Roof Space Ventilation

So the decision to vent an attic space is not dictated by building code.

Roof space ventilation.

Bathroom vent felt lap vent. Too many people believe the importance of roof ventilation is to increase energy efficiency during the summer. Vent the roof deck. Good roof ventilation can do this but shingle color sun exposure and insulation are exponentially more important to overall energy efficiency than ventilation.

Ventilation of attic spaces is required by most building codes as well as by roofing material manufacturers and the national roofing contractors association nrca. Touch your ceiling on a warm sunny day. If the attic space is going to be conditioned either for living or mechanical purposes or if a home design calls for a vaulted ceiling provision r806 3 in the international residential code calls for the roof deck above the space to be vented continuously from the eave to the ridge. Here are four signs of an unventilated or under ventilated attic.

A hot ceiling tells you that the attic is acting like a solar oven. However since the 2009 edition of the irc attics can be designed to be either vented or unvented. Proper attic ventilation can help reduce the load on your air conditioner. If you need soffit vents the good.

Let owens corning roofing help you calculate exactly how much ventilation you will need for a healthy and balanced attic with our 4 step ventilation calculator. Ventilation at the eaves roof voids must be ventilated in order to stop warm air condensing on cold surfaces. Ventilating attic spaces is often viewed as a technical requirement for steep slope roof assemblies as well as a building code requirement. Attic ventilation works on the principle that heated air naturally rises primarily utilizing two types of vents.

Ventilation can be accomplished using various products and techniques. Hot air exhaust vents located at the peak of the roof allow hot air to escape. Condensation encourages rot and mould growth. Soffit vents sometimes known as eaves vents.

The air gap dimensions shown on the drawings are the minimum widths required for clear continuous ventilation air paths at the eaves. Often called a felt lap vent because they are mostly fitted to older roofs with bitumen felt. You can see these fitted to most modern houses and are. To calculate the amount of ventilation you need for your home visit gaf s ventilation calculator now.

Calculate or enter the square footage of the attic or area to be vented. Look at your eaves and roof. Most building codes require a ratio of 1 150 ventilation space to attic floor space. Intake vents located at the lowest part of the roof under the eaves allow cool air to enter the attic.