Specifications

2008 Residential Appendices RA3-30
Appendix RA3 – Residential Field Verification and Diagnostic Test Protocols
• Walls of interior closets for HVAC and/or water heating equipment, which require combustion air
venting, shall be insulated to the same R-value as the exterior walls.
RA3.5.4.3.6 Loose Fill Wall Insulation
•
Wall stud cavities shall be caulked or foamed to provide a substantially air-tight envelope to the
outdoors, attic, garage and crawl space. Special attention shall be paid to plumbing and wiring
penetrations through the top plates, electrical boxes that penetrate the sheathing, and the sheathing
seal to the bottom plate. All gaps in the air barrier greater then 1/8 inch shall be caulked, or sealed
with expansive or minimally expansive foam.
• Installation shall uniformly fill the cavity side-to-side, top-to-bottom, and front-to-back.
• Loose fill insulation shall be installed to fill the cavity and be in contact with the sheathing on the back
and the wallboard on the front - no gaps or voids.
• Loose fill wall insulation shall be installed to fit around wiring, plumbing, and other obstructions.
• The installer shall certify on the Installation Certificate forms that the manufacturer's minimum weight-
per-square-foot requirement has been met.
RA3.5.5 Ceiling and Roof Insulation
RA3.5.5.1 Batt Insulation
RA3.5.5.1.1 General Requirements
•
Batts shall be correctly sized to fit snugly at the sides and ends.
• Batts shall be installed so that they will be in contact with the air barrier.
• Where necessary, batts shall be cut to fit properly - there shall be no gaps, nor shall the insulation be
doubled-over or compressed.
• When batts are cut to fit a non-standard cavity, they shall be snuggly fitted to fill the cavity without
excessive compression.
• Batts shall be cut to butt-fit around wiring and plumbing, or be split (delaminated) so that one layer
can fit behind the wiring or plumbing, and one layer fit in front.
• For batts that are taller than the trusses, full-width batts shall be used so that they expand to touch
each other over the trusses.
• Hard covers or draft stops shall be placed over all drop ceiling areas and interior wall cavities to keep
insulation in place and stop air movement. If hard covers or draft stops are missing or incomplete,
they shall be completed before insulation is installed.
• Required eave ventilation shall not be obstructed - the net free-ventilation area of the eave vent shall
be maintained.
• Eave vent baffles shall be installed to prevent air movement under or into the batt.
• Insulation shall cover all recessed lighting fixtures. If the fixtures are not rated for insulation cover (IC)
and air tight, the fixtures shall be replaced.
• All recessed light fixtures that penetrate the ceiling shall be IC and air tight rated and shall be sealed
with a gasket or caulk between the housing and the ceiling.
RA3.5.5.1.2 Special Situations
RA3.5.5.1.2.1 Rafter Ceilings
•
An air space shall be maintained between the insulation and roof sheathing if required by California
Building Code section 1203.2.