing issues in Phoenix, Arizona. The issue is the interior doors framed with an excessive amount of wood.
This series of Information Sheets discusses a specific residential construction project with framing issues in Phoenix, Arizona. The issue is the site-made beam made by laying framing lumber down on the flat and building it up.
This series of Information Sheets discusses a specific residential construction project with framing issues in Phoenix, Arizona. The issue is a horizontally layered site-made beam.
This series of Information Sheets discusses a specific residential construction project with framing issues in Phoenix, Arizona. The issue is the supporting framing around windows.
This series of Information Sheets discusses a specific residential construction project with framing issues in Phoenix, Arizona. The issue is framing non-load bearing doors and windows the same as load bearing walls.
