Q:

I am planning on using open-cell spray foam to insulate the roof of a new house. The framer told me today that even with the spray insulation, we would still be venting the ridge and soffits. Are we making a mistake that will jeopardize the integrity of the insulation? I was under the impression that the attic would be sealed.

John Rankin, Mendenhall, MS

A:

Michael Chandler, owner of Chandler Design-Build near Chapel Hill, N.C., and Bruce Harley, technical director of Conservation Services Group in Westborough, Mass., respond: Sealed attics perform much better than vented attics in the South; providing soffit and ridge vents is not a good idea. Humidity is likely to come from the outside air in your area, so the best approach is to seal the attic and keep airborne humidity from diffusing through the foam. The 2015 IRC outlines requirements for unvented attics, most notably that when spray foam alone is used, insulation “shall be applied in direct contact with the underside of the structural roof sheathing.” Basically, code prohibits venting when you spray foam on the underside of the roof. There are minimum foam R-values if you use spray or rigid foam in combination with traditional air-permeable insulation (like fiberglass or cellulose), but they don’t apply in your case.

Note that the code-required R-values for the roof and gable walls from IRC chapter 11 still need to be met. Despite some installer claims, spraying foam does not provide more R-value than the rated R-value of the material (about 3.3 per in. for open-cell foams).

Winter condensation is much less of an issue in the South, but we still think it’s a good idea to seal the ductwork and the attic floor to keep winter humidity from passing into the attic space.

If, despite your efforts, the framer or the code official insists on venting (recognizing that sometimes it’s impractical to win these fights), we suggest switching to closed-cell foam, which is vapor tight and less risky (though more expensive).

Once you commit to a sealed attic, you need to isolate it from the living space with a drywall separation for fire protection. If the attic is accessed only for mechanical-system service, code requires an ignition barrier, such as 3/8-in. drywall, on the underside of the rafters. Most reputable manufacturers publish evaluation service (ICC-ES) reports that outline specific alternatives, such as sprayed coatings—and, in some cases, even exposed service—for specific foam locations and thicknesses. Make sure the installers endorse and agree to follow the ICC-ES installation requirements closely. If they pass them off and say, “That’s not important,” find another foam contractor.

It is important to get the foam between the rafters or trusses down where they join the top of the walls so that all the wiring and plumbing penetrations in the top plate are buried in foam. The typical way to do this is to fit strips of oriented strand board (OSB) to the outside of the upper top plate (drawing above).