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Title: Technology Solutions Case Study: Field Testing an Unvented Roof with Asphalt Shingles in a Cold Climate

Abstract

Test houses with unvented roof assemblies were built to measure long-term moisture performance, in the Chicago area (5A) and the Houston area (2A). The Chicago-area test bed had seven experimental rafter bays, including a "control" vented compact roof, and six unvented roof variants with cellulose or fiberglass insulation. The interior was run at 50% RH. All roofs except the vented cathedral assembly experienced wood moisture contents and RH levels high enough to constitute failure. Disassembly at the end of the experiment showed that the unvented fiberglass roofs had wet sheathing and mold growth. In contrast, the cellulose roofs only had slight issues, such as rusted fasteners and sheathing grain raise.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Building Science Corporation
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Building Technologies Office (EE-5B) (Building America)
OSTI Identifier:
1220566
Report Number(s):
DOE/GO-102015-4706
7191
Resource Type:
Program Document
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
DOE/Residential; Residential Buildings; BSC; Building America; Unvented attic; Conditioned attic; Inward drive; Cellulose; Dense-pack cellulose; Roof insulation; Roof retrofit; Asphalt shingles; Cathedralized roof; Insulation; ASHRAE 160

Citation Formats

K. Ueno and J. Lstiburek. Technology Solutions Case Study: Field Testing an Unvented Roof with Asphalt Shingles in a Cold Climate. United States: N. p., 2015. Web.
K. Ueno and J. Lstiburek. Technology Solutions Case Study: Field Testing an Unvented Roof with Asphalt Shingles in a Cold Climate. United States.
K. Ueno and J. Lstiburek. 2015. "Technology Solutions Case Study: Field Testing an Unvented Roof with Asphalt Shingles in a Cold Climate". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1220566.
@article{osti_1220566,
title = {Technology Solutions Case Study: Field Testing an Unvented Roof with Asphalt Shingles in a Cold Climate},
author = {K. Ueno and J. Lstiburek},
abstractNote = {Test houses with unvented roof assemblies were built to measure long-term moisture performance, in the Chicago area (5A) and the Houston area (2A). The Chicago-area test bed had seven experimental rafter bays, including a "control" vented compact roof, and six unvented roof variants with cellulose or fiberglass insulation. The interior was run at 50% RH. All roofs except the vented cathedral assembly experienced wood moisture contents and RH levels high enough to constitute failure. Disassembly at the end of the experiment showed that the unvented fiberglass roofs had wet sheathing and mold growth. In contrast, the cellulose roofs only had slight issues, such as rusted fasteners and sheathing grain raise.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1220566}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}

Program Document:
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