Barricade® Building Wraps and Barricade® Thermo-Brace® Structural Insulative Board (S.I.B) are both superb material choices that will help contractors pass a building envelope inspection checklist. Both Barricade Building Wraps and Barricade Thermo-Brace S.I.B are excellent air and moisture barriers, durable and strong, and easy to install. All of which help a builder pass the building envelope inspection checklist.

The Importance of a Code Compliant Building Envelope Checklist

The building envelope inspection checklist is vital to preventing air and moisture movement, in or out of a building or home. The building envelope includes all the exterior components of a structure that protect the interior of the building from exterior elements, mainly air and moisture.

A building envelope expert should conduct the building envelope inspection according to the 2018 International Energy Conservation Codes (IECC) and state and local codes. The expert must survey all components of the building envelope to ensure their integrity and their resistance to the transfer of air and moisture between the interior and exterior of a building or home.

2018 IECC Thermal Building Envelope Requirements

  • The 2018 residential International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) Section R402.4 mandates the thermal building envelope shall be built to limit air leakage in accordance with the requirements of Sections R402.4.1 through R402.4.5.
  • The 2018 commercial IECC section 5 mandates the thermal envelope of buildings shall comply with Sections C402.5.1 through C402.5.8.

16 Vital Components to a Building Thermal Envelope Inspection Checklist

1.General Requirements

The general requirements for a building thermal envelope include a continuous air barrier and sealing of all breaks or joints. There are specific components of the thermal building envelope a building envelope expert must inspect to ensure a building envelope with a continuous air barrier and seals at all breaks and joints.

Air Barrier Criteria

  • Check for alignment of the insulation and the air barrier in the drop ceiling or soffit and seal any gaps in the air barrier.
  • Check that the opening, drop down stairs, or knee wall doors to unconditioned attic spaces is sealed.

Insulation Installation Criteria

  • Check that the air-permeable insulation is not acting as a sealing material.

Barricade Products Help Contractors Pass the General Requirements for a Building Thermal Envelope

Barricade Thermo-Brace Structural Sheathing

 

  • Barricade Thermo-Brace S.I.B. has a weather resistant barrier on both sides of the panel providing a wall system with continuous air and moisture barrier.
  • Barricade Building Wrap is a continuous air barrier assembly that manages air and moisture infiltration within the building envelope. In addition, Barricade Building Wrap is permeable to vapor (11 US perms), which allow moisture that enters the envelope to evaporate.

2. Inspection of the Ceiling and Attic Space

Air Barrier Criteria

  • Check for alignment of the air barrier in the dropped ceilings or soffit with the insulation and ensure any gaps in the air barrier are sealed.
  • Check that the access openings drop down stairs or knee wall doors to unconditioned attic spaces are sealed

Insulation Installation Criteria

  • Check for alignment of the insulation in the dropped ceiling or soffit with the air barrier

3. Building Envelope Inspection of the Wall System

Air Barrier Criteria

  • Check that the junction of the foundations and sill plates are sealed
  • Check that the junction at the top plate and top of the exterior walls are sealed
  • Check that the knee walls are sealed

Insulation Installation Criteria

  • Check that the cavities in the corners and headers of the framed walls are filled with a product having a thermal resistance (R-value) of at least R-3 per inch.
  • Check that the exterior thermal envelope insulation for the framed walls is in contact and continuous alignment with the air barrier.

Barricade Products Help Contractors Pass the Building Envelope Inspection of the Wall System

  • Barricade Building Wrap is strong and simple to install, which limits the occurrence of gaps and cracks in the air barrier before, during and after installation. The integrity and ease of applications of Barricade Building Wrap helps builders pass the building envelope inspection and avoid construction defects that add costs and time.
  • Barricade Thermo-Brace S.I.B. combines superior strength, moisture and air resistance, and BASF Neopor® GPS (Graphite Polystyrene) rigid insulation in one solution, which limits damage to the air and moisture barrier before, during and after installation.

4. Inspection of the Windows, Doors, and Skylights

Barricade Thermo-Brace S.I.B.

 

Air Barrier Criteria

  • Check for proper sealing between the framing and skylights, and the jambs of the windows and doors.

