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Air Leakage | Residential | Contractors


Summary
Air leakage is the movement of unconditioned air into and out of
QUICK FACTS
conditioned spaces. It applies to any holes, cracks or gaps in the
building envelope. It is important to control air movement in build- Air Leakage – CH 4. Section 402.4 2009 IECC
ings because research indicates that air leakage can cause huge en-
Detailed leakage points can be found in the
ergy losses, accounting for upwards of 30% of a home’s energy use.
EPA’s “Thermal Bypass Checklist”
Current Code
Mandatory for all climate zones
The 2009 IECC covers air leakage in Section 402.4.
Contractors/sub-contractors must demonstrate
Previous Code proper insulation around the building envelope
The 2009 IECC code improved requirements for air leakage control by
Detailed information can be found at:
mandating compliance with either a “visual inspection option” or a
“testing option.” The 2006 IECC made some minor improvements Critical areas for air leakage control
over the 2003 version, such as clarifying the rather ambiguous lan-
Air Sealing Checklist
guage regarding which areas required sealing and adding provisions
for recessed lighting and sealed dampers for ventilation equipment Common Household Air Leaks
(bath and kitchen fans, primarily).
Primary building design mechanism for reduc-
Exemptions ing air leakage; establishing air barriers
Requirements covered in the 2009 IECC Section 402.4 are mandatory Air leakage paths
for all climate zones.
Requirements
Contractors and sub-contractors must be aware of the requirements
covered in the 2009 IECC and ensure that:
Correct insulation is used to prevent air leakage around the build-
ing envelope
They are aware of the “Thermal Bypass Checklist”
There is caulking around all windows, skylights and doors
They check all bypasses into unconditioned spaces, such as attic
hatches, stairwells, recessed lighting fixtures, and around bath-
tub enclosures, all of which are notorious for air leakage
Typical Problems
Standard issues/concerns that arise include:
Contractor/sub-contractor closing off an area yet to be checked
Figure 1: Common Leak Points
Not sealing where different building features meet

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