ryan81
Member
Hello Everyone,
I may be overthinking this....
We are designing a wood framed commercial building in climate zone 5. Because of the spans over storefront openings, we have wide flange headers supported by 4x4x1/4 tubes at the jambs of the openings. The steel structure is centered within the 2x6 stud wall cavity resulting in a 3/4" space between the steel columns and the exterior sheathing. The flanges of the headers, however are 5 1/2" wide, thus filling the entire width of cavity space and touching the exterior sheathing.
The 3/4" space between the HSS column and the exterior wall sheathing could be spray-foam insulated to provide at least some thermal resistance. The space between the web of the wide flange and the wall sheathing can be insulated, however, with the edges of the flanges touching the back of the sheathing there will not be any opportunity to insulate at those points.
Currently, the building is designed with continuous insulation, however, the Owner would like to cut costs and eliminate it. The 2012 IECC does not require continuous insulation in climate zone 5 when providing R-20 Batt insultation in the wood stud cavities. Is anyone aware of a provision in the energy code that would require continuous insulation upon introducing steel structure inside that wood-framed stud wall?
Any reasonable concerns with condensation where the flanges of the wide flange headers will be non-insulated and in contact with the wall sheathing?
Thank you all in advance for your thoughts.
- Ryan
I may be overthinking this....
We are designing a wood framed commercial building in climate zone 5. Because of the spans over storefront openings, we have wide flange headers supported by 4x4x1/4 tubes at the jambs of the openings. The steel structure is centered within the 2x6 stud wall cavity resulting in a 3/4" space between the steel columns and the exterior sheathing. The flanges of the headers, however are 5 1/2" wide, thus filling the entire width of cavity space and touching the exterior sheathing.
The 3/4" space between the HSS column and the exterior wall sheathing could be spray-foam insulated to provide at least some thermal resistance. The space between the web of the wide flange and the wall sheathing can be insulated, however, with the edges of the flanges touching the back of the sheathing there will not be any opportunity to insulate at those points.
Currently, the building is designed with continuous insulation, however, the Owner would like to cut costs and eliminate it. The 2012 IECC does not require continuous insulation in climate zone 5 when providing R-20 Batt insultation in the wood stud cavities. Is anyone aware of a provision in the energy code that would require continuous insulation upon introducing steel structure inside that wood-framed stud wall?
Any reasonable concerns with condensation where the flanges of the wide flange headers will be non-insulated and in contact with the wall sheathing?
Thank you all in advance for your thoughts.
- Ryan
