Insulation and Ventilation Flashcards
An air leak in a supply duct located in an unconditioned attic will cause house air pressure to become ____, since ____ supply air will enter the house than return air that ____ the house.
negative/depressurized
less
exits
An air leak in the return duct will ____ the house, since additional air is pulled from the ____ there will be ____ air pressure in the house.
pressurize
attic
positive
Crawl space ____ ____ can bring in as much moisture as they remove. ____ crawl spaces are now recommended to reduce crawl space ____ problems.
ventilation openings
closed
moisture
Attic ____ problems can sometimes be traced back to the crawl space.
moisture
____ insulation comes in rolls and are either ____ ____, which have a ____ ____ such as Kraft paper, foil, or plastic on one side, or ____ ____ which do not have this component.
batt (blanket)
faced batts
vapor retarder
unfaced batts
Fiberglass batts range between ____ (standard) to ____ (high density) per inch.
R-3 to R-4
Mineral wool and cotton batt insulation are both rated at about ____ per inch of thickness.
R-3.7
An unfaced batt does not contain an ____ ____ or ____ ____.
air barrier
vapor retarder
____ insulation is made from recycled paper that is treated to become fire retardant. It is usually used as a ____ ____ insulation and has a R-Value of ____ per inch of thickness.
Cellulose
loose fill
R-3.5
Cellulose and mineral wool are both ____ than fiberglass, which can cause issues when installed in attics with ___ inches on center framing and/or ___ inch thick drywall ceilings.
heavier
24”
1/2”
Sheet and spray foam insulation may need protection from ____ because they are ____. Additionally, they create ____ ____ when burned.
ignition
flammable
toxic smoke
Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam board has an R-value of about ___ per inch thickness. The permeability of 1” of EPS is about ___. It is therefore a ____ ____ ____. It is also an ____ ____ if the seams are sealed. EPS is also available in loose fill with a value of ___ per inch thickness.
R-4
5.0
Class III Vapor retarder
air barrier
R-2.5
Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) foam board insulation is usually ____, ____, or ____ in color. It has an R-value of about ___ per inch thickness and a permeability of ___ per inch. It is therefore a ____ ____ ____. XPS is also an ____ ____ if the seams are sealed.
pink, blue, green
R-5
1.1
Class III Vapor retarder
air barrier
Polyisocyanurate or polyurethane are either ____ or ____ in color. They have a layer of ____ ____ or ____ ____ on each side, which makes them ____ ____ ____. They begin with an R-value of ____, however they off-gas over time and this value is reduced to about ____ over time. They both are ____ ____ if the seams are sealed.
yellow or orange
foil paper or radiant barrier
Class I Vapor retarders
R-8
R-6
air barriers
Closed cell spray foam, often called ___ lb foam, is an effective ____ ____ and ____ ____ which does not allow the passage of ____ ____. It also adds some ____ rigidity. It’s R-value is about ___ per inch.
2 lb
air barrier and vapor retarder
liquid water
structural
R-6
Open cell spray foam, often referred to as ___ lb foam, allows the passage of ____ ____ and is not a ____ ____. It is an effective ____ ____. It’s R-value is about ___ per inch.
1/2 lb
liquid water
vapor retarder
air barrier
R-3.7
_____ is a type of volcanic rock made of silica and oxygen. It can be used as insulation and has an R-value of about ____ per inch. It is ____ or ____ in color and has a gravel like appearance. Much of this material is contaminated with _____ and it’s presence should be reported and recommended for _____.
vermiculite
R-2.4
gray/brown or silver/gold
asbestos
testing
_____ is similar to vermiculite and appears as a course white gravel. When used as loose fill it has an R-value of about ___ per inch. Unlike vermiculite, it is not contaminated with _____.
perlite
R-2.4
asbestos
____ ____ ____ ____ is a type of spray foam used in the 70’s and 80’s that is no longer used in residential applications due to ____ ____ of ____. It is no longer a health concern since the ____ ____has already subsided over time.
Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation
off gassing of formaldehyde
off gassing
Insulation should be in contact with any ____ ____ to a conditioned space including the ____ ____, ____ ____, or ____ ____.
air barrier
wall covering
attic floor
floor sheathing
____ should be installed at ventilation openings to prevent insulation from ____ the openings.
baffles
blocking
Insulation should be ____ to fit around obstructions or to fit in ____ between studs or joists that are not the same size. Insulation should never be ____ to fit in these areas.
cut
spaces/cavities
compressed
Insulation should not contact ____ ____ ____ that are not listed for insulation contact. Examples include ____ ____, ____, and ____ ____.
heat generating components
appliance vents
chimneys
recessed lights
____ ____ vapor retarder should not be exposed. It is a fire hazard. Vapor retarders also should not be installed facing ____ ____.
