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    Combustion air rules: interior closet water heater. 304.6.2 One-permanent-opening method. Why Top Vent?

    I didn't have time to read all replies... This might have been mentioned already... I have noticed a few gas equipment manufacturers require venting as per NFPA31 even though that's geared for oil... Did you look in the installation instructions ?
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    Definition of Compressed Insulation

    Yes, again Bill nails it with less lol... For those who skim posts or are afflicted with the building science bug.... Generally more is better, but the entire cavity needs to have something. Popular in my area is flash and batt install, where 2" of closed cell (R6.2 per inch unless the...
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    Habitable Attic Area Calculation

    My take, I would argue floor area is the entire floor below as the code didn't state habitable area below. Its reasonable to suggest that a "floor" encompases the entirety of all floors for the story below regardless of it being habitable. Im unsure of the inset balcony but it sounds like it...
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    Definition of Compressed Insulation

    Correct, as mentioned there has to be something taking the place of the compression (as in more fiberglass) for the overall cavity r value to be above what you might expect... If I attached the correct document (again on a mobil) ... R49 at full fuff (Uncompressed) needs 14" Compressed down...
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    Definition of Compressed Insulation

    Tmurray hit the nail on the head... Compressed insulation is sorely misunderstood. Compressed is where the cavity to be filled now has nothing for any debth more than the staple flange of kraft facing and where the side of the framing is exposed. Whats fooling most is when a bat Compressed to...
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    2021 IRC Insulation

    Never once seen a firefighter in an attic, typically I see the ceiling sheetrock pulled down to the floor ! As far a loss goes, your right! One day windows will be a flat screen LCD! with a camera view to outside... My gut kick thinking is except for messing with the boundary layer, altering...
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    Heads up on maintaining gas/oil heating equipment....

    Its amazing to me that anyone should complain when asked to do the work they signed up for to begin with. It takes literally 5 min to verify a system is running correctly. Without the testing equipment you simply cannot tell. The CEO who retired just after I was hired told me a story of...
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    Heads up on maintaining gas/oil heating equipment....

    I started typing this as a question, wondering who else might check but instead rewrote as a heads up.. That said if you want to add to this, please reply.. In a previous life I installed many oil and gas boilers. I always commissioned the equipment as per manuf. install instructions... In a...
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    2021 IRC Insulation

    From a building science perspective, any only my opinion going from 49 to 60 is worth so little BTU wise... U x A x Dt =BTU loss per hour. (U = 1/R, Dt= Winter design temp- indoor heating temp) So not including framing losses, 1000 Sq Ft at an R49 with say a 55 deg temp difference equals 1,122...
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    Basement floor insulation HELP

    As Bill1952 wrote and a great idea Cork may be your best bet. The warm feeling your looking for more than likely couldn't be had by any tile, or vinyl product even if there was substantial insulation under. The materials typically used simply feel cold even when at room temp... Something you...
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    Ekotrope VS ResCheck

    One word of caution. A HERS index could be given to a 100 year old home. Just because it has a home energy rating certificate does NOT mean state or iecc code has been met. Additionally the hers Index for the area could be met with prescriptive measures not being verified. Things like building...
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    Ekotrope VS ResCheck

    Understood, and almost exactly what the ERI path speaks about, which Res-Check could never calculate. The refrence to state acceptance was simply to say its no fly by night software.
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    Ekotrope VS ResCheck

    It has been approved by Resnet and the state i work in NY for use.
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    2021 IECC Mechanical Ventilation Testing Requirement

    Have to say that i see 90% of the houses without actual ventilation. Sure, there is a report by some 3rd party somewhere saying it is in the house, when in reality it was never verified. Years back our towns adoped energy star v2. Now that that program has been sunseted years ago most require a...
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    Insulation question

    Yea, I get it. Its a tough one to grab a hold of. The difference is with the two words, Controlled Vs Uncontrolled. The Energy code (and Building Science) is suggesting that infiltration witch is uncontrolled is bad. If its not controlled, the amount of infiltration, and when it happens is...
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    Insulation question

    Liquid water a problem for sure. Water vapor another issue, it often rains and becomes liquid, inside a wall.. Vapor profile (in or out) is the key. A reservoir, something that prevents movement of water (liquid or vapor) is what knuckleheads build in the name of energy code all the time. Its...
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    Insulation question

    If you have been part of the latest energy code trainings, you would have heard the speaker talking about insulation grading. While its not in our code books, it is by refrence with the HERS ERI path. Grade 1 fiberglass can be achieved by side staples. Alway has been able to. For those who say...
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    ACCA approved software

    Depending on the software used, various reports will show components used in the model. I cant remember the exact name of the report in elite, and will respond here later, but it has all of the component with values that can easily be compaired to Res-Check... As far as manual S goes, some hvac...
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    ACCA approved software

    Bingo. You hit the nail on the head. And the info input can and does vary greatly. I know for a fact that the so called experts (not unlike the ones you mention) are experts at gaming the input, to intentionally affect the results.... And yes, what too look for can be like deciphering a new...
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    Less insulation in a semi-conditioned space?

    Res-Check is for when the UA alternative or trade off path is being used. Prescriptive does not need a Res Check to prove compliance as its already complaint. If the lower than normal insulation and areas are entered in Res-Check (regardless of indoor design) and the overall UA is better, the...
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    ACCA approved software

    (Very toung in cheek) May be someone is sipping the cool aid ? But for blinders, Have you sat with the Author of Manual J8th ? have you seen the math behind what goes into it ? have you been trained by the author of Manual J ? I have. What I know about the entirety of code is in my opinion...
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    Basement floor insulation HELP

    Im almost positive slab insulation ( under basement floor) when below grade is only needed if its a heated slab. The values you mention are for slabs on grade. R10 would be needed for 2' (horizontally or vertically) and 4' is required for zone 6 heat loss is dependent on temperature...
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    ACCA approved software

    Nope. no way. Manual J is the code...
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    cold spots around openings

    Forgot to add, the material used to trim the windows, what its painted with could have a different emisivity and look different as well! Get some old fashioned masking tape, apply to both surfaces and image the tape to have all equaled out... While im at it, these images should be taken well...
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    cold spots around openings

    Can your thermographer look at the image on his computer and give you the surface temperature of the area your interested in and compare to something nearby ? Most thermal imaging cameras save additional data actually in the image so a simple mouse over in the software provided by the camera...
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