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Door requirements between conditioned and unconditioned space

Dave Conner

REGISTERED
Joined
Feb 19, 2019
Messages
1
Location
Westwood Massachusetts
Hi,
I wanted to find out what the code requirements are for a door between a kitchen and a stairwell that leads to an unconditioned basement. During our renovation the inspector requested that an exterior door be installed to separate our kitchen from the basement stairs leading to an unconditioned basement. I haven't had the opportunity yet to speak with the inspector directly and the contractor on site during the inspection did not provide the explanation. I am concerned about the appearance of a standard prehung exterior door and the possibility that a threshold might be a tripping hazard at the top of the stairs. We did intend to install a door.

Thank you
 
It depends on a multitude of thing...Where in the world are you and what code do you use being the basics...

N1102.2.4 (R402.2.4) Access hatches and doors. Access
doors from conditioned spaces to unconditioned spaces
such as attics and crawl spaces shall be weatherstripped
and insulated to a level equivalent to the insulation on the
surrounding surfaces. Access shall be provided to all
equipment that prevents damaging or compressing the
insulation. A wood-framed or equivalent baffle or retainer
is required to be provided when loose-fill insulation is
installed, the purpose of which is to prevent the loose-fill
insulation from spilling into the living space when the attic
access is opened, and to provide a permanent means of
maintaining the installed R-value of the loose-fill insulation.

N1102.3.4 (R402.3.4) Opaque door exemption. One sidehinged
opaque door assembly up to 24 square feet (2.22
m2) in area is exempted from the U-factor requirement in
Section N1102.1.2. This exemption shall not apply to the
U-factor alternative approach in Section N1102.1.4 and the
total UA alternative in Section N1102.1.5.
 
yes, need more info;
- is this a residential or a non-residential project?
- what part of the world is this project, at least which state.
 
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