A Builder’s Guide to Residential Foundation · PDF fileA Builder’s Guide to Residential Foundation Insulation 111,000Btu NorthwestKansas (Goodland) ... Foundation Design Handbook

A Builder’s Guideto

ResidentialFoundation

Insulation

111,000 Btu

Northwest Kansas(Goodland)

97,000 Btu

Central Kansas(Liberal to Kansas City)

76,000 Btu

Southeast Kansas(Parsons)

Heat Loss/Lineal Foot/Year(conditioned basement)

3%

3%

4%

5%

7%

9%

16%

54%

8 ft.

7 ft.

6 ft.

5 ft.

4 ft.

3 ft.

2 ft.

1 ft.

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Basement Heat Loss

Uninsulated Foundations Loose a Lot of Energy

Slab-on-Grade

Foundation InsulationAnnual Energy Costs Savings

$0.00 $0.50 $1.00 $1.50 $2.00 $2.50 $3.00

3

2

1

3

2

1

3

2

1

Cli

ma

teZ

on

e

$/Lineal Foot/Year

Minimum R-value Preferred R-value

Crawl Space

Basement

Foundation Insulation Heating Cost Savings

Uninsulated Basement

Wall Condensation

484950

51525354

55565758

5960

64 66 68 70 72 74

Basement Air Temperature,oF

Gro

un

dT

emp

eratu

re,

oF

70 % Rh 80 % Rh

As little as R-2 insulation

can essentially eliminate

the risk of condensation

Foundations Insulation Cuts Moisture Problems

Basement air humidityincreases as a result humidoutdoor air and soilmoisture migration

Basement Condensation

Warm moist late Springand Summer air

67o

o63

o59

o56

Deeper soils remain coldfrom winter, coolinguninsulated basementwalls

Warm air flowing overcool wall condensesmoisture producingdamp basement

Water vapor in soilmigrates to warmer airif damp proofing orvapor retarder fail

Uninsulated Foundations Cause Condensation

A Builder’s Guide to

Residential Foundation Insulation

Prepared for:Kansas Corporation CommissionEnergy ProgramsSW Arrowhead RoadTopeka, Kansas 66604785-271-3349

Jim Ploger, Energy Program Manager

Prepared by:

Joseph E. King, AIACoriolis architecture energy

123 West 8th

StreetLawrence, Kansas 66044785-841-1906

Gene Meyer, PEEngineering Extension ServiceKansas State UniversityWard HallManhattan, Kansas 66506785-532-4994

Fall 1999

Disclaimer:This report was prepared by Coriolis and Kansas State University (KSU) as an

account of work sponsored by the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC).

Neither the KCC, Coriolis, nor KSU, nor any person acting on their behalf: a)

makes any warranty, express or implied, with respect to the use of any

information, apparatus, method, or process disclosed in this report or that such

use may not infringe privately owned rights; or b) assumes any liabilities with

respect to the use of, or damages resulting from the use of, any information,

apparatus, method, or process disclosed in this report or its appendices.

This material was prepared with the support of the U. S. Department of Energy

(DOE) Grant No. DE-FG48-97R802102. However, any opinions, findings,

conclusions, or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s)

and do not necessarily reflect the views of DOE.

Acknowlegements:

We greatly appreciate the support and encouragement of Jim Ploger, Director

of Energy Programs at the Kansas Corporation Commission, and Steve

Palomo of the U. S. Department of Energy’s Denver Regional Office.

Blown cellulose between furingstrips.

A wide variety of foam boards arewell suited to foundation insulation.

Glass and mineral fiber batts ofmany configurations can be usedon the interior of basement andcrawl space walls.

Foundation Insulation

Polystyrene foam held in place withduct tape and cap flashing untilbackfill is complete.

Fiberglass batts stapled to furringstuds.

Installation Methods

Wrapped batts are easily installedin crawl spaces.

P

CPrepainted sheet metal roll stockmatches siding, serves as termiteshield, and protects exterior foamfrom damage.

Stucco over rigid foam board.

Insulation Protection

Cement board nailed to plate

protects exterior foam from damage.

The Purpose of a Building’sFoundation

Vitruvius set forth building designguidelines in 1

stcentury B.C. Greece,

stating that “Durability will be assuredwhen foundations are carried down tothe solid ground and materials wiselyand liberally selected...,” a concept thatremains just as valid as we enter the 21

st

century.

Foundations connect a building to theground structurally, transferring theweight of the building to stable soil. Aproperly designed and constructedfoundation insures a building enduresseasonal changes in temperature andmoisture with little movement.Foundations also connect a building tothe ground thermally.

< The common statement that “soiltemperatures are constant and thereforebelow grade insulation is of little value”is not correct.

< Unless geothermal heat is present, theheat that comes from deep in the earth isinsignificant compared to the flow ofsolar energy at the junction of the air andthe ground.

< While the earth is often thought of as astable temperature mass, soiltemperatures at depths less than eightfeet vary considerably during the year.The graph above shows how soiltemperature varies with depth and seasonfrom both ground water and mean airtemperature which ranges from 56o innorthwest Kansas to 62o in the southeast.

A team of building scientists at OakRidge National Laboratory conducted acomprehensive investigation of theimpact of residential foundationinsulation practices. In The Building

Foundation Design Handbook thatresulted, they concluded, “anuninsulated basement may represent upto 50% of the heat loss in atightly-sealed house that is wellinsulated above grade.”

Kansas Residential EnergyDisclosure and the ModelEnergy Code

The Energy Policy Act of 1992 stronglyencouraged states to upgrade theirresidential building energy standards torequire efficiency levels at least equal tothe Model Energy Code. In response,the 1997 Kansas legislature required allnew homes have a disclosure formitemizing their energy performancefeatures, or stating the home complieswith the Model Energy Code (MEC).Compliance with MEC provides ahome buyer with assurance that thehome has an integrated set of energy

features meetingminimum stand-ards, and it almostalways requiresfoundation insula-tion. This guide isintended to providehome builders andhome buyers withconcise informationon available foun-dation insulationmaterials, installa-tion details andmethods, installa-tion costs, andbenefits.

FoundationBuilding Code Requirements

Several requirements of the widelyadopted CABO One and Two Family

Dwelling Code affect foundationinsulation:

< drains are required around all concreteand masonry foundations enclosinghabitable or usable space below grade,

< concrete foundation walls enclosingbasements must be dampproofed with abituminous material from the footing tograde,

< masonry foundation walls enclosingbasements must be parged with portlandcement prior to dampproofing,

< foundation walls of habitable roomsbelow grade must be waterproofed,

< exterior foundation insulation must beprotected from weathering, sunlight, andphysical abuse,

< all foam plastic exposed to the interiormust have a maximum flame spreadrating of 75 and a maximum smoke-developed rating of 450 (ASTM E-84)and shall be covered with a ½” gypsumwall board or equivalent thermal barrier.

These requirements and all other healthand safety requirements of codesadopted by local jurisdictions prevailover the MEC and any suggestions inthis guide.

Benefits of FoundationInsulation

Insulating a home’s foundation offersmany benefits.

< Foundation heat loss can be reducedsignificantly and space heating costs canbe reduced as much as 50% in anotherwise well insulated home.

