Exit Inspection-HPH Air Barriers: Walls

ENERGY STAR® Checklist

AIR BARRIERS AT WALLS

Project

Builder

Inspection date

IECC Climate Zone

Walls Behind Showers and Tubs

Air barrier is installed behind showers and tubs located on exterior walls.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

Insulation is installed without misalignments, compressions, gaps, or voids in all exterior wall cavities behind tubs and showers.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

All wall cavities are covered with a rigid air barrier or other supporting material to prevent cavity insulation from sagging and to create a continuous thermal barrier.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

All seams, gaps, and holes in the air barrier are sealed with caulk or foam before tub/shower installation.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

Moisture-resistant backing materials such as fiber-cement, fiber-reinforced gypsum, glass mat gypsum, or fiber mat-reinforced cementitous backer panels have been used as rigid air barriers behind showers and tubs.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

Air Barrier at Shower-Tub

►Air Barrier at Shower-Tub Video 1

►Air Barrier at Shower-Tub Video 2

►Air Barrier at Shower-Tub Video 3

Air Barrier at Tub-Shower CAD

Air Barrier at Tub-Shower Resource Guide

Staircase Walls

Air barrier is installed behind staircases on exterior walls.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

Insulation is installed without misalignments, compressions, gaps, or voids in exterior wall cavities behind staircases along exterior walls.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

A rigid air barrier of rigid foam insulation, drywall, plywood, or OSB is installed to prevent wall cavity insulation from sagging and to create a continuous thermal barrier on exterior walls.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

All seams, gaps, and holes in the air barrier are sealed with caulk or foam.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

The air barrier is continuous and in full contact with the insulation.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

If spray foam insulation is used for the wall cavity insulation, the spray foam is at least 5.5 inches thick if open-cell or at least 1.5 inches thick if closed-cell spray foam insulation.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

In all climate zones, an air barrier is installed at the exterior vertical surface of the wall insulation.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

In climate Zones 4-8, an air barrier is also installed at the interior vertical surface.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

Air Barrier at Staircase Walls

Air Barrier at Staircase Walls Resource Guide

Walls Behind Fireplaces

An air barrier is installed behind fireplaces on exterior walls.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

Insulation is installed without misalignments, compressions, gaps, or voids in all exterior wall cavities behind fireplaces.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

The wall cavities behind the fireplace are covered with a fire-proof rigid air barrier or other supporting material to create a continuous thermal barrier and prevent a fire hazard.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

Any and all seams, gaps, and holes in the air barrier are sealed with fire-rated caulk or foam before fireplace installation.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

Clearances between combustible materials and the firebox and flue are maintained as required by the International Residential Code.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

Air Barrier at Fireplace

Air Barrier at Fireplace CAD

Air Barrier at Fireplace Resource Guide

Attic Knee Walls

An air barrier is installed on the exterior of attic knee wall insulation.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

All open floor joist cavities under attic knee walls are blocked.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

Top and bottom plates and/or blocking is installed in all knee wall cavities.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

Insulation is installed without misalignments, compressions, gaps, or voids in all knee wall cavities.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

A continuous air barrier of rigid foam insulation, drywall, plywood, or OSB is installed on the exterior side of the attic knee wall framing to prevent the knee wall cavity insulation from sagging and to create a continuous thermal barrier.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

All seams, gaps, and holes in the air barrier are sealed with caulk or foam.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

If spray foam insulation is used for the wall cavity insulation, the spray foam is at least 5.5 inches thick if open-cell or at least 1.5 inches thick if closed-cell spray foam insulation.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

Blocking is installed in the joist bays below the knee walls to prevent air flow under the knee walls.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

Air Barrier at Attic Knee Wall

►Air Barrier at Attic Knee Wall

Air Barrier at Attic Knee Wall CAD

Air Barrier at Attic Knee Wall Resource Guide

Skylight Shaft Walls

Insulation and an air barrier is installed around skylight shafts.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

If non-rigid insulation is used in the wall cavities of the skylight shaft, a rigid air barrier is installed on the exterior side of the shaft wall framing to prevent the cavity insulation from sagging and to create a continuous thermal barrier.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

The rigid air barrier material is made of rigid foam insulation, drywall, plywood, or OSB.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

All seams, gaps, and holes in the air barrier are sealed with caulk or foam.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

If spray foam insulation is used for the wall cavity insulation, the spray foam is at least 5.5 inches thick if open-cell or at least 1.5 inches thick if closed-cell spray foam insulation.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

The air barrier is continuous and in full contact with the insulation.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

In all climate zones, an air barrier is installed at the exterior vertical surface of the wall insulation.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

