Specifications

2008 Residential Appendices RA3-31
Appendix RA3 – Residential Field Verification and Diagnostic Test Protocols
• Facings and insulation shall be kept away from combustion appliance flues in accordance with flue
manufacturers' installation instructions or labels on the flue.
RA3.5.5.1.2.2 HVAC Platform
•
Appropriate batt insulation shall be placed below any plywood platform or cat-walks for HVAC
equipment installation and access.
• Batts shall be installed so that they will be in contact with the air barrier.
RA3.5.5.1.2.3 Attic Access
•
Permanently attach rigid foam or batt insulation with the appropriate R-value to the access door using
adhesive or mechanical fastener. The bottom of the attic access shall be gasketed to prevent air
movement.
RA3.5.5.2 Loose-Fill Ceiling Insulation
RA3.5.5.2.1.1
General Requirements
•
Baffles shall be placed at eaves or soffit vents to keep insulation from blocking eave ventilation. The
required net free-ventilation shall be maintained.
• Eave vent baffles shall be installed to prevent air movement under or into the loose-fill insulation
• 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 or the entire drop area shall be filled with loose-
fill insulation level with the rest of the attic.
• Attic rulers appropriate to the material installed shall be evenly distributed throughout the attic to
verify depth: one ruler for every 250 square feet and clearly readable from the attic access. The
rulers shall be scaled to read inches of insulation and the R-value installed.
• Insulation shall be applied underneath and on both sides of obstructions such as cross-bracing and
wiring.
• Insulation shall be applied all the way to the outer edge of the wall top plate.
• Insulation shall cover 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.
• Insulation shall be kept away from combustion appliance flues in accordance with flue manufacturer's
installation instructions or labels on the flue.
• Insulation shall be blown to a uniform thickness throughout the attic with all areas meeting or
exceeding the insulation manufacturer's minimum requirements for depth and weight-per-square-foot.
• The installer shall certify on the Installation Certificate forms that the manufacturer's minimum weight-
per-square-foot requirement has been met.
• The HERS rater shall verify that the manufacturer's minimum weight-per-square-foot requirement has
been met for attics insulated with loose-fill mineral-fiber insulation. Verification shall be determined
using the methods of the Insulation Contractor’s Association of America (ICAA) Technical Bulletin #17
except that only one sample shall be taken in the area that appears to have the least amount of
insulation. The rater shall record the weight-per-square-foot of the sample on the Certificate of Field
Verification and Diagnostic Testing (CF-6R).
• The HERS rater shall verify that the manufacturer’s minimum insulation thickness has been installed.
For cellulose insulation this verification shall take into account the time that has elapsed since the
insulation was installed. At the time of installation, the insulation shall be greater than or equal to the