Kraft paper
unconditioned space
Do not install ____ vapor retarders, or any at all unless prescribed. Exposed vapor retarders such as foam plastic may be a ____ ____.
multiple
fire hazard
A ____ ____ ____ or ____ is required under all exterior wall cladding in new homes.
water resistive barrier or WRB
Older homes may have ____ ____ ____ ____ (also called _____) or ____ ____ ____ to serve as a WRB.
asphalt saturated Kraft paper
grade D
asphalt saturated felt
All WRB’s, including ____ ____, ____ ____, and ____, should have horizontal seams lapped top over bottom at least ___ inches, and vertical seams lapped at least ___ inches.
house wrap, tar/asphalt paper, felt
2”
6”
____ ____ are not insulation and provide no R-value. They simply block infrared radiation so that it doesn’t enter the attic. It is usually a ____ ____ and works best when there is an ____ ____ between it and the surface above.
Radiant barriers
reflective foil
air space/gap
_____ deals with heat loss that occurs at openings such as doors and windows. These areas require ____ and ____ to reduce water and air infiltration.
fenestration
flashing and air sealing
New air sealing standards often cause new homes to require ____ ____ ____ ____. This may be achieved through ____ or ____ ventilation.
whole house mechanical ventilation
intermittent or continuous
Intermittent whole house ventilation is usually achieved through a combination of connecting an ____ ____ ____ to the HVAC return and use of ____ ____ systems, such as in bathrooms and kitchens.
outside air duct
local exhaust
When an outside air duct is installed in an HVAC return, an ____ ____ is required to close the system when HVAC is not operating.
automatic damper
Continuous mechanical ventilation is achieved by using a ____ ____ ____ ____ (____) or ____ ____ ____ ____ (____). These systems can also be intermittent.
Heat Recovery Ventilation Systems
HRV
Energy Recovery Ventilation System ERV
During the heating seasons, ERV’s and HRV’s transfer some of the ____ from ____ ___ to the ____ ____ entering the home.
heat from exhaust air
ventilation air
During cooling seasons, ERV’s and HRV’s transfer some to the ____ from ventilation air ____ ____ ____ into the ____ ____ leaving the home.
heat
entering the home
exhaust air
HRV’s only transfer ____ between incoming supply and outgoing exhaust air, while ERV’s transfer both ____ and ____, the latter of which has the added benefit of reducing the ____ ____ on the air conditioning system.
heat
heat and moisture
latent load
____ ____ ventilation systems operate independently from the HVAC system.
fully ducted
____ ____ ventilation systems use exhaust ducts such as those in bathrooms/kitchens to remove pollutants and provides ventilation air through the HVAC return duct.
partially ducted
____ ____ ventilation systems draws pollutants through the HVAC return duct and then provides ventilation air further downstream in the HVAC return duct.
simplified ducted
____ may be installed in any climate, however are recommended for cold climates. ____ are recommended for mild climates and not cold climates.
HRV’s
ERV’s
Mechanical air intake openings should be at least ___ ft horizontally or ___ ft below a chimney, fuel burning appliance vent, plumbing vent, or exhaust termination, and ___ ft from the HRV/ERV exhaust termination.
10’
3’
6’
Exterior exhaust openings should be at least ___ ft from a door, operable window, or property line. They should also be at least ___ ft horizontally or ___ ft above and a minimum ____ ft away from mechanical air intake openings.
3’
10’
3’
6’
Exterior ventilation openings should be protected by a ____, ____, or ____.
screen, louvers, or grille
Air intake for mechanical exhaust should have a ____ which must be ____ ____, as should the ____ ____ ____.
filter
maintained regularly
heat exchanger core
A ____ ____ ____ is installed in the ceiling and traditionally, when activated ____ in the ceiling will open and it will pull air through open windows and exhaust air into the attic. Newer styles exhaust the air through an opening in the ____ or ____ ____ and use ____ to pull air from an opening in the ceiling.
whole house fan
louvers
roof or gable wall
ducts
Whole house fans are effective in ____ and ____ climates and less effective in ____ and ____ climates.
cool and dry
warm and humid
Whole house fans should not be used when a ____ ____ draws ____ air from inside the house. They should not be installed in homes in which the attic may have ____ containing substances such as ____ ____ or any other toxic substance.
combustion appliance
combustion
asbestos
vermiculite insulation
Whole house fans that exhaust into the attic should have ____ ____. This usually requires the attic to have a ratio of ___ sq ft of net free ventilation area per ___ cubic ft per minute of fan air flow.
sufficient ventilation
1 sq ft
750 cu ft
____ ____ ____ include those for the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry and clothes dryer. These should not be referred to of as ____, which refers to plumbing and fuel fired appliances.