< Insulation improves foundation moisturecontrol and indoor air quality. Insulationon either side of the wall results in awarmer interior surface, reducing thepotential for condensation and associatedmold growth that reduces indoor airquality and can cause material damage.

< Thewarmer surface also results in amorecomfortable space, not only in thebasement, but also the floor above.

< Exterior insulation provides protectionfor dampproofing or waterproofing,extending their life.

These benefits are evaluated in detail inthe following sections.

Foundation Heat Loss

Soil can hold a great deal of thermalenergy, particularly if damp, but it is nota good insulator. Depending on soiltype, 7 - 11 feet of soil would berequired to provide the same insulationas two inches of foam or three inches offiberglass insulation. Uninsulated

1


Soil Temperature Change with Depth and Season

basement walls loose the most heatwhere exposed to winter air abovegrade and at shallow depths where theground isoften frozen.

Floors abovecrawl spacescan beinsulated butare often notto preventpipes in thecrawl spacefrom freezing. Heat passing from thefloor into the crawl space is lost throughthe foundation wall similar to base-ments.

Slab-on-grade floorswick con-siderableheat to theexposedslab edgeoften result-ing in a coldfloor. Add-itional heatflows

through the soil beneath the slab andout the perimeter foundation. Actualfoundationheat lossvaries byclimatezone, soiltype andmoisturecontent, thetempera-ture maintained in the house and a hostof other subtle variables. The map

below shows three widely recognizedKansas climate zones.

The table below shows typical netannual heat loss, in Btu per lineal foot offoundation, for the three major founda-tion types in the three climate zones.

Kansas Climate Zone

1 2 3

FullBasment

111,000 97,000 76,000

CrawlSpace

47,000 41,000 32,000

Slab-on-Grade

60,000 52,000 40,000

Annual Foundation Heat Loss(Btu per lineal foot per year)

Potential Cost Savings

While foundation insulation has manybenefits, the principal criteria fordetermining how much should beinstalled is the economic value ofenergy savings. Foundation insulationmay actually slightly increase coolingenergy use since the foundation loosesless heat to the ground during thecooling season, but the effect isnegligible in the Midwest. Cost ofspace heating energy (natural gas,electricity, or propane) and theefficiency of the space heating systemare also important.

The prescriptive method of complyingwith the MEC sets out minimuminsulation values for each type offoundation (basement, slab, crawlspace) for individual climate zonesbased on average energy prices. Thetable below shows the MEC requiredminimum foundation insulation for

each of the three foundationtypes for each of the threeclimate zones.

While it is seldom possible tocomply with the MEC withoutfoundation insulation, there isactually a great deal offlexibility. The performancemethod of compliance allowsimproved performance of onebuilding envelope component,

such as windows, walls, or atticinsulation, to offset lower performancein another area, such as foundationinsulation.

MEC Minimum R-Value

Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3

FullBasment

10 10 8

CrawlSpace

16 16 10

Slab-on-Grade

5(min. 4 ft)

5(min. 2 ft)

5(min. 2 ft)

Foundation Insulation R-values(MEC prescriptive minimum)

For a more detailed evaluation of such

trade-offs investigate the MECcheck�

software developed by PacificNorthwest National Laboratory for theU. S. Department of Energy. This easyto use software is available from theKansas State University EngineeringExtension Service (785-532-4994) or itcan be downloaded from<http://www.energycodes.org>.

Energy Cost Savings

The foundation insulation levels shownin the preceeding table will yieldestimated annual energy costs savingsshown in the following table. The costlevels used in the table are based in thefollowing delivered heat costs:

Low less than $8.00/million Btu

Medium $8-12.00/million Btu

High more than $12.00/million Btu.

These costs are based on typical energypurchase prices and combustion systemefficiencies. Use the low energy price ifyou have natural gas heating andconventional air-conditioning, anair-source heat pump with costs below$.05/kWh, or a water-source heat pumpwith electric costs below $.08 per kWh.Use the medium energy price if you usepropane in combination with aconventional air conditioner, an airsource heat pump with electric costsbelow $.07 per kWh, or a water-sourceheat pump with electric costs below$.12 per kWh. Use the high energy priceif electric costs exceed those noted


2

Basement Heat Loss

Crawl Space Heat Loss

Slab-on-Grade Heat Loss

12

3

Kansas Climate Zones

above or you use electric-resistanceheat.

Kansas Climate Zone

1 2 3

High Energy Costs

FullBasement

$256 $197 $160

CrawlSpace

$107 $92 $70

Slab-on-

Grade$134 $117 $92

Medium Energy Costs

FullBasement

$182 $140 $107

CrawlSpace

$75 $63 $48

Slab-on-Grade

$95 $83 $65

Low Energy Costs

FullBasement

$126 $92 $68

CrawlSpace

$51 $43 $32

Slab-on-Grade

$66 $58 $46

Foundation Insulation AnnualEnergy Cost Savings(1700 square foot house with 170 lineal ft. perimeter)

Foundation Moisture Control

Most new homes in Kansas havebasements. Home buyers expect themto provide useful space, first for storagebut eventually as finished space.Nothing detracts more from thisexpectation than a damp mustysmelling basement.

Aside from broken pipes and flooding,basements get damp in four ways:

< free flowing surface or ground waterentering through cracks or openings inthe basement wall or floor,

< soil moisture wicking through thebasement wall by capillary action,

< water vapor migration from cool dampsoil to a warmer basement, or

< condensation of water vapor on coldbasement walls.

Causes and solutions for each of thesepotential sources of moisture problemsare reviewed in the following sections.

Surface and Ground Water

Surface water problems are caused byinadequate slope away from thefoundationor poorcontrol ofroofdrainage.Wateradjacent tothe foun-dationseepsthroughperviousbackfilluntil itfinds acrack, coldjoint, orutility penetration through which itenters. Incorporating overhangs in thebuilding design installing gutters and

downspouts, capping backfill withimpervious clay, and providing properdrainage away from the house can pro-vide effective control of surface water.

When ground water rises above thehouse floor it exerts hydrostaticpressure on the floor and wall;penetrating any opening. Drain tiles on

the outside and in some cases both sidesof the footing are required to removehigh ground water. If site conditions donot permit sloping the drain to“daylight” an electrically poweredsump pump is required. Since stormsproducing high water are sometimesaccompanied by power outages, manyelect to install a battery back-up.

On persist-enly wetsites,wheregroundwater isknow torise to orabove floorlevel, orwhere hab-itablespaces arebelowgrade, thebasementwall mustbe waterproofed. Many effective waterproofing products are available, in-cluding liquid and sheet membranes,cementious coatings, built-up tar andfelt, and bentonite clay. Some liquidmembranes and adheshives used withother systems chemically dissolve foaminsulation. In selecting a water proofingsystemmake certain all components arecompatible with any exterior foamfoundation insulation that will beinstalled.

Capillary Moisture Migration

Soil without free flowing water maystill contain considerable moisure. Thewicking of ground moisture throughmaterials with small pore size, oftencalled capillary movement, can be asignificant source of moisturepenetration. To break the capillaryaction between a basement wall and soilthe outside surface of the wall must becompletely covered with damp-proofing. Dampproofing fills the poorsin the concrent to prevent wicking.Waterproofing also provides damp-proofing, but where a basement wall

3


Surface Water Entry

Surface water

moves along

wall to gap.

Hydrostatic

pressure

increases with

depth.

