Building codes generally require free vent area of one square foot for each 150 square feet of ceiling. Continuous baffle at eaves should be installed to prevent insulation from blocking air flow.
Insulation stops heat escaping from living spaces, so it will make your loft space cooler, which could introduce or worsen existing damp or condensation problems. If you are installing loft insulation yourself, please keep in mind that you may need to increase ventilation.
You'll need to start laying with a minimum gap of 25mm between the eaves and the insulation to ensure a suitable air gap. Maintain this gap along two opposite sides of the loft.
Find the total airflow required.
Multiply the length in mm, by the continuous airflow required. Eg – for a 10m long roof, requiring 5mm continuous airflow Do 10m x 1000 = 10,000mm long roof Then 10,000mm x 5mm = 50,000mm2 airflow.
It's a good idea to place the same number of soffit vents on either side of the space while ensuring to avoid placing any vents over the framing (lookout for nails and seams that indicate their presence). You can use a cardboard template 1 inch smaller than the vent to help create accurate cutting lines.
Not less than 40 percent and not more than 50 percent of the required ventilating area is provided by ventilators located in the upper portion of the attic or rafter space. Upper ventilators shall be located not more than 3 feet (914 mm) below the ridge or highest point of the space, measured vertically.
Having too many vents in your roof can increase the chances of water leaking into your loft space and causing damage. Not enough and moisture won't be able to escape, leading to problems associated with condensation build up. The amount of ventilation required is dependent on your roof size, shape and material.
The net free ventilating area shall not be less than 1/150 of the area of the space ventilated, with 50 percent of the required ventilating area provided by ventilators located in the upper portion of the space to be ventilated at least 3 feet (914 mm) above eave or cornice vents with the balance of the required ...
Indicators include a musty smell, visible mould spots, dampness on insulation, or excessive heat during summer months. It's also wise to check for frost on roofing nails or condensation on windows within the loft during colder months.
Most local building codes require compliance with either the 1/150 method or the 1/300 method exception (refer to local code). These methods can dictate that one (1) square foot of ventilation is provided for every 150 or 300 square feet of attic floor space.
No matter the size or climate of your loft, there's a solution out there. No matter the type you choose, you should make sure that you're achieving good cross-ventilation. That means fitting vents on opposite sides of the loft to make sure that there's are separate entry and exit points for wind draughts.
A vapour barrier is a damp-proof membrane used to create a perfect seal between the surface you want to insulate and the rest of the loft. This should prevent condensation from the home rising into the roof which would end up degrading the insulating materials.
For cold ventilated loft spaces, be sure to maintain the ventilation at the eaves. This is ensured by maintaining a minimum 25mm gap between the insulation and the membrane. Better still – terminate the loft insulation at the point where it meets the rafters (Fig. 26).
At first it may seem odd to add insulation for warmth and then purposely allow cold air to enter the attic through vents, but this combination is the key to a durable and energy-efficient home.
A loft dehumidifier helps to prevent condensation, damp and moisture damage from occurring in attic spaces. When moisture is trapped in a loft, it can cause damp, mould growth, odours, rot and also damage stored items. The right dehumidifier can prevent these kinds of problems in homes and other buildings.
This rule means, at least half of your attic space must be 7 feet high by 7 feet wide, with a total of 70 square feet. Keep in mind, codes vary from place to place, but for using the attic as an actual room, this rule typically applies.
Is there enough intake ventilation? A minimum of 50% ventilation should be provided by intake vents and a ratio of 60% intake/40% exhaust should not be exceeded. If there is too much intake, the attic will become pressurized causing the intake vents to become exhaust vents.
According to the International Residential Code (Section R806. 2) and International Building Code (Section 1202.2. 1), attics require a minimum of 1/150 of NFA but can be reduced to 1/300 if certain conditions are met.
Possible dangers of loft insulation
Fibreglass: Made from recycled glass products, fibreglass is spun into blanket-like sheets that seem soft to the touch but can cause serious skin and eye irritation if in direct contact. Airborne fibreglass particles can cause respiratory discomfort, and even trigger asthma.
Maintaining adequate attic ventilation is essential for the overall health of you and your home. Without proper ventilation, you risk mold mildew growth, general deterioration of your roofing system, and even increased respiratory problems due to this moisture accumulation.
Warm roofs are typically designed with the insulation between and/or above rafters making the roof space habitable. Like a cold roof, warm roof ventilation is required at high and low level to remove moisture-laden air from the roof space and comply with Approved Document C and the British Standards BS 5250.
The first sign of poor attic ventilation is when your upstairs rooms are uncomfortably hot. Without proper attic ventilation, the hot air gets trapped with no fresh air being pulled in. This heat radiates down into the living spaces below to the point where it won't be cool enough to be in them until the sun goes down.
For most homes, a rule-of-thumb is to just multiply the total square footage of the attic by 0.7 to find the minimum ventilation rate in cubic feet per minute (CFM). For homes that have dark shingles and/or steep roofs, the multiplier is increased by 15%, to 0.805.
To calculate the allowable IRC EXCEPTION to the MINIMUM (that is, 1/300 ratio) here's the shortcut: Attic floor square footage ÷ 4 = square inches of EXHAUST and square inches of INTAKE Net Free Area needed.