Section 322.20. Basic requirements.

 

(1)   General. When available, information and values on thermal properties, performance of building envelope sections and components, and heat transfer shall be obtained from the ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals.

(2)   Computation of R-values.

(a) Insulation material used in layers, such as framing cavity insulation and insulating sheathing, shall be summed to compute the component R-value.

(b) The manufacturer's settled R-value shall be used for blown insulation.

(c) Computed R-values may not include values for air films or for building materials other than insulation materials.

(3)   Laboratory or field test measurements.

(a) General dwelling thermal envelope materials. When information specified under sub. (1) is not available, or when a different value is claimed, supporting data shall be obtained using one of the following test methods:

1. ASTM C177, Standard test method for steady state heat flux measurements and thermal transmission properties by means of the guarded-hot-plate apparatus.

2. ASTM C335, Standard test method for steady state heat transfer properties of pipe insulation.

3. ASTM C518, Standard test method for steady state thermal transmission properties by means of the heat flow meter apparatus.

4. ASTM C1363, Standard test method for the thermal performance of building materials and envelope assemblies by means of a hot box apparatus.

(b) Foam plastic insulation.

1. When information specified under sub. (1) is not available, or when a different value is claimed, foam plastic insulation that uses a gas other than air as the insulating medium shall use laboratory or field tests conducted on representative samples that have been aged for the equivalent of 5 years or until the R–value has stabilized.

2. The tests shall be conducted by an independent third party using the standards listed under par. (a) and shall be submitted for department review and approval in accordance with s. SPS 320.18 .

(c) Concrete masonry units. Systems using integrally-insulated concrete masonry units shall be evaluated for thermal performance in accordance with one of the following:

1. Default values as approved by the department with no extrapolations or interpolations.

2. Laboratory or field test measurements specified under par. (a) .

3. The material approval process specified in s. SPS 320.18 .

(4)   General installation.

(a) Materials, equipment and systems shall be identified in a manner that will allow a determination of their compliance with the applicable provisions of this code.

(b) All insulation materials, caulking and weatherstripping, fenestration assemblies, mechanical equipment and systems components, and water-heating equipment and system components shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions.

(c) Manufacturer's installation instructions shall be available on the job site at the time of inspection.

(d) Roof and ceiling, floor and wall cavity batt or board insulation shall be installed in a manner which will permit inspection of the manufacturer's R-value identification mark.

(5)   Identification.

(a) A thermal resistance identification mark shall be applied by the manufacturer to each piece of dwelling envelope insulation 12-inches or greater in width.

(b)

1. The thickness of blown-in roof and ceiling insulation shall be identified by thickness markings that are labeled in inches and installed at least one for every 300 square feet through the attic space.

2. The markers shall be affixed to trusses or joists marking the minimum initial installed thickness and minimum settled thickness with numbers a minimum of one-inch in height.

3. Each marker shall face the attic access.

4. The thickness of installed insulation shall meet or exceed the minimum initial installed thickness shown by the marker.

(6)   Certificate.

(a) A permanent certificate shall be posted on or immediately adjacent to the electrical distribution panel.

(b) The certificate shall be completed by the owner, builder or insulation installer.

(c) The certificate shall list at least the following information:

1. The predominant R-values of insulation installed in or on ceilings or roofs, walls, foundation walls, slabs and any heating ducts that are outside the thermal envelope.

2. The U-factors of all windows, skylights and doors.

(d) If using the REScheck or REM/Rate software programs, the certificate shall be printed from that program.

CR 08-043 : cr. Register March 2009 No. 639 , eff. 4-1-09; correction in (3) (a) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1. , Stats., Register March 2009 No. 639 ; correction in (3) (b) 2., (c) 3. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7. , Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672 .

Note

The REScheck program will automatically account for air films and other building materials. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1