Surface Water Control

Gutter carriesaway rain water.

Overhang divertsrain from side of

building.

Impermeablebackfill capdiverts waterfrom house.

Downspoutcarries water

away from house.

Minimum 5%slope away fromhouse.

Ground Water Entry

Rising groundwater exertshydrostaticpressure onfloors and wallspenetrating anyopening.

does not require waterproofing,dampproofing must be applied. In

addition to waterproofing, approveddampproofing materials include sprayor roller applied bituminous and acrylicmodified cement based coatings.Capillary moisture entry through thefloor is prevented by using a gravelbase. The pore size between stones (3/4inch stones with fines omitted) is toolarge to permit capillary suction.

Vapor Diffusion MoistureMovement

Water vapor will move from high vaporpressure to low vapor pressure. Abovegrade this usually means water vapormoves from the warm (winter) interiorto the cold exterior. Below grade watervapor can, depending on the

circumstances, move in either direction.Diffusion retarders, materials with aperm rating of 1.0 or less, are installedon the exterior of below grade concreteto reduce the inward movement ofwater vapor from the soil into thebuilding. Dampproofing andwaterproofing are effective diffusionretarders on walls. Polyethylene vaporbarriers are placed below floors on topof the gravel bed and can also be usedon exterior walls.

Moisture Condensation onthe Inside of FoundationWalls

Shallow soil temperatures risegradually in the Spring, but at a depth offive feet the temperature typicallyremains around 50-60

oF through

mid-June. An uninsulatedbasement wall will have aninside surface temperatureclose to ground temperatureand will condense moisturefrom 72

oF air with a relative

humidity of 45 - 65%.Insulating the wall shifts thethermal profile, raising theinside surface temperaturemuch closer to the indoor airtemperature, greatly reducingthe risk of condensation.

Improved Indoor AirQuality

Moisture is not a pollutant, but asrelative humidity in a home rises above60% mold, mildew, and dust mites

begin to thrive. Tighter more energyefficient homes often experience higherrelative humidity. There are manysources of moisture in a house, butmoisture problems in upper floors canbe aggrevated by excessive moisture inbasements and crawl spaces. Mositurecan diffuse through the floor system,moist air can flow through cracks andstairs to replace air drawn out of thehouse by wind or stack pressure, orbasement air can be distributed by aforced air heating sytem thatintentionally or accidentally drawsreturn air from the basement.Controlling basement and crawl spacemoisture can reduce the risk of indoorair quality problems.

Improved Comfort

Insulating basement walls raises thesurface temperature of the wall and thefloor above. Insulating crawl spacewalls or the floor above increases thefloor temperature of the space above.Insulating slab-on-grade foundationsincreasing the slab floor temperature.In all three cases foundation insulationimproves the comfort of the habitablespace.

Other Benefits

< Foundation insulation installed duringoriginal construction is usually moreeasily installed properly and lessexpensive than when retrofitted.

< Foundation inulation can often result insmaller and therefore less expensiveheating equipment.

< Foundation insulation makes a basementmore attractive for future ownerconversion to finished space.

< Reduction in fossil fuel use andassociated green house gas emissions haslong term benefits for everyone.

Insulation MaterialProperties

Insulating performance is measured inR-values with units of hr � ft

2�

oF / Btu.

R-values of multiple layers can beadded. The inverse of the R-value (1/R)is the U-value, the coefficient of overallthermal transmission, with units of Btu /hr � ft

2�

oF. U-values can not be added.

An uninsulated concrete foundation

4


Capillary Movement of Ground Moisture

Unprotected concretewalls, footings andfloors act likesponges, allowingcapillary suction todraw moisture fromdamp soil into thebuilding.

Drain Tiles and Water Proofing

Impermeable

backfill

Free-draingbackfill

Waterproofing

Perforated drain tile,

on outside or both

sides of footing, in

bed of gravel free of

fines wrapped in

filter fabric. Slope to

daylight or sump.

Condensation on Cool Basement Walls

Cold

spring

soil

Moist

Spring air

covects

across cool

concrete

wall and

condenses

water.

wall has an overall R-value of about 1.1and a U-value of 0.9. For each degreeof temperature difference between theinside and outside, each square foot ofwall will transmit .9 Btu each hour fromthe warm side to the cold side (U-valuex Area x Temperature difference = Heatflow). If insulation with an R-value oftwo is added to the wall, the totalR-Value becomes 3.1, the U-value .32Btu/hr� ft

2�

oF, and the heat flow .32

Btu per hour, a 65% reduction. If theinsulation is increased to R-6 theU-value and heat flow becomes .14, an84% reduction. The first Rs have themost impact. Sound detailing andproper installation are essential forachieving real performance. Gaps andthermal bridges of conductive materialcan significantly reduce the effectiveR-value.

Strength, beyond the ability to remainintact, matters little for batt insulation.For board insulation below grade on anexterior wall or beneath a slab,compressive strength must beconsidered.

Water Absorption is the amount ofwater absorbed by an insulatingmaterial as a percent of total volumewhen fully immersed for 24 hours.Water absorption reduces effectiveR-value and materials with higherabsorption should not be used inlocations where they will likelyencounter water.

Permeability is the ability of watervapor to pass through a material inresponse to differing vapor pressure onopposite sides. When water vapormoves through a material and reaches atemperature below its dew point,condensation will occur. Water insufficient quantity will cause insulationperformance to deteriorate and materialdamage may occur. Materials with aperm rating of 1.0 or less are consideredeffective vapor barriers, although someprefer the term vapor retarder becausecompletely effective barriers are almostimpossible to achieve. Uninsulatedfoundation walls often have an interiorsurface temperature below dew pointallowing condensation to occur

resulting in a damp and often moldysmelling basement even though nowater leakage has occured. Exteriorfoundation insulation generally raisesthe wall temperature above dew pointpreventing condensation. Interiorfoundation insulation actually causesthe foundation wall surface temperatureto drop, increasing the risk ofcondensation. A vapor barrier isrequired on the inside surface of theinsulation.

Early installation of the vapor barriercan create other moisture problems.The new concrete contains a great dealof water. Because the exterior isdampproofed or waterproofed and incontact with soil most of the excessmoisture must esacpe to the inside asthe concrete cures. Early installation ofa vapor barrier can trap water vaporallowing it to condense inside the wallor within the insulation. Delayinstalling interior foundation insulationuntil late in the construction process toallow the concrete to cure. When theinsulation will be left exposed consideruse of a vapor barrier with smallperferations, such as Certainteed’sbasment wall insulation.

Flame spread and smoke

development ratings of combustiblebuilding materials are based on theASTM E84 test. Values for foaminsulation may not exceed 75 and 450respectively. Unless specificallyapproved otherwise by the buildingcode official, all foams must be coveredwith ½ inch of gypsum wall board orother approved thermal barrier,regardless of location.

Surface protection is required for allexterior insulation above grade. Alltypes must be shielded from structuraldamage and foams must be protectedfrom degradation from the ultraviolet(UV) portion of the solar spectrum.

Environmental Impact Issues

The cost saving benefits of foundationinsulation are accompanied byenvironmental benefits of reducedgreenhouse gas emissions. These

benefits far outweigh the environmentalimpact of manufacturing and installingthe insulation. In selecting whichproduct(s) to use however, you shouldconsider a variety of environmentalimpacts resulting from their production.Check product labels and brochuresregarding the topics listed below.