Local exhaust systems
vents
All air intake and exhaust terminations should have a ____ which should have openings between ___ and ___. It should also have a ____ that automatically closes when the system is not operating. If connected to HVAC, it should have a ____. Most of these requirements do not apply to ____ ____.
screen
1/4” and 1/2”
damper
filter
clothes dryers
Clothes dryer exhaust ducts should be ___ inches in diameter, ___ gauge, and made of smooth wall ____. A ____ is not allowed. Ducts sections should be installed so the the small end inserts into the larger end in the ____ ____ ____. Sections should be fastened with rivets or ____ ____ not longer than ___ inch.
4”
28 ga
metal
screen
direction of flow
metal screws
1/8”
Clothes dryer exhaust duct should be supported every ___ ft or ___ ft for gas dryers. Total developed length should not exceed ___ ft. In calculating developed length you must add ___ ft for 90° bends and ___ ft for 45° bends to the length of the straight sections. This does not include the length of the ____ ____, which may be up to ___ ft in length.
12’
4’
35’
5’
2.5’
transition duct
8’
Transition duct is the ____ ____ between clothes dryer and ____ ____. It may not be more than ___ ft long and should be as ___ as possible to achieve its purpose. It may not pass through ____, ____, or ____ and may not be ____.
flexible duct
exhaust duct
8’
short
walls, ceilings, floors
concealed
Clothes dryers and ____ ____ are out of scope of home inspections, however the ____ ____ is not and some inspectors may comment on the ____ ____ as well.
transition duct
exhaust duct
transition duct
____ ____ located in a closet should be provided an ____ of at least 100 sq in to provide makeup ____.
gas dryers
opening
air
Clothes dryer exhaust ducts should terminate to the ____not in ____ or ____ ____.
exterior
attics
crawl space
Clothes dryer exhaust ducts should not terminate within ___ ft of a condenser.
3’
An ____ ____ is not required in a kitchen, however if installed it should duct to the outdoors unless ____ ____ ____ is provided or there is an ____ ____ nearby.
exhaust fan
whole house ventilation
operable window
Kitchen exhaust fans should operate at a rate of at least ___ cu ft per minute, and makeup air is required if the rate exceeds ___ cu ft per minute and there is a gas, liquid, or solid ____ ____ ____ inside the home. Exceptions exist for ____ vented and ____ draft appliances.
100
400
fuel burning appliance
direct
mechanical
Kitchen exhaust ducts above ground should be made of ____ ____ ____ with a ____ ____ surface. Approved materials are _____, _____, and _____.
single wall metal
smooth interior
galvanized steel, stainless steel, copper
Kitchen exhaust ducts should be equipped with a ____ and a ____ ____.
damper
grease filter
Local exhaust fans are required in _____ if unless there is whole house mechanical ventilation or the room has an operable window. The fan should operate at a rate of at least ___ cu ft per minute when operated by switch
bathrooms
50
Bathroom exhaust fans should be exhausted to the ____, however this is a new requirement and ____ homes that are exhausted elsewhere are not necessarily deficient.
exterior
older
Bathroom exhaust should not be connected to _____ ____ or other ____.
plumbing vent
systems
Adequate _____ is required in roof structures with or without an accessible attic. This includes ____ ceilings, ____ ____ roofs, and attics above ____ ____. The alternative to this requirement is to ____ the attic area and have it become a ____ ____.
ventilation
vaulted
low slope
unconditioned spaces
seal
conditioned space
Attic ventilation prevents ____ ____ during ____, helps to remove ____ ____, and reduces attic ____ during ____.
ice dams during winter
water vapor
temperature during summer
Ridge ventilation openings should not be installed with ____ ventilation openings, as these are competing systems. Instead, ridge vents should be paired with ____ ventilation openings.
gable
eave
Recessed lights should be ____ ____ and rated for ____ ____ in order to maintain a proper seal and insulation between attic and conditioned space.
air sealed
insulation contact
The default attic ventilation area requirement is ___ sq ft of net free area for ____ sq ft of attic floor area. This is reduced to ___ sq ft per ___ sq ft floor area in attics using prescribed ratio of ridge and eave openings.
1
150
1
300
Screens covering ventilation openings should have a maximum opening size of ___ inch. Screens reduce opening area by at least ___ %. Louvers or grilles reduce by at least ___%.
1/4”
25%
50%
Ridge openings should account for ___ to ___% of attic vent opening area with the remainder at the eaves. Ridge vents should be located at the ____ but may be located no more than ____ feet below the ridge.
40-50%
ridge
3’
____ should be installed at the eaves or in any roof structure in which insulation may block ventilation air flow. At least a ___ inch space for air flow is required.
baffles
1”
____ or ____ percentage of ridge vent openings to eave openings will create neutral or slightly pressurized attic, which helps reduce air leakage from the ____ ____.
equal or smaller
conditioned space
____ should be installed in vaulted ceilings, and those with skylights should have a method of continuous ventilation such as ____ ____ above and below the skylight or ____ the trimmer rafters on each side.
