Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program June 2021 Field Guide & Standards Contacts Michael Figueredo Weatherization Training & Technical Assistance Coordinator (503) 986-0972 Published date: July 1st, 2021 REV 06/2021 Acknowledgements Oregon Housing and Community Services Tim Zimmer, Energy Services Section Manager Steve Divan, Weatherization Program Manager Kurt Pugh, Senior Quality Assistance Field Inspector Oregon Energy Coordinators Association & Oregon Training Institute Members of the Community Action Agency Network of Oregon The Energy Conservatory of Minneapolis, MN Pacific Power Portland General Electric Weatherization Program of South Carolina Reese Byers Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program: Field Guide & Standards - 2 - REV 06/2021 Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program: Field Guide & Standards - 3 - REV 06/2021 Table of Contents How to use this manual ................................................................................................ 8 Key Terminology ................................................................................................................................ 8 Standard Work Specifications ............................................................................................................. 8 Section 0: General Installer Requirements .................................................................. 9 Section 1: Ceiling Insulation ....................................................................................... 11 1.01: General .................................................................................................................................... 11 1.02: Air sealing ................................................................................................................................ 12 1.03: Heat producing fixtures ........................................................................................................... 12 1.04: Non-IC rated recessed light fixtures ........................................................................................ 13 1.05: Baffles for eave and soffit vents ................................................................................................ 14 1.06: Exhaust fans ............................................................................................................................. 14 1.07: Knob and tube wiring ............................................................................................................... 16 1.08: Electrical junctions ................................................................................................................... 18 1.09: Vapor retarder ......................................................................................................................... 18 1.10: Loose fill insulation ................................................................................................................... 19 1.11: Batt or blanket insulation .......................................................................................................... 19 1.12: Attic ventilation ........................................................................................................................ 20 1.13: Attic access .............................................................................................................................. 21 1.14: Water pipes .............................................................................................................................. 23 1.15: Heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) ducts ........................................................... 23 1.16: Knee wall attic .......................................................................................................................... 24 1.17: Skylight chases......................................................................................................................... 26 1.18: Site built exterior roof insulation .............................................................................................. 26 Section 2: Wall Insulation ............................................................................................ 28 2.01: General .................................................................................................................................... 28 2.02: Holes and penetrations ............................................................................................................ 28 2.03: Blown-in wall insulation ............................................................................................................ 29 2.04: Blown-in cavity insulation ......................................................................................................... 30 2.05: Areas for dense-pack insulation ............................................................................................... 32 2.06: Open or unfinished wall insulation ........................................................................................... 33 2.07: Knee or pony walls ................................................................................................................... 34 2.08: Thermal bypass air leakage areas ........................................................................................... 36 Section 3: Subfloor ...................................................................................................... 37 3.01: General .................................................................................................................................... 37 3.02: Blown-in fiberglass (BIF) method ............................................................................................. 39 3.03: Air sealing (SWS 3.0101.1) ....................................................................................................... 39 3.04: Pipes ........................................................................................................................................ 40 3.05: Exhaust duct ............................................................................................................................. 42 3.06: Dryer vents (SWS 6.0202.1) ...................................................................................................... 42 3.07: Crawlspace ventilation ............................................................................................................ 43 3.08: Insulation support systems (SWS 4.0301.1e) ............................................................................ 44 3.09: Ground moisture barrier .......................................................................................................... 46 3.10: Access door (outside) .............................................................................................................. 47 3.11: Access door (inside) ................................................................................................................ 47 3.12: Basements ................................................................................................................................ 47 3.13: Unconditioned basements ........................................................................................................ 48 3.14: Conditioned basements ........................................................................................................... 50 3.15 Partial basements ...................................................................................................................... 51 Section 4: Water Pipe Insulation ................................................................................ 52 Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program: Field Guide & Standards - 4 - REV 06/2021 Section 5: Ducts ........................................................................................................... 54 5.01: General .................................................................................................................................... 54 5.02: Duct sealing ............................................................................................................................. 55 5.03: Duct insulation .......................................................................................................................... 57 5.04: Flexible duct ............................................................................................................................ 58 5.05: Supporting ductwork ............................................................................................................... 59 Section 6: Air Sealing in Site Built Homes ................................................................... 60 6.01: General .................................................................................................................................... 60 6.02: Caulking ................................................................................................................................... 60 6.03: House-garage connection ........................................................................................................ 61 6.04: Penetrations ............................................................................................................................. 62 6.05: Walls separating conditioned and unconditioned spaces........................................................ 64 6.06: Weatherstripping ....................................................................................................................