Embodied energy is the energycontained in the material and consumedin its manufacture, delivery, andinstallation. Materials with lowerembodied energy are preferred.

Ozone depletion, the destruction of theearth’s protective stratospheric ozonelayer, is caused by gases that were untilrecently widey used to blow the bubblesthat make foams effective insulators.Manufacturers have shifted to othergases with lower ozone depletionpotential, includingHCFs andHCFCs.

Global warming potential (GWP)refers to the impact carbon dioxide andother gases have on increasing globaltemperatures. Carbon dioxide has aglobal warming potential of 1. CFC 12,a common foam blowing agent tenyears ago, has a GWP of 7,100. Thegases now used have GWPs rangingfrom 1 - 1,300. Ironically the lowest iscarbon dioxide, but it’s use reducesinsulation performance by about 1/6.

Recycled content is a widelyrecognized environmental feature ofbuilding insulation. Most cellulose andmineral wool insulation aremanufactured from recycled material.Fiberglass and foam insulationmanufacturers are increasing theamount of recycled material they use. Alist of insulation manufacturers usingrecycled materials is available from theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) at:

<http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/procure/prod

ucts/building.htm#productinfo>.

Insulation Materials

A wide variety of materials are suitablefor insulating foundation walls. Theycan be divided into three generalcategories; board, batt, and blown.Some products can be used on the inside

5

Reidential Foundation Insulation

or outside of the wall while others areonly suitable for interior use.

Boards

Board insulation materials commonlyused for foundation insulation includeextruded polystyrene (XPS), expandedpolystyrene (EPS), polyisocyanurate,fiberglass, and rockwool.

PolystyrenesExtruded Polystyrene (XPS)

XPS is manufactured from polystyreneresin and a gas blowing agent in acontinuous extrusion process producinga homogeneous cellular structure.

Advantages

< High R-value per inch, high compressivestrengh, low moisture absorption, lowperm rating.

< Widely available in various sizes andthicknesses and easily installed.

Disadvantages

< Requires UV and structural protectionabove grade when applied on the exteriorand thermal protection when installed onthe interior.

< Chemically attacked by some adhesives,dampproofing and waterproofingcompounds.

Expanded Polystyrene

EPS differs from XPS in that it isproduced from styrene beads placed in amold and expanded under heat andpressure with a foaming agent.

Advantages

< The least expensive foam board,available in a wide range of densitites,sizes and thicknesses.

< Available with borate additives to reducetermite risk.

Disadvantages

< Somewhat lower R-value than otherfoams and more easily damaged,particularly if used on the exterior.

< Higher permeability and waterabsportance than other foams.

< Like all foams, requires exteriorprotection above grade and thermalprotection when used on the interior.

Polyisocyanurate

Polyisocyanurates are manufacturedfrom a plastic resin and a foaming agentand can have fiberglass or foil facing.

Advantages

< Highest R-value of any foam. Availablewith foil face which can serve as vaporbarrier and can provide increasedR-value when installed with dead airspace.

< One product, Celotex’s Thermax, can beinstalled without a thermal barrier whenapproved by the local code official.

Disadvantages

< Generally higher in cost than other foamsand initially very high R-values declinesa bit with age.

< Low compressive strength.

Batts

Batt insulation materials includefiberglass and rockwool. Fiberglass inmade from sand and recycled glasscullet. Mineral wool is made from ironore blast furnace slag and natural rocks.Batts can be unfaced, kraft paper faced,foil faced, or poly wrapped. In additionto the many sizes commonly installed inabove grade frame walls, specialty battsare available for interior basement wallsand crawl space walls.

Advantages

< Inexpensive and widely available inmany sizes, thicknesses, and facings.

Disadvantages

< Batt insulation can be saturated anddifficult to dry if moisture penetrationoccurs.

< Furring required for installation andeasily damaged in high traffic areas if notprotected by drywall or paneling.

Blown

Nonload bearing 2 x 4 or 2 x 3 studwalls can be erected directly adjacent toor set back from the basement wallcreating a cavity for foundationinsulation. While batts are typicallyplaced in the stud cavity, blowncellulose, glass fiber, or mineral woolinsulation can be used. Cellulose istypically manufactured from wastepaper with fiber and insect retardentchemicals. A netting may be installedover furring to hold insulation in place.

Advantages

< Inexpensive, compeletely fills cavity.

Disadvantages

< Like batts, sprayed insulations can bequickly saturated and difficult to dry ifsignificant moisture penetration occurs.

< Again, like batts, furring required forinstallation and needs protection in hightraffic areas.

< Special installation equipment required.

Termites

Subterranean termites live in largecolonies 15-20 feet underground. Theylive entirely on plant matter, rangingwidely through a system of tunnels insearch of food. They enter buildingsthrough wood in contact with theground, cracks in foundation walls orslabs, the dry joint between the footingand foundation wall, utilitypenetrations, and through and behindfoundation insulation. Wood structuresattacked by termites can sustainextensive and costly damage. Whilefoundation insulation is not a foodsource and does not increase thelikelyhood that a particular buildingwill be attacked, it may make detectionand treatment more difficult.

Insecticides like chlordane were oncewidely used to control termites. Theywere effective, persisting in the soil formany years, providing long termprotection, but when it was discoveredthey were carcinogenic they werereplaced by other insecticides. Whileeffective in controling termites, todaystermiticides dissipate with timerequiring retreatment. Borates are alsoused to discourage termites.

Termites are small and persistent,capable of squeezing through tinycracks. The best strategy is to avoidinititial infestation entirely using one ormore of the following defenses:

< Avoid attracting them. Duringconstruction keep all wood, includingframing scraps, sawdust, paper, and treeroots and trimming out of the ground foras far back from the house as feasible.

< Keep all wood at least six inches abovegrade and use only termite resistant ortreated wood in contact with thefoundation. Do not use wood mulchnear the house.

6


< Install a continuous metal termite shieldwith soldered or sealed lap joints.Termites can tunnel around it, but theycan then be detected and treated.

< Consider pretreating all wood framingwithin four feet of the ground withborates.

< Consider installing termite bait systemsmarketedby pro-fessionalpest treat-ment com-panies.Theypermitdetectionof termitepresenceand the useof highlyeffective targeted insecticides.

< Consider installing sand barriers. Whilestill experimental and more expensivethan conventional treatment, sandbarriers provide a non-chemical methodof protection. Sand that just passesthrough a 16 grit wire screen takes subtleadvantage of the termites anatomy. Thegaps within the sand are too small forthem to crawl through,but their jaws do notopen wide enough forthem to pick them upand move them. Sandbarriers can be placedaround a foundationwall at grade andaround potential entrypoints in slabs.

< Consider pretreatingthe soil with EPAapproved termiti-cides.

< Have the houseinspectedannually.

< Avoid heatloosinginspectionstrips.

7

Residential Foudation Insulation

Termite Size

3 mm

1 mm

Estimated Foundation Insulation Cost per Lineal Foot

Actual project costs are region and project specific. Variation from the values below should be expected.