5. Building Envelope Inspection of the Rim Joists

Air Barrier Criteria

  • Check that rim joints include an air barrier

Insulation Installation Criteria

  • Check that the rim joists are insulated

6. Inspection of the Floors, Including Cantilevered Floors and Floors Above the Garage

Air Barrier Criteria

  • Check for an air barrier at any exposed edge of the insulation

Insulation Installation Criteria

  • Check that the floor framing cavity insulation maintains permanent contact with the underside of the subfloor decking
  • Check that the floor framing cavity insulation is in contact with the top side of sheathing or the continuous insulation installed on the underside of floor framing
  • Check that the floor framing cavity extends from the bottom to the top of all perimeter floor framing members

7. Building Envelope Inspection of the Crawl Space Walls

Air Barrier Criteria

  • Check that exposed earth in unvented crawl spaces is covered with a Class I vapor retarder with overlapping joints taped

Insulation Installation

  • Check that the crawl space insulation (when used instead of floor insulation) is permanently attached to the walls

8. Building Envelope Inspection of the Shafts and Penetrations

Air Barrier Criteria

  • Check duct shafts, utility penetrations, and flue shafts opening to exterior or unconditioned spaces are sealed

9. Inspection of Narrow Cavities

Insulation Installation

  • Check that the batts in narrow cavities are cut to fit, or filled by insulation that conforms to the available cavity

10. Building Envelope Inspection of the Garage Separation

Air Barrier Criteria

  • Check that the area between the garage and conditioned spaces is sealed

11. Building Envelope Inspection of the Recessed Lighting

Air Barrier Criteria

  • Check that the recessed light fixtures within the thermal envelope are sealed to the finished surface

Insulation Installation Criteria

  • Check that the recessed light fixtures installed in the building envelope are airtight and insulated contact (IC) rated

12. Building Envelope Inspection of the Plumbing and Wiring

Insulation Installation

  • Check that within the exterior walls that the batt insulation is cut neatly to fit around the wiring and plumbing
  • Or, check that the installed insulation conforms to the available space and extends behind the piping and wiring

13. Inspection of the Exterior Wall of the Shower and Tub

Air Barrier Criteria

  • Check that the air barriers installed on the exterior walls adjacent to the tubs and showers, separate the wall from the shower and tub

Insulation Installation

  • Check for insulation on the exterior walls adjacent to the tubs and showers

14. Electrical and Phone Box Inspection on the Exterior Walls

Air Barrier Criteria

Check for an air barrier behind the air-sealed electrical and communication boxes.

15. Building Envelope Inspection of the HVAC Air Barrier Criteria

Air Barrier Criteria

  • Check for proper sealing of HVAC supply and return register boots that penetrate the thermal building envelope to the subfloor, wall covering or the areas of the ceiling that are penetrated by the boot

16. Building Envelope Inspection of the Concealed Sprinklers

Air Barrier Criteria

  • Check that the fire sprinklers that require sealing are done so by manufacturer recommendations
  • Check that caulking, or other adhesive sealants are not used to fill voids between fire sprinkler cover plates and walls or ceilings

Building Envelope Inspection Checklist for Water Leaks

A building envelope inspection should also assess potential parts of the building envelope where liquid water may leak into a building’s envelope, for instance:

  • Are there gaps and cracks in the mortar joints of a brick facade
  • Are the seals around the windows or skylights deteriorating or splitting
  • Is the roof in need of repair
  • Are the window wells properly installed and the drains clog free
  • Are there any areas around the foundation that may be susceptible to leaks due to the pressure produced by water in the soil surrounding the foundation

House keys being handed to a couple

The building envelope inspection is crucial to creating a home or building that is energy-efficient, moisture-resistant, comfortable, and durable. A building envelope inspection checklist includes all elements of the building envelope that protect the interior of a structure from air and moisture intrusion.

Barricade Building Wraps and Barricade Thermo-Brace S.I.B. are both excellent material choices for ensuring a building or home will pass a building envelope inspection. Both are superb air and moisture barriers, durable, strong, and easy to install. All of which help a building pass the building envelope inspection checklist according to the 2018 IECC and state and local codes.