Venting: The Pros & Cons of Conditioned & Unconditioned Attics

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Las Vegas Convention Center, North 260

Format: Building Knowledge Session
Level of Content: Novice
Track: Building Techniques, Systems & Materials
Continuing Education: NAHB - 1.00 CE hour(s), NKBA - 0.1 CEU(s), AIA - 1.00 LU hour(s)
Appropriate for: Designers, Architects, Engineers & Planners, Subcontractors & Specialty Trade Contractors, Single Family - All

Speaker(s): 
Jacob Atalla, KB Home, Los Angeles, CA
Achilles Karagiozis, Owens Corning, Toledo, OH

What It’s About:
Changes in California's 2013 Building Energy Efficiency Standards Energy Code and implications of the International Residential Code have made conditioned verses unconditioned attics (or vented versus unvented) an industry hot topic. To address the confusion facing today's builders and architects, this session will use the latest performance results from field testing, advanced simulation hygrothermal modeling and building science advancements to explore strengths and weaknesses of both types of attics. Data will also be used to address sustainability, durability, moisture control and affordability across several climate zones. You'll leave this session with a clearer understanding of and the tools needed to create high performance attics.

What You'll Learn:
Recognize the risks and rewards of both conditioned and unconditioned attic scenarios based on comparative analysis.
Understand energy flow and how to manage thermal control, moisture control and air control in key climate zones to optimize high performance attic solutions.
Identify the appropriate insulation strategies and solutions to achieve high performance attics in different climate zones.
Understand moisture control and air control in key climate zones to optimize high performance attic solutions.