Foundation/MaterialHeight

(depth)

Thick-

nessMaterialR-value

Exterior Interior

Basements - Foam Boards

Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) 8 ft. ½ in. 2.5 $7.60 $12.50

(Blue, pink, yellow, green) 8 ft. 1 in. 5 $8.80 $13.60

8 ft. 1-1/2 in. 7.5 $10.70 $15.60

8 ft. 2 in. 10 $12.70 $17.60

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) 8 ft. 1 in. 3.8 $7.80 $12.70

(White beadboard) 8 ft. 1-1/2 in. 5.6 $9.10 $13.90

8 ft. 2 in. 7.7 $10.30 $15.20

Polyisocyanurate 8 ft. ¾ in. 5.4 $8.50 $13.40

(If foil faced and furring is 8 ft. 1 in. 7.2 $9.00 $13.80

on top to create a dead air space 8 ft. 1- ½ in. 10.8 $9.50 $14.40

increasse the R value by 2.8) 8 ft. 2 in. 14.4 $10.70 $15.60

Exterior cost includes metal flashing protection, reduce $0.40 for cement board, increase $1.70 for stucco.

Interior cost includes furring and ½ in. drywall. Reduce cost $7.00 if omitted (requires code approval)

Glass Fiberboard 8 ft. 1 in. 4.3 $9.00 $13.80

8 ft. 1-1/2 in. 6.5 $12.20 $17.10

Basements - Batts

Std densifty, 48 in. or 72 in. 8 ft. 3- 1/8 in. 11 n.a. $4.20

Std density, 23 in. 8 ft. 3-1/2 in. 11 n.a. $11.60

High density, 23 in. 8 ft. 3-1/2 in. 15 n.a. $12.10

Mineral wool (kraft faced) 8 ft. 3-1/2 in. 12 n.a. $12.00

Cost includes furring and faced batt or vapor barrier. Add $5.30 for drywall.

Crawl Spaces - Foam Boards

Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) 4 ft. 1 in. 5 $10.30 $4.90



(White beadboard) 4 ft. 2 in. 7.7 $10.90 $5.60

Polyisocyanurate 4 ft. 1 in. 7.2 $10.40 $5.00

(See note above on foil facing) 4 ft. 2 in 14.4 $11.10 $5.70

Exterior includes 2 feet of stucco, interior includes 3 feet of furring and drywall thermal protection.

Crawl Space Batts

Perimeter installation (wrapped batts) 8-3/4 in. 25 n.a. $3.50

Floor installation Sq. ft. 3-1/2 in. 11 n.a. $0.60

(Includes wire retainers, turn Sq. ft. 6 in. 19 n.a. $0.74

facing up) Sq. ft. 8-1/2 in. 30 n.a. $1.08

Slab-on-Grade - Foam Boards (protection same as for basements above)

Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) 2 ft. 1 in. 5 $3.60 $1.20


2 ft. 2 in. 10 $4.50 $2.20

4 ft. 2 in. 10 $6.40 $4.10


(White beadboard) 4 ft. 1 in. 3.8 $4.10 $1.80

2 ft. 2 in. 7.7 $3.90 $1.60

4 ft. 2 in. 7.7 $5.20 $2.90

Polyisocyanurate 2 ft. 1 in. 7.2 $3.60 $1.30

4 ft. 1 in. 7.2 $4.70 $2.30

2 ft. 2 in. 14.4 $4.00 $1.70

4 ft. 2 in. 14.4 $5.40 $3.00

Exterior cost includes metal flashing protection, reduce cost $0.40 for cement board, increase cost$1.70 for stucco.

Termite Shield

MetalshieldMastic

UV Shield

InsulationWater-proofing

Inspection Gap

Heat Loss at

Inspection Gap

Foundation Insulation Cost

The table above provides estimatedfoundation insulation installed cost perlineal foot of perimeter. Costs showninclude materials, labor, and contractoroverhead and profit. Actual costs areproject specific and significantvariation should be expected.

Foundation Insulation Material Properties

Resistance Size Thickness Density Strength Water Fire

(R per in.) (w x l) (inches) (lb/ft3) Compress

Absorp-

tionVapor

FlameSpread

SmokeDevelopment

Material (Inches) (lb/in2) (%) (Perm) E84 E84

Boards

Plastic Foams

Polystyrenes

Type VIII (EPS) 3.8 24, 48, x 96 1 - 40 1.15 13 3.0 3.5 10 125

Type II (EPS) 4.0 1 - 40 1.35 15 3.0 3.5 10 125

Type X (XPS) 4.216, 24, 48,

x 96

1, 1.5, 2, 2.5,

3, 3.51.30 15 0.3 1.1 5 165

Type IV (XPS) 5.0

16, 24, 48, x96

48 x 108

.75, 1, 1.5, 2,2.5,

3, 3.5, 4

1.60 25 0.3 1.1 5 165

Type IX (EPS) 4.224, 48,

x 961 - 40 1.80 25 2.0 2.0 10 125

Type VI (XPS) 5.0 24 x 961.5, 2, 2.5,

3, 3.5, 41.80 40 0.3 1.1 10 125

Type VII (XPS) 5.0 24, 48,x 96 2.20 60 0.3 1.1 10 125

Type V (XPS) 5.0 24, 48,x 96 3.00 100 0.3 1.1 10 125

Polyisocyanurate

Fiberglass faced 5.848 x 96

48 x 108

.75, 1, 1.5, 2,2.5, 3, 3.5

1.5 - 2.5 20 2.0 4.0 25 45

Foil faced 7.016, 24,48 x 96,108, 120

.75, 1, 1.5, 2,2.5, 3, 3.5, 4

1.5 20 <1.0 <1.0 2065

(1 in)

(Add if foil faces dead air space) 2.8

Glass Fiber 3.9 1.4 - 1.6 0.3 - 2.4 high high

Rockwool 4.236 x 48

48 x 721 11 - 13 25 .25 high

Batts

Glass Fiber (std density) 3.216, 24 x 48, 93

48 x 50 ft

3.5, 5.5, 6.258.5 (+others)

minimal1 Kraft

.5 foil25 50

Glass Fiber (high density) 3.8 16, 24 x 48, 933.5, 5.5,6.25,

8.5minimal

Rock Wool minimal

Blown

Glass Fiber (BIB) 4.0 To fit To fit 1.8-2.3 minimal 5 5

Rock Wool 2.8 To fit To fit minimal

Cellulose 4.0 To fit To fit 1.6 minimal

Foundation InsulationProperties

The table below provides basic physicalproperties of commonly usedresidential foundation insulationmaterials. A very wide range ofinsulation products are available and

the table is not comprehensive. Consulteach individual manufacture’s technicalproduct data sheets, many of which areavailable on the web, for currentinformation.


