ENERGY STAR® Checklist
WATER-MANAGEMENT:
Project
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Inspection date
Patio Slabs, Porch Slabs, Walks and Driveways Slope Away From House
Final Grade Slopes Away From Foundation
Capillary Break Beneath Slab - Polyethylene Sheeting or Rigid Insulation
The capillary break should consist of 4 inches of aggregate stone or 4 inches of sand covered by geotextile matting, with an additional vapor barrier over the stone or sand consisting of ≥ 6-mil polyethylene sheeting lapped 6-12 inches with seams sealed, or ≥ 1-inch extruded polystyrene rigid foam insulation with joints taped.
Capillary Break Under Concrete Slab At Crawlspace
This capillary break application requires ≥6-mil polyethylene sheeting underlying the slab. All seams in the sheeting are lapped 6-12 inches and sealed with a continuous bead of acoustical sealant, butyl rubber, or butyl acrylic caulk, or with tape manufactured to seal or patch polyethylene.
Damp-Proof Exterior Surface of Below-Grade Walls
Poured Concrete
Masonry Block
Insulated Concrete Form (ICF)
Wood Framed Walls
No Vapor Retarders On Interior Side of Air-Permeable Foundation Insulation
In basements or crawlspaces that are insulated along the interior side of the exterior walls with an air-permeable insulation, ENERGY STAR Certified Homes requires that builders do not install a Class 1 vapor retarder on the interior side of the air-permeable insulation. Class I vapor barriers should also not be installed on the interior side of air-permeable insulation in above-grade exterior walls in warm-humid climates (EPA 2015).
The 2009 IRC defines Class I vapor retarders as a material or assembly with a rating of ≤0.1 perm.
Examples of Class I vapor retarders include rubber membranes, polyethylene sheeting, glass, aluminum foil, sheet metal, foil-faced insulating sheathings, foil-faced non-insulating sheathings, and vinyl wall paper.
Class I vapor barriers can be used on the interior side of below-grade walls if air-permeable insulation is not present (for example, foil-faced rigid foam board can be installed on the interior of below-grade concrete foundation walls).
Open-cell and closed-cell spray foams typically have perm ratings above 0.1 so they can be used unless the manufacturer specifies that a product has a perm rating ≤ 0.1 or so long as the spray foam is not sprayed to a depth that makes it ≤ 0.1 perm.
Exceptions: Impermeable materials such as ceramic tile may be installed over fibrous insulation at shower and tub walls.
Sump Pump Cover Gasket
Footing Drain Pipe
According to the International Residential Code and ENERGY STAR® Certified Homes, drain tile is not required when a certified hydrologist, soil scientist, or engineer has determined that a foundation is installed in well-drained ground or sand-gravel mixture soils, as identified in the 2009 IRC, Table R405.1.
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