Wis. Admin. Code Department of Safety and Professional Services SPS 322.37

Current through December 30, 2024

Section SPS 322.37 - Air leakage

(1) GENERAL. The requirements of this section apply to those components that separate interior conditioned space from a garage or an unconditioned space.

(2) WINDOW AND DOOR ASSEMBLIES.

(a)General. Except as specified in par. (b), windows, skylights and sliding glass doors shall have an air infiltration rate of no more than 0.3 cfm per square foot, and swinging doors no more than 0.5 cfm per square foot, when tested according to NFRC 400 or AAMA/WDMA/ CSA 101/I.S.2/A440 by an accredited, independent laboratory and listed and labeled by the manufacturer.

(b)Exception. Site-constructed doors and windows shall be sealed with gasketing or weatherstripping or shall be covered with a storm door or storm window.

(3) JOINT AND PENETRATION SEALING.

(a) Exterior joints, seams or penetrations in the dwelling envelope, which are sources of air leakage, shall be sealed with durable caulking materials, closed with gasketing systems, taped, or covered with water-vapor-permeable house wrap. Joints to be treated include all of the following:

1. Openings, cracks and joints between wall cavities and window or door frames.

2. Between separate wall assemblies or their sill-plates and foundations.

3. Between walls, roof, ceilings or attic ceiling seals, and between separate wall panel assemblies, including between interior and exterior walls.

4. Penetrations of utility services through walls, floor and roof assemblies, and penetrations through top and bottom wall plates.

(b) Sealing shall be provided at the attic and crawl space panels, at recessed lights and around all plumbing and electrical penetrations, where these openings are located in the dwelling thermal envelope.

(c) The sealing methods between dissimilar materials shall allow for differential expansion and contraction.

(4) RECESSED LIGHTING. When installed in the dwelling envelope, recessed lighting fixtures shall be sealed to limit air leakage between conditioned and unconditioned spaces by one of the following means:

(a) The fixture shall be IC-rated and labeled with enclosures that are sealed or gasketed to prevent air leakage to the ceiling cavity or unconditioned space.

(b) The fixture shall be IC-rated and labeled as meeting ASTM E 283 when tested at 1.57 psi pressure differential with no more than 2.0 cfm of air movement from the conditioned space to the ceiling cavity.

(c)

1. The fixture shall be located inside an airtight sealed box with clearances of at least 0.5 inch from combustible material and 3 inches from insulation.

2. If the fixture is non-IC-rated, the box shall be constructed of noncombustible material that does not readily conduct heat.

Note: The department will accept cement board, drywall, and other materials that exhibit flame spread and smoke developed indices of 10 or less when tested in accordance with ASTM E-84.

(5) FAN HOUSINGS. Gaps between a fan housing and a ceiling or wall that could result in air leaks shall be gasketed, sealed or caulked.

(6) COMPLIANCE DEMONSTRATION. Building envelope air tightness and insulation installation shall be demonstrated to comply with one of the following options:

(a)Testing option. Building envelope tightness and insulation installation shall be considered acceptable when tested air leakage is less than seven air changes per hour (ACH) when tested with a blower door at a pressure of 33.5 psf (50 Pa). Testing shall occur after rough in and after installation of penetrations of the building envelope, including penetrations for utilities, plumbing, electrical, ventilation and combustion appliances. During testing all of the following shall be done:

1. Exterior windows and doors, fireplace and stove doors shall be closed, but not sealed.

2. Dampers shall be closed, but not sealed, including exhaust, intake, makeup air, backdraft and flue dampers.

3. Interior doors shall be open.

4. Exterior openings for continuous ventilation systems and heat recovery ventilators shall be closed and sealed.

5. Heating and cooling system(s) shall be turned off.

6. HVAC ducts shall not be sealed.

7. Supply and return registers shall not be sealed.

(b)Visual inspection option. Building envelope tightness and insulation installation shall be considered acceptable when the items listed in Table 332.37, applicable to the method of construction, are field verified. Where required by the code official, an shall inspect the air barrier and insulation. approved party independent from the installer of the insulation

TABLE 332.37

AIR BARRIER AND INSULATION INSPECTION COMPONENT CRITERIA

COMPONENT	CRITERIA
Air barrier and thermal barrier	Exterior thermal envelope insulation for framed walls is installed in substantial contact and continuous alignment with building envelope air barrier. Breaks or joints in the air barrier are filled or repaired. Air-permeable insulation is not used as a sealing material. Air-permeable insulation is inside of an air barrier.
Ceiling/attic	Air barrier in any dropped ceiling/soffit is substantially aligned with insulation and any gaps are sealed. Attic access (except unvented attic), knee wall door, or drop down stair is sealed.
Walls	Corners and headers are insulated. Junction of foundation and sill plate is sealed.
Windows and doors	Space between window/door jambs and framing is sealed.
Rim joists	Rim joists are insulated and include an air barrier.
Floors (including above-garage and cantile-vered floors)	Insulation is installed to maintain permanent contact with underside of sub-floor decking. Air barrier is installed at any exposed edge of insulation.
Crawl space walls	Insulation is permanently attached to walls. Exposed earth in unvented crawl spaces is covered with Class I vapor retarder with overlapping joints taped.
Shafts, penetrations	Duct shafts, utility penetrations, knee walls and flue shafts opening to exterior or unconditioned space are sealed.
Narrow cavities	Batts in narrow cavities are cut to fit, or narrow cavities are filled by sprayed/blown insulation.
Garage separation	Air sealing is provided between the garage and conditioned spaces.
Recessed lighting	Recessed light fixtures are air tight, IC rated, and sealed to drywall. Exception-fixtures in conditioned space.
Plumbing and wiring	Insulation is placed between outside and pipes. Batt insulation is cut to fit around wiring and plumbing, or sprayed/blown insulation extends behind piping and wiring.
Shower/tub on exterior wall	Showers and tubs on exterior walls have insulation and an air barrier separating them from the exterior wall.
Electrical/phone box on exterior walls	Air barrier extends behind boxes or air sealed-type boxes are installed.
Common wall	Air barrier is installed in common wall between dwelling units.
HVAC register boots	HVAC register boots that penetrate building envelope are sealed to subfloor or drywall.
Fireplace	Fireplace walls include an air barrier.

Wis. Admin. Code Department of Safety and Professional Services SPS 322.37

CR 08-043: cr. Register March 2009 No. 639, eff. 4-1-09.

Amended by, CR 15-041: cr. (6), Table 322.37 Register December 2015 No. 720, eff. 1-1-16; correction in (6) (a) 6. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register December 2015 No. 720, eff.1/1/2016