8

9


Exterior Foam Basement Wall Insulation Interior Foam Basement Wall Insulation

TERMITE SHIELD

UNFACED BATT INSULATION

WOOD JOIST

CONCRETE

FOUNDATION

WALL

SILL SEALER

SEALANT OVER

JOINT FILLER

LOW PERMEABILITY

BACKFILL (CLAY)

FABRIC

FILTER

UNDISTURBED SOIL

PERMEABLE SOIL

(WOOD FREE)

4 IN. PERFORATED

DRAIN PIPE GRAVEL BASE

CONCRETE SLAB

COARSE

CLEAN

GRAVEL

EXTERIOR SIDING

DRAINAGE PLANE

RIGID INSULATING

SHEATHING

PROTECT INSULATION

TO 6" BELOW GRADE W/

METAL, CEMENT BOARD,

OR "STUCCO"

SLOPE GROUND 5%

AWAY FROM WALL

SEALANT

CAVITY INSULATION

GYPSUM WALLBOARD

WITH LOW PERM PAINT

OR POLYETHYLENE

VAPOR BARRIER BEHIND

CANTILEVER FLOOR

PLATFORM TO ALIGN

SHEATHING AND

BASEMENT INSULATION

RIGID FOAM

INSULATION

CONCRETE FOOTING

DAMPPROOFING

(WATERPROOFING IF

HABITABLE SPACE)

TOP SOIL

CAPILLARY BREAK

POLYETHYLENE

VAPOR RETARDER

Exterior basement wall insulation is typically one to two inches offoamboard although fiberglass and rockwool boards are used.Insulation exposed above grade requires protection. A metaltermite shield reduces the risk termites will use the insulation forundetected entry.

DRYWALL

FURRING, IN OR ON

TOP OF INSULATION

POLYETHYLENE

VAPOR BARRIER

CAPILLARY BREAK

TOP SOIL

DAMPPROOFING

(WATERPROOFING IF

HABITABLE SPACE)

CONCRETE FOOTING

RIGID FOAM

INSULATION

GYPSUM WALLBOARD

WITH LOW PERM PAINT

OR POLYETHYLENE


CAVITY INSULATION

SEALANT

SLOPE GROUND 5%

AWAY FROM WALL

PROTECT INSULATION



OR "STUCCO"

RIGID INSULATING

SHEATHING

DRAINAGE PLANE

EXTERIOR SIDING

COARSE

CLEAN

GRAVEL

CONCRETE SLAB

GRAVEL BASE4 IN. PERFORATED

DRAIN PIPE

PERMEABLE SOIL

(WOOD FREE)

UNDISTURBED SOIL

FABRIC

FILTER

LOW PERMEABILITY

BACKFILL (CLAY)

SEALANT OVER

JOINT FILLER

SILL SEALER

CONCRETE

FOUNDATION WALL

WOOD JOIST


TERMITE SHIELD

SET FLOOR

PLATFORM BACK TO

ALIGN SHEATHING

AND BASEMENT WALL

Interior basement walls can be insulated with the same boardsused on the exterior. Boards can be glued to the wall, butfoamboards required thermal protection. A vapor barrier shouldbe formed on the warm side and a metal termite shield isrecommended.

Total Installed Cost($/lineal foot for R-Value shown)

$7.50 $12.50 $17.50

N.A.

1 = board

3

21

15

114

7

310

3 10

RecommendedMinimum Basement

Wall R-Value


$7.50 $15.00 $22.50

N.A.

1 = board

3

21

15

114

7

310

310


Wall R-Value

SuitabilityPoor Good Best

N.A.

Energy Cost Savings($/lineal foot/year)

(R-Values Recommended Above)




10


Interior Batt or Blown Basement Insulation Interior Crawlspace Insulation

AIR SPACE OR

FOAM INSULATION

DRYWALL OPTIONAL

2 x 4 or 3 STUD

WALL

POLYETHYLENE

VAPOR RETARDER

CAPILLARY BREAK

TOP SOIL

DAMPPROOFING

(WATERPROOFING

IF HABITABLE SPACE)

CONCRETE FOOTING

BATT INSULATION

GYPSUM WALLBOARD

WITH LOW PERM PAINT

OR POLYETHYLENE


CAVITY INSULATION

SEALANT

SLOPE GROUND 5%

AWAY FROM WALL

RIGID INSULATING

SHEATHING

DRAINAGE PLANE

EXTERIOR SIDING

COARSE

CLEAN

GRAVEL

CONCRETE SLAB

GRAVEL BASE4 IN. PERFORATED

DRAIN PIPE

PERMEABLE SOIL

(WOOD FREE)

UNDISTURBED SOIL

FABRIC

FILTER

LOW PERMEABILITY

BACKFILL (CLAY)

SEALANT OVER

JOINT FILLER

SILL SEALER

CONCRETE

FOUNDATION WALL

WOOD JOIST


SET FLOOR

PLATFORM BACK TO

ALIGN SHEATHING

AND BASEMENT WALL

Interior basement walls can also be insulated with batt or blowninsulation placed between furring strips or non-bearing stud walls.The bottom plate should be treated and an effective vapor retarderplaced on the inside surface. Particular care should be taken toavoid surface or ground water penetration.

DAMPPROOFING

POLYETHYLENE

VAPOR RETARDER

CAPILLARY BREAK

TOP SOIL

CONCRETE FOOTING

FACED BATT

INSULATION

SET FLOOR

PLATFORM BACK TO

ALIGH SHEATHING

AND BASEMENT

WALL

GYPSUM WALLBOARD

WITH LOW PERM PAINT

OR POLYETHYLENE


CAVITY INSULATION

SEALANT

SLOPE GROUND 5%

AWAY FROM WALL

RIGID INSULATING

SHEATHING

DRAINAGE PLANE

EXTERIOR SIDING

COARSE

CLEAN

GRAVEL

4 IN. PERFORATED

DRAIN PIPE

PERMEABLE SOIL

(WOOD FREE)

UNDISTURBED SOIL

FABRIC

FILTER

LOW PERMEABILITY

BACKFILL (CLAY)

SILL SEALER

CONCRETE

STEM WALL

WOOD JOIST


Crawl spaces can be insulated with board insulation on theexterior or interior just like a basement wall. Alternatives are toinsulate the floor joist cavities with batts or blown insulation or toinsulate the interior of the foundation wall with poly wrappedbatts. Make sure to install a well sealed vapor barrier on the floor.


$0 $10 $20

N.A.

.1 = R-11 poly faced, R-15 Kraft faced w/ drywall

13

11 15

12

N.A.

N.A.


Wall R-Value


N. A.

N. A.

N. A.




$0.00 $5.00 $10.00

N.A..

1 = batt

5

21

15

114

7

25

11 19




N. A.

RecommendedMinimum Crawl Space

Wall R-Value

11


Exterior Slab-on-Grade Insulation Interior Slab-on-Grade Insulation

POLYETHYLENE

VAPOR RETARDER

TOP SOIL

CONCRETE FOOTING

RIGID FOAM

INSULATION

GYPSUM WALLBOARD

WITH LOW PERM PAINT

OR POLYETHYLENE


CAVITY INSULATION

IN 2 x4 OR 2 x 6 WALL

SLOPE GROUND 5%

AWAY FROM WALL

PROTECT INSULATION



OR "STUCCO"

RIGID INSULATING

SHEATHING

DRAINAGE PLANE

EXTERIOR SIDING

CONCRETE SLAB

GRAVEL BASE

UNDISTURBED SOIL

LOW PERMEABILITY

BACKFILL (CLAY)

SEALANT OVER

JOINT FILLER

SILL SEALER OVER

TERMITE SHIELD

CONCRETE

FOUNDATION

WALL

CANTILEVER PLATE

TO COVER

INSULATION

Foam boards are the most common form of exterior slab-on-gradeinsulation. The above grade portion must have UV and structuralprotection and a metal termite shield is recommended.Foundations in climate zone 1 in the colder northwest should beinsulated to a depth of four feet.