Baffles
ventilation openings
notching
____ ____ around skylights and recessed lighting in vaulted ceilings could be a sign of ____ caused by poor ventilation. The inspector should recommend evaluation by both a ____ and ____ contractor.
moisture/water staining
condensation
roofing and insulation
____ ____ are allowed, however they do not vent well and are subject to water intrusion.
gable vents
A ____ ____ is conditioned space even if there are no HVAC openings inside. ____ and ____ ____ should be installed above or below the roof sheathing, and at gable walls the same as in walls and ceilings in other conditioned spaces of the house.
closed attic
insulation
vapor retarders
Essential details and improper installations of insulation and vapor retarders in closed attic systems may ____ ____ ____ and inspectors should report this ____ and recommend ____.
not be visible
limitation
evaluation
Inspectors should confirm that some form of ____ exists under most roof coverings in closed attic systems or ____ that it could not be ____.
ventilation
report
confirmed
A ____ ____ ____ should not be installed on the attic floor or at the ceiling above a closed attic space.
Class I Vapor retarder
In cold climates, air impermeable insulation should be a ____ ____ ____ or should have ____ ____ ____ applied to attic ceiling side of the insulation.
class II vapor retarder
class III Vapor retarder
When air-permeable insulation is used in closed attics in climate zones 1, 2, and 3 a ____ ____ ____ is required. Lack of this is a reportable defect, even in older homes since it can result in long term ____ problems in the attic
Vapor diffusion port
condensation
Crawl spaces should be either ____ or ____ and inspectors should verify if either is done adequately and if ____ the inspector should advise the client of problems that could arise.
ventilated or closed
ventilated
Crawl space net free ventilation area may be reduced to ___ sq ft per ___ sq ft of crawl space floor if a ____ ____ ____ is applied to the crawl space floor.
1
1500
Class I Vapor retarder
It is recommended that most crawl spaces should be ____, except in ____ prone areas.
closed
flood
The floor of a closed crawl space should have a vapor retarder installed with a minimum thickness of ___ mil, with seams lapped at least ___ inches, which should be ____ or ____ and turned up the crawl space ____ and ____ and ____ there as well. If radon mitigation is required, it should be installed ____ the vapor retarder.
6
6”
taped or sealed
walls and piers
sealed
below/before
Closed crawl spaces should be provided with ____ ____ at a rate of ___ cu ft per minute per ___ sq ft of crawl space floor. This may be provided by a ____ ____ ____ that exhausts to the ____ or by providing ____ ____ to the crawl space.
ventilation air
1
50
continuously operating fan
exterior
conditioned air
Conditioned crawl spaces require a ____ ____ ____ to the house interior or some other ____ to the house interior that should be covered by a ____. This component serves to equalize pressures but should not be connected to the ____ ____ ____.
pressure relief duct
opening
grille
HVAC return duct
Crawl space walls, including framed walls and ____ ____ or ____ ____ should be ____ on either inside or outside of the wall. Access doors should be ____ ____ and ____ the same as other exterior doors. A ____ ____ in the insulation of about ____ inches is required in termite prone areas for termite tubes to be seen.
band joists or rim joists
insulated
weather stripped and insulated
small gap
2-3”
Although still used by some contractors, ____ ____ with ____ ____ insulation is no longer a recommended method to insulate concrete or masonry foundation walls in any climate.
stud walls with fiberglass batt
The current recommended method for insulating foundation walls is ____ ____ ____ on the ____ or ____ of the wall. New construction should utilize the ____ ____, since this can be integrated with the ____ system. Retrofitted homes will likely utilize the ____ wall and may use ____ ____ or ____ ____, the latter a better option since ____ ____ will not be necessary.
vapor impermeable insulation
interior or exterior
exterior wall
WRB (water resistive barrier)
interior
sheet insulation or spray foam
sealing seams
A basement should not be insulated and finished unless there is reasonable certainty that all ____ ____ ____ has been stopped. Any problems with ____, ____, ____, and ____ ____ should be addressed first.
liquid water intrusion
grading, drainage, gutters, and landscape irrigation
When inspecting finished basements, inspectors should report all evidence of ____ stains and ____ growth, ____, ____ smells, presence of ____, and stained or loose ____ ____.
water stains and fungal growth
Rust (drywall and trim nails, exposed metal)
Musty smells
dehumidifier
Stained/loose floor coverings
When inspecting finished basements, inspectors should disclaim inspection of ____ ____, such as framing or exterior components, and recommend further ____ and possible ____ testing, which is out of scope for home inspections. Clients should be advised that all basements ____ ____ ____.
concealed components
evaluation
destructive
will eventually leak