In climate Zones 4-8, an air barrier is also installed at the interior vertical surface.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

Air Barrier at Skylight Shaft

►Air Barrier at Skylight Shaft

Air Barrier at Skylight Shaft CAD

Air Barrier at Skylight Shaft Resource Guide

Garage Rim Joist Next To Conditioned Space

The rim and band joists of walls separating an attached garage from the home’s conditioned space is air sealed and insulated.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

The garage is designed so that floor joists run parallel to the wall separating the garage from the living space, forming a natural air barrier.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

All rigid air barriers used to block open rim joists are of rigid foam insulation, drywall, plywood, or OSB.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

All seams, gaps or holes in the rim joist or joist bay blocking material are air sealed using caulk or foam.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

The rim joist area is insulated to code-required levels using rigid foam, spray foam, or a combination of rigid or spray foam and batt insulation.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

The air barrier is continuous and in full contact with the insulation.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

If spray foam insulation is used for the wall cavity insulation, the spray foam is at least 5.5 inches thick if open-cell or at least 1.5 inches thick if closed-cell spray foam insulation.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

In all climate zones, an air barrier is installed at the exterior vertical surface of the wall insulation.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

In climate Zones 4-8, an air barrier is also installed at the interior vertical surface.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

Air Barrier at Garage Rim Joist

►Air Barrier at Garage Rim Joist Video 1

►Air Barrier at Garage Rim Joist Video 2

Air Barrier at Garage Rim Joist CAD

Air Barrier at Garage Rim Joist Resource Guide

Wall Next to Porch Roof

A rigid air barrier is installed to separate the porch attic from the conditioned space.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

Insulation is installed in the exterior wall cavities without misalignments, compressions, gaps, or voids.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

A continuous rigid air barrier made of rigid foam insulation, drywall, plywood, or OSB is installed on the exterior side of the wall.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

The air barrier to the framing is sealed with a bead of caulk applied to the exterior face of the framing before the air barrier is installed.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

All seams, gaps, and holes in the air barrier are sealed with caulk or foam.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

The air barrier is continuous and in full contact with the insulation.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

In all climate zones, an air barrier is installed at the exterior vertical surface of the wall insulation.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

In climate Zones 4-8, an air barrier is also installed at the interior vertical surface.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

If spray foam insulation is used for the wall cavity insulation, the spray foam is at least 5.5 inches thick if open-cell or at least 1.5 inches thick if closed-cell spray foam insulation.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

If spray foam insulation is used for the wall cavity insulation, the spray foam is at least 5.5 inches thick if open-cell or at least 1.5 inches thick if closed-cell spray foam insulation.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

If this wall is not hidden from view by a porch ceiling, the wall is covered with exterior siding.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

Air Barrier at Porch

Air Barrier at Porch CAD

Air Barrier at Porch Resource Guide

Double Walls

Double-walls that are half-height or full-height walls used as architectural features are air sealed and insulated.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

A continuous air barrier is installed on the exterior of the interior wall.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

All seams, gaps, and holes of the air barrier are sealed with caulk or foam.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

Insulation is installed in the interior wall cavity equal in R-value to other exterior wall cavity in the home, without misalignments, compressions, gaps, or voids.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

OR, the entire cavity of the double wall assembly is densely packed with blown insulation, ensuring the insulation is in contact with the insulation to the top of the wall cavity with no misalignments, compressions, gaps, or voids in the insulation.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

The air barrier is continuous and in full contact with the insulation.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

If spray foam insulation is used for the wall cavity insulation, the spray foam is at least 5.5 inches thick if open-cell or at least 1.5 inches thick if closed-cell spray foam insulation.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

In all climate zones, an air barrier is installed at the exterior vertical surface of the wall insulation.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

In climate Zones 4-8, an air barrier is also installed at the interior vertical surface.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

►Air Barrier at Double Wall Video

Air Barrier at Double Wall CAD

Air Barrier at Double Wall Resource Guide

Continuous Air Barrier in Exterior Walls

A continuous air barrier exists around the entire thermal envelope of the home.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

The air barrier is in full contact with the insulation.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

The materials used as the air barrier of the home’s thermal envelope (walls, floors, and ceiling) are identified on the house plans.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

All seams, gaps, and holes in the air barrier are sealed.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

In all climate zones, an air barrier is installed at the exterior vertical surface of the wall insulation.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

In climate Zones 4-8, an air barrier is also installed at the interior vertical surface.

Yes/Pass/True No/Fail/False NA See Notes

Air Barrier at Exterior Walls

►Air Barrier at Exterior Walls

Air Barrier at Exterior Walls CAD

Air Barrier at Exterior Walls Resource Guide

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