POLYETHYLENE

VAPOR RETARDER

TOP SOIL

CONCRETE FOOTING

RIGID FOAM

INSULATION

SET BACK PLATE

TO ALIGN INSULATION

WITH FOUNDATION

GYPSUM WALLBOARD

WITH LOW PERM PAINT

OR POLYETHYLENE


CAVITY INSULATION

IN 2 x4 OR 2 x 6 WALL

SLOPE GROUND 5%

AWAY FROM WALL

RIGID INSULATING

SHEATHING

DRAINAGE PLANE

EXTERIOR SIDING

CONCRETE SLAB

GRAVEL BASE

UNDISTURBED SOIL

LOW PERMEABILITY

BACKFILL (CLAY)

SILL SEALER OVER

TERMITE SHIELD

CONCRETE

FOUNDATION

WALL

Interior slab-on-grade insulation can be horizontal. Interiorplacement avoids the need for protection, but may require cuttingsmall pieces and more difficult details.


$0 $5 $10

N.A.

1 = board 2 ft. depth

5

21

15

114

7

3 10

3 10

RecommendedMinimum Slab

Perimeter R-Value





$0 $5 $10

N.A..


5

21

15

114

7

N.A.

N.A.

RecommendedMinimum Slab

Perimeter R-Value


N.A.



12


Exterior Insulation on Trench Footings Interior Slab-on Grade w/ Brick Veneer Wall


Wall R-Value


N.A.




$0 $5 $10

N.A.


5

21

15

114

7

3 10

3 10


Wall R-Value


N.A.



UNDISTURBED SOIL

LOW PERMEABILITY

BACKFILL (CLAY)

RIGID FOAM

INSULATION

EXTERIOR SIDING

DRAINAGE PLANE

RIGID INSULATING

SHEATHING

PROTECT INSULATION

TO 6" BELOW GRADE

W/ METAL, CEMENT

BOARD, OR "STUCCO"

SLOPE GROUND 5%

AWAY FROM WALL

CANTILEVER PLATE

TO ALIGH SHEATING

AND FOUNDATION

INSULATION

TOP SOIL

CONCRETE

FOUNDATION

GRAVEL BASE

CONCRETE FOOTING

POLYETHYLENE

VAPOR RETARDER

SILL SEALER OVER

TERMITE SHIELD

CONCRETE SLAB

CAVITY INSULATION

IN 2 x 4 OR 2 x 6 WALL

GYPSUM WALLBOARD

WITH LOW PERM PAINT

OR POLYETHYLENE


Trench footings or monolith pours can be easily insulated byattaching foam board to the perimeter form board. The portionabove grade requires UV and structural protection and a metaltermite shield is recommended.

POLYETHYLENEVAPOR

RETARDER

TOP SOIL

CONCRETE FOOTING

RIGID FOAM

INSULATION

BRICK TIES

ATTACHED TO

FRAMING

GYPSUM WALLBOARD

WITH LOW PERM PAINT

OR POLYETHYLENE


CAVITY INSULATION

IN 2 x 4 OR 2 x 6 WALL

SLOPE GROUND 5%

AWAY FROM WALL

WEEP HOLES AT

BOTTOM BRICK

COURSE

RIGID INSULATING

SHEATHING

DRAINAGE PLANE

BRICK VENEER

CONCRETE SLAB

GRAVEL BASE

UNDISTURBED SOIL

LOW PERMEABILITY

BACKFILL (CLAY)

SILL SEALER OVER

TERMITE SHIELD

(ALSO SERVES AS

CAPILLARY BREAK)

CONCRETE

FOUNDATION

WALL

Interior slab-on-grade foundation insulation can be installedvertically but to maintain continuity it must be carefully detailedto permit acceptable floor finish. A metal termite shield isrecommended.

Frequently Asked Questions

If a basement is unfinished does itstill need foundation insulation?

Yes, unless the floor above is insulated.Even if used only for storage andheating and cooling equipment thebasement is thermally connected to therest of the house.

Is floor insulation above a basementor a crawl space an alternative tofoundation insulation?

Yes, but keep in mind that pipes, ductsand HVAC equipment located in thebasement would then need to beinsulated to meet the MEC and toprotect pipes from freezing. Sometimesthese can be grouped in a small areawith insulated walls while the floorabove the rest of the basement isinsulated.

Doesn’t placing insulation on theexterior improve energyperformance?

If the basement incorporates passivesolar design with a significant amountof south facing windows, exteriorinsulation will be beneficial, providedthe walls are exposed to solar gain. In atypical basement the energy savings arenegligible.

Should the interior of foundationwalls have vapor barriers?

If interior insulation is used, YES. Theconcrete must be allowed to dry, butmoist basement air typical of Midwestsummers should not be allowed to reachthe cool wall where in can condense.Batt insulation specifically designed forthe interior of foundation walls has aperforated poly facing that prevents airfrom circulating through the batt, butallows water vapor from the wall toescape.

Will foundation insulation increasethe risk of termite entry?

Foundation insulation does not increasethe risk of termine entry. If termites arepresent in the soil and wood is used inthe building, the risk of infestationexists. Exterior insulation may reduce

the probability of early discovery andinhibit treatment when discovered.

Is an inspection band wherefoundation insulation is omitted topermit inspection for termites a goodidea?

In some southern states with a highincidence of termite infestation,including, Florida, South and NorthCarolina, Georgia, Alabama,Mississippi, Louisiana, eastern Texas,southern and central California,Georgia, Tennessee, and Hawaii, rigidfoam insulation is not allowed incontact with the soil. In other areas a sixinch gap between the top of foundationinsulation and any wood framingmember is required to permit visualinspection for termites. Studies done byORNL conclude that “if you include avision strip, you might as well notbother putting any insulation around thefoundation.”

Will exterior foundation insulationmaterials be chemically attacked bydampproofing?

In can happen. Avoid ……and alwaysfollow the insulation and dampproofingmanufacturer’s instructions.

What about water proofing?

Codes often require waterproofinginstead of damproofing if the wall isadjacent to habitable space.Manufactures of some foam productsoffer specific recommendations forwaterproofing of their foam systems.

How long will exterior foundationinsulation last?

Properly installed foundationinsulation, interior or exterior, shouldlast as long as insulation installed anywhere else in the building.

Should foam insulation above gradebe protected?

Foam above grade must be protectedfrom both sun and physical damage.Ultraviolet light degrades or destroysmost foams. In addition, damage fromlawnmowers, balls, and other incidentalcontact can degrade the appearance andperformance of the foam. Common

materials used to protect the foamabove grade include two- or three-layerstucco finishes, brush-on elastomeric orcementitious finishes, vertical vinylsiding, cement board, aluminum coilstock, and fiberglass panels.

Will insulating the foundationincrease the risk of radon problems?

Radon entry into a home is throughcracks and other opening below grade.The use of foundation insulation shouldminimize thermal stresses on thefoundation and help minimize cracking,thus reducing of radon entry.

Should crawl space be ventilated?

The CABO One and Two Family Coderequires one square foot of crawl spaceventilation for each 150 square feet of“floor” area. Operable vents 1/10 aslarge can be used if a vapor barrier isinstalled. Warm damp summer air cancondense on the cool earth, even whencovered with a poly vapor diffusionretarder, increasing the risk of crawlspace moisture problems. Installing avapor barrier and closing the operablevents is preferred. If local codeinterpretation requires crawl spaceventilation, insulating the floor andincorporating a vapor barrier ispreferred.

