Attic Baffles Requirements

The main function of an attic baffle is to draw the air in from outside your home and allowing it to circulate around your attic.

Attic baffles requirements.

For loose fill read labels. Ventilation openings having a least dimension larger than 1 4 inch 6 4 mm shall be provided with corrosion resistant wire cloth screening hardware cloth perforated vinyl or similar material with openings having a least dimension of 1 16 inch 1 6 mm minimum and 1 4 inch 6 4 mm maximum. For all eaves with vents fasten bottom of baffle in place to allow insulation to completely cover the top plate. An attic needs to be insulated to keep your house warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

How important is using baffles in attic insulation. Attic ventilation works on the principle that heated air naturally rises primarily utilizing two types of vents. For that reason you should check your baffles yearly for damage replacing any damaged baffles as you find them. During the summer soffit and gable vents draw.

Bob using the formula above you would need 8 8 square feet or 1 267 square inches of vent space in your attic. First for the good is how they have the baffle running up past the insulation by at least 16 which helps prevent almost any possibilities of wind washing from occurring. Surprisingly even the most well insulated attic space may still require the assistance of attic baffles to provide the additional air circulation. Ben ericksondecember 27 2007 at 4 52 pm.

For batts or rolls calculate the number based on the width and length of the product you re using. Proper air circulation in the attic is all about preventing moisture buildup. Measure your attic s square footage. This can cause all sorts of problems from mold to decay.

A first off a fiberglass plug is basically worthless and does not meet the air sealing requirements in the 2009 iecc. Since each 4 diameter hole would have an area of 12 56 square inches 3 14 x r you would divide 1 267 by 12 56 to come up with 101 vents. Rafter vents or insulation baffles install in any rafter space. Ah the bad are easily spotted as we labeled them.

Fasten top portion of baffle in place to allow for a minimum 1 inch space between baffle and roof deck. That airflow is intended to churn the stale air in. The second major issue is the large gap between the baffle ridge and the insulation. When you have insulation without ventilation though humidity and moisture can build up.

You can situate the baffles where the circulation is mainly required. Basic functions of baffles baffles are chutes that when installed properly can provide a channel for air to flow from your exterior soffit vents up into your attic space.