Attic access panels serve as an important safety and convenience feature in the home.
Building science attic access.
A vented attic works in hot cli mates mixed climates and cold climates.
The minimum size for an attic s access.
Even attic hatches that are insulated can still be problem areas in the attic.
So i ll start by saying something that might sound controversial but really isn t.
Adding insulation alone does not save much energy and can lead to health and durability problems.
It works in the arctic and in the.
Throughout the balance of this digest the terms attic and roof will and can be used interchangeably.
Attics should be air sealed prior to adding insulation.
A vented attic where insulation is placed on an air sealed attic floor is one of the most underappreciated building assemblies that we have in the history of building science.
The science behind attic ventilation however is sound.
Building codes vary.
Building science fundamentals see all events a building science consulting and full service architecture firm specializing in building technology for all types of buildings including commercial institutional and residential.
A vented attic where insulation is placed on an air sealed attic floor is one of the most underappreciated building assemblies that we have in the history of building science.
The general rule of thumb suggests installing at least 1 sq.
This means if you ve installed r 38 insulation in your entire attic and forgot the hatch the result is the same as if you insulated the attic and the hatch with just r 17.
We see it as an area of professional practice that integrates building physics with the art of design and the.
These openings not only allow mechanical and electrical contractors to.
A 10 square foot hatch in a 100sf attic can halve the effective value of the attic insulation.
The rdh difference for us building science underpins everything that we do.
The intent of this guide is to provide information for the preparation work necessary prior to adding attic insulation.
It s hard to screw up this approach.
So much information has been devoted to the subject of roof venting that it s easy to become confused and to lose focus.
For over 20 years rdh has continued to lead change in making buildings better through the integration of science design and construction expertise.
As such there is no energy benefit to vent an attic in a hot humid climate but there is alarge moisture penalty due to the moisture being brought into the attic by venting the attic.