Do foam insulation boards installedon the interior require fireprotection?

All foams require thermal protectionequal to ½ inch of gypsum wall boardwhen installed on the interior of abuilding, including a crawl space. Theonly exception is Celotex Thermaxpolyisocyanurate which may beinstalled without a thermal barrierwhere approved by the local buildingcode official.

Are insulating concrete form (ICF)systems less expensive than aninsulated poured in place concretewall?

ICFs can be competitive but costs areproject specific. Foam used in thesesystesm should address the sameconcerns outlined above for foamboard.

13


Information Sources

References and On-line Resources

Builders Foundation Design Handbookby J. Carmody, 1991.

Christian, Jeffrey E., Energy EfficientResidential Building Foundations,ASHRAE Journal, November 1991.

Insulation Materials: EnvironmentalComparisons, Environmental BuildingNews, Vol. 4, No 1, January/February1995.

The Model Energy Code andOne and Two Family Dwelling CodeInternational Code Council (formerly CABO)5203 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041Tel: 703-931-4533 Fax: 703-379-1546Email: [email protected] site: http://www.intlcode.org

Kansas Corporation CommissionEnergy Programs1500 SW Arrowhead Road Topeka, Kanss 66604Tel: 785-271-3349Web site: http://www.kcc.state.ks.us/energy

Kansas State UniversityEngineering ExtensionWard HallKansas State UniversityManhattan, KansasTel: 785-532-4994Web site: http://www.OZNET.ksu.edu/dp-nrgy

DOE Energy Standards and GuidelinesPacific Northwest National LaboratoryRichland, WashingtonTel: 509-417-7554 Fax: 509-375-3614Web site: www://energycodes.org/

EPA Energy Star HomesU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyClimate Protection Division401 M Street SW MC:6202JWashington, DC 20460Tel: 888-782-7937Web site: http:/www.energystar.gov

Energy Efficient Building Association490 Concordia Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55103-2441Tel: 651-268-7585 Fax: 651-268-7597E-mail: [email protected] site: http://www.eeba.org

Environmental Building News122 Birge Street Brattleboro, Vermont 05310Tel: 802-257-7300 Fax: 802-257-7304Web site: http://www.ebuild.com

Material Sources (manufacturers)(Consult industry associations for more detailed lists)

Insulation

Boards

Expanded Polytyrene

AFM Corporation24000 W. Hwy 7 Excelsior, MN 55331Phone: 612-474-0809 Fax: 612-474-2074E-mail: [email protected]: www.afmcorp-epsfoam.com

Contour Products4001 Kaw Drive Kansas City, KS 66102Phone: 800-638-3626 Fax: 913-321-8063E-mail: [email protected] site: http://www.contourfoam.com

Polyfoam Packers2320 Foster Avenue Wheeling, IL 60090Phone: 847-669-1176 Fax: 847-398-0653Web site: http://www.polyfoam.com

Extruded Polystyrene

Dow Chemical Co.200 Larkin Center, 1605 Joseph DriveMidland,MI 48674Tel: 800-441-4369 Fax: 517- 832-1465Web site: http://www.dow.com/styrofoam

Tenneco Building Products2907 Log Cabin Drive Smyrna, Georgia 30080Tel: 800-241-4402Web site: http://www.tennecobuildingprod.com

Polyiscyanurate

Celotex Corporation4010 Boy Scout Blvd. Tampa, FL 33607Tel: 813-873-1700 Fax: 813-873-4058Web site: http://www.celotex.com

Johns Manville Corporation717 17th St Denver,CO 80202Tel: 800- 654-3103 Fax: 303-978-2318Web site: http://www.jm.com

Rock Wool

Roxul, Inc.551 Harrop Drive Milton, ON L9T 3H3 CanadaTel: 905-878-8474 Fax: 905-878-8077

Batts

Fiberglass

CertainTeed CorporationP.O. Box 860 Valley Forge, PA 19482Tel: 610-341-7000 Fax: (610) 341-7571Web site: http://www.certainteed.com

Johns Manville Corporation717 17th St Denver,CO 80202Tel: 800- 654-3103 Fax: 303-978-2318Web site: http:// www.jm.com

Owens CorningFiberglas Tower Toledo, OH 43659Tel: 419-248-8000 Fax: 614/321-5606 (fax)Web site: http://www.owenscorning.com

Knauf Fiber Glass GmbHOne Knauf DriveShelbyville,IN 46176Tel: (800) 825-4434 Fax: (317) 398-3675E-mail: [email protected] site: http://www.knauffiberglass.com

Blown

Cellulose

Central Fiber CorporationWellsville, Kansas 66092Tel: 800-654-6117

Blown-in-batt (BIB)

Rockwool

American Rockwool, Inc.P.O. Box 880Spring Hope, NC 27882Tel: 254-478-5111 Fax: 252-478-4172Web site: http://www.amerrock.com

Insulating Concrete Foam Systems

AFM Corporation24000 West Hwy 7 Exelsior, MN 55331Tel: 800-255-0176 fax: 612-474-2074E-mail: [email protected]: www.afmcorp-epsfoam.com

Greenblock WorldWide CorporationP.O.Box 749 Woodland Park, CO 80866Tel: (719) 687-0645 Fax: (719) 687-7820E-mail: [email protected] site: http://www.greenblock.com

ICE BlockPO Box 3089 Odessa, TX 79761Tel: 800-ICE-BLOC Fax: 915-561-5622E-mail: [email protected] site: http://www.concentric.net

Lite-Form, Inc.PO Box 774 Sioux City, IA 51102tel: 800-551-3313, tel: 712-252-3704E-mail: [email protected] site: http://www.liteform.com

Reward Wall Systems4115 S. 87th St. Omaha, NE 68127Tel: 800-468-6344 fax: 402-592-7969E-mail: [email protected] site: http://www.rewardwallsystem.com

Termite Treatment

Sentricon Colony Eliminator SystemDow AgroSciences9330 Zionsville Road Indianapolis, IN 46268-1054fax: 800-905-7326Web site: http://www.sentricon.com

Systematic Termite ControlFMCChicago, IL Tel: 800-321-1FMCWeb site: http://www.fmc-apgspec.com

Industry Associations

North American InsulationManufacturers Association44 Canal Center Plaza Alexandria, VA 22314Tel: 703-684-0084, Fax: 703-684-0427E-mail: [email protected] site: http://www.naima.org

Cellulose Insulation ManufacturersAssociation136 Keowee Street Dayton, OH 45402Tel: 513-222-2462 Fax: 937-222-5794E-mail: [email protected] Site: http://www.cima.org

Polyisocyanurate InsulationManufacturers Association1331 F Street, NW, Suite 975 Washington, DC 20004Tel : 202-628-6558 Fax: 202-628-3856E-mail: [email protected] site: http://www.pima.org

Insulating Concrete Form Association1807 Glenview Road, Suite 203Glenview, Ilinois, USA 60025Phone: 847-657-9730 Fax: 847-657-9728E-mail: [email protected] site: http://www.forms.org

Documents

A Builder’s Guide to Residential Foundation · PDF fileA Builder’s Guide to Residential Foundation Insulation 111,000Btu NorthwestKansas (Goodland) ... Foundation Design Handbook