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Commercial building with wood trusses with ceiling grid below – hot/humid environment

ayersmb

Registered User
Joined
Feb 24, 2021
Messages
2
Location
NC
If the decision is made to utilize a vented attic with insulation installed between the trusses, is a membrane on the underside of the truss required or recommended? Below the trusses will be an acoustic ceiling grid. The IBC construction type is V-B, so a rated roof with a rated membrane is not required. If a membrane is not installed, what are the side-effects? What membranes could be used besides GWB? Tyvek?
 
IECC 402.5.1 requires an air barrier. I have seen foil-faced batt insulation with a flame spread of 25 or less used (IBC 720). It should be stapled to the bottom of the joists with flanges overlapped, and seams will probably have to be taped for air leakage.
 
foil faced batt insulation is not an "air barrier" approved material
C402.5.1.2 Air barrier compliance options.
A continuous air barrier for the opaque building envelope shall comply with Section C402.5.1.2.1 or C402.5.1.2.2.

C402.5.1.2.1 Materials.
Materials with an air permeability not greater than 0.004 cfm/ft2 (0.02 L/s • m2) under a pressure differential of 0.3 inch water gauge (75 Pa) when tested in accordance with ASTM E2178 shall comply with this section. Materials in Items 1 through 16 shall be deemed to comply with this section, provided that joints are sealed and materials are installed as air barriers in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

1. Plywood with a thickness of not less than 3/8 inch (10 mm).

2. Oriented strand board having a thickness of not less than 3/8 inch (10 mm).

3. Extruded polystyrene insulation board having a thickness of not less than 1/2 inch (12.7 mm).

4. Foil-back polyisocyanurate insulation board having a thickness of not less than 1/2 inch (12.7 mm).

5. Closed-cell spray foam having a minimum density of 1.5 pcf (2.4 kg/m3) and having a thickness of not less than 11/2 inches (38 mm).

6. Open-cell spray foam with a density between 0.4 and 1.5 pcf (0.6 and 2.4 kg/m3) and having a thickness of not less than 4.5 inches (113 mm).

7. Exterior or interior gypsum board having a thickness of not less than 1/2 inch (12.7 mm).

8. Cement board having a thickness of not less than 1/2 inch (12.7 mm).

9. Built-up roofing membrane.

10. Modified bituminous roof membrane.

11. Fully adhered single-ply roof membrane.

12. A Portland cement/sand parge, or gypsum plaster having a thickness of not less than 5/8 inch (15.9 mm).

13. Cast-in-place and precast concrete.

14. Fully grouted concrete block masonry.

15. Sheet steel or aluminum.

16. Solid or hollow masonry constructed of clay or shale masonry units.
 
Thanks - I landed on the IECC as requiring something more than just a flexible membrane.
 
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