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Title: Measure Guideline: Buried and/or Encapsulated Ducts

Abstract

Buried and/or encapsulated ducts (BEDs) are a class of advanced, energy-efficiency strategies intended to address the significant ductwork thermal losses associated with ducts installed in unconditioned attics. BEDs are ducts installed in unconditioned attics that are covered in loose-fill insulation and/or encapsulated in closed cell polyurethane spray foam insulation. This Measure Guideline covers the technical aspects of BEDs as well as the advantages, disadvantages, and risks of BEDs compared to other alternative strategies. This guideline also provides detailed guidance on installation of BEDs strategies in new and existing homes through step-by-step installation procedures. This Building America Measure Guideline synthesizes previously published research on BEDs and provides practical information to builders, contractors, homeowners, policy analysts, building professions, and building scientists. Some of the procedures presented here, however, require specialized equipment or expertise. In addition, some alterations to duct systems may require a specialized license. Persons implementing duct system improvements should not go beyond their expertise or qualifications. This guideline provides valuable information for a building industry that has struggled to address ductwork thermal losses in new and existing homes. As building codes strengthen requirements for duct air sealing and insulation, flexibility is needed to address energy efficiency goals. While ductwork inmore » conditioned spaces has been promoted as the panacea for addressing ductwork thermal losses, BEDs installations approach - and sometimes exceed - the performance of ductwork in conditioned spaces.« less

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Building Technologies Program
OSTI Identifier:
1096110
Report Number(s):
DOE/GO-102013-3893
KNDJ-0-4034-00
DOE Contract Number:  
AC36-08GO28308
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Related Information: Work performed by Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings (CARB), Norwalk, Connecticut
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; DUCTWORK; BURIED; ENCAPSULATED; CONDENSATE; ATTICS; THERMAL LOSSES; DUCT LEAKAGE; RESIDENTIAL; RESIDENTIAL BUILDING; CONSORTIUM FOR ADVANCED RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS (CARB); BUILDING AMERICA; Buildings

Citation Formats

Shapiro, C., Zoeller, W., and Mantha, P. Measure Guideline: Buried and/or Encapsulated Ducts. United States: N. p., 2013. Web. doi:10.2172/1096110.
Shapiro, C., Zoeller, W., & Mantha, P. Measure Guideline: Buried and/or Encapsulated Ducts. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1096110
Shapiro, C., Zoeller, W., and Mantha, P. 2013. "Measure Guideline: Buried and/or Encapsulated Ducts". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1096110. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1096110.
@article{osti_1096110,
title = {Measure Guideline: Buried and/or Encapsulated Ducts},
author = {Shapiro, C. and Zoeller, W. and Mantha, P.},
abstractNote = {Buried and/or encapsulated ducts (BEDs) are a class of advanced, energy-efficiency strategies intended to address the significant ductwork thermal losses associated with ducts installed in unconditioned attics. BEDs are ducts installed in unconditioned attics that are covered in loose-fill insulation and/or encapsulated in closed cell polyurethane spray foam insulation. This Measure Guideline covers the technical aspects of BEDs as well as the advantages, disadvantages, and risks of BEDs compared to other alternative strategies. This guideline also provides detailed guidance on installation of BEDs strategies in new and existing homes through step-by-step installation procedures. This Building America Measure Guideline synthesizes previously published research on BEDs and provides practical information to builders, contractors, homeowners, policy analysts, building professions, and building scientists. Some of the procedures presented here, however, require specialized equipment or expertise. In addition, some alterations to duct systems may require a specialized license. Persons implementing duct system improvements should not go beyond their expertise or qualifications. This guideline provides valuable information for a building industry that has struggled to address ductwork thermal losses in new and existing homes. As building codes strengthen requirements for duct air sealing and insulation, flexibility is needed to address energy efficiency goals. While ductwork in conditioned spaces has been promoted as the panacea for addressing ductwork thermal losses, BEDs installations approach - and sometimes exceed - the performance of ductwork in conditioned spaces.},
doi = {10.2172/1096110},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1096110}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2013},
month = {Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2013}
}