SPS 322.38(1)(a)(a)
Definition. Under this section, a vapor retarder is a material with no intrinsic thermal or structural properties that has a rating of 1.0 perm or less when tested in accordance with ASTM standard E 96, Procedure A.
SPS 322.38(1)(b)1.1. The vapor retarder shall be continuous. All joints in a vapor retarder consisting of sheet material shall be overlapped 6 inches and taped or sealed, except as provided in
subd. 2. Rips, punctures, and voids in the vapor retarder shall be patched with vapor retarder materials and taped or sealed. Seams that are not over a framing member shall be taped or sealed.
SPS 322.38(1)(b)2.
2. Taping or sealing a vapor retarder is not required around doors and windows, behind bathtub enclosures, and at top and bottom wall plates, if the retarder is held to those materials in an airtight manner by other building components, such as gypsum wallboard.
SPS 322.38(2)(a)(a)
General. Except as provided under
par. (c), all frame walls, frame floors and frame ceilings that comprise the thermal envelope, shall have a vapor retarder installed on the warm-in-winter side of the thermal insulation.
SPS 322.38(2)(b)
(b)
Coverage. The vapor retarder shall cover the exposed insulation and the interior face of the framing.
SPS 322.38(2)(c)1.1. Where the vapor retarder is omitted, as allowed under
subds. 2. to
4., all sources of air leakage, such as between double top or bottom plates or between double studs, shall be caulked or sealed.
SPS 322.38(2)(c)3.
3. No vapor retarder is required where batt insulation is provided with foil or kraft paper backing on the warm-in-winter side and the nailing tabs are tightly fastened to the warm-in-winter face of the framing members.
SPS 322.38(2)(c)4.
4. No vapor retarder is required over cavities that have at least 50% of the required R-value provided by spray-applied foam having a perm rating of 1.0 or less, unless required by the foam manufacturer.
SPS 322.38(2)(c)5.
5. A
vapor retarder for a floor over an open, unheated area may consist of 5/8-inch tongue-and-groove oriented-strand board,
or 3/4-inch tongue-and-groove CDX plywood, which is exposure-rated plywood.
SPS 322.38(3)(a)(a) Except as allowed under
par. (d), a vapor retarder shall be installed directly under the concrete floor slab or under the base course of concrete floor slabs.
SPS 322.38(3)(b)
(b) Vapor retarder material shall be at least 6 mils in thickness or shall be a reinforced material.
SPS 322.38(3)(c)
(c) Joints in the vapor retarder shall be overlapped at least 6 inches and taped or sealed.
SPS 322.38(3)(d)
(d) A vapor retarder is not required under the slab of an unconditioned attached garage.
SPS 322.38(4)
(4) Concrete or masonry basement walls. A non-rigid sheet vapor retarder with a perm rating of 0.1 or less is prohibited in all of the following locations:
SPS 322.38(4)(a)
(a) On a concrete or masonry wall which is below grade to any extent.
SPS 322.38(4)(b)
(b) On an insulated frame wall constructed in front of a concrete or masonry wall which is below grade to any extent.
SPS 322.38 History
History: CR 08-043: cr.
Register March 2009 No. 639, eff. 4-1-09;
CR 09-104: r. (3) (d), renum. (3) (e) to be (3) (d)
Register December 2010 No. 660, eff. 1-1-11; correction in (3) (a) made under s.
13.92 (4) (b) 7. Register December 2010 No. 660;
CR 15-041: renum. (1) (b) to (1) (b) 1. and am., cr. (1) (b) 2., am. (2) (c) 4., cr. (2) (c) 5.
Register December 2015 No. 720, eff. 1-1-16.
SPS 322.39
SPS 322.39 Ventilation and moisture control. SPS 322.39(1)(1)
General. Design and construction shall prevent deterioration from moisture condensation and ice damming.
SPS 322.39(2)(a)1.1. Except as allowed under
subd. 6., where air-permeable ceiling or attic insulation is installed in a horizontal position, ventilation shall be provided above the insulation in accordance with this paragraph.
SPS 322.39(2)(a)2.
2. At least 50% of the net free ventilating area shall be distributed at the high sides of the roof.
SPS 322.39(2)(a)3.
3. The remainder of the net free ventilating area shall be distributed in the lower half of the roof or attic area.
SPS 322.39(2)(a)4.
4. If more than 50%, but less than 75% of the net free ventilating area is provided at the high sides of the roof, the total net free ventilating area shall be a minimum of 1/300 of the horizontal area of the ceiling.
SPS 322.39(2)(a)5.
5. If 75% or more of the net free ventilating area is provided at the upper sides of the roof, the total net free ventilating area shall be at least 1/150 of the horizontal area of the ceiling.
SPS 322.39(2)(a)6.
6. Ventilation is not required for separated roof areas, such as dormers, bump-outs or bays that cover a floor area of 40 ft
2 or less.
SPS 322.39(2)(b)
(b) Engineered systems that provide equivalent ventilation to that required under this subsection may be used.
SPS 322.39(3)
(3) Conditioned attics. Attic spaces are not required to be vented where air-impermeable insulation is attached directly to the underside of the roof deck and all of the following conditions are met:
SPS 322.39(3)(a)
(a) No interior vapor retarders are installed between the living space and the conditioned attic.
SPS 322.39(3)(b)
(b) The temperature in the attic space is maintained high enough to prevent any moisture condensation on the insulation.
SPS 322.39 Note
Note: Maintaining the interior surface temperature of the insulation at or above the dew point temperature of the interior air will minimize condensation. Maintaining at least 45°F on the surface of the insulation will minimize condensation on the surface when the interior air temperature is 70°F and the interior relative humidity is 45%.
SPS 322.39(4)
(4) Cathedral ceilings. Air-permeable insulation in a cathedral ceiling assembly shall fill the entire cavity space unless an air barrier separates the top of the insulation from the ventilation space.
SPS 322.39(5)
(5) Mechanical ventilation. Outdoor air intakes and exhausts shall have automatic or gravity dampers that close when the ventilation system is not operating.
SPS 322.39(6)
(6) Clothes dryers. Clothes dryers shall be vented to the outside of the structure.
SPS 322.39 Note
Note: See s.
SPS 323.14 for vent material requirements.
SPS 322.39 History
History: CR 08-043: cr.
Register March 2009 No. 639, eff. 4-1-09.
SPS 322.40
SPS 322.40 Indoor temperatures and equipment sizing. SPS 322.40(1)(1)
General. The indoor temperatures listed under
sub. (2) shall be used to determine the total dwelling heat loss and to select the size of the of the heating equipment.
SPS 322.40(2)
(2) Indoor design temperatures. Unheated, non-habitable basement areas shall use a heating design temperature of less than 50
°F. All other areas of a dwelling shall use a heating design temperature of 70
°F.
SPS 322.40(3)
(3) Equipment sizing. Heating design loads including ventilation loads for the purpose of sizing systems shall be determined in accordance with the REScheck or REM/RATE software programs or one of the procedures described in Chapter
29 of ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals.
SPS 322.40 Note
Note: Residential heat balance, residential load factor, Canadian F280 and ACCA Manuals J and S are among the methods recognized as equipment-sizing protocols under chapter 29.
SPS 322.40 History
History: CR 08-043: cr.
Register March 2009 No. 639, eff. 4-1-09.
SPS 322.41(1)
(1)
General. Each system shall be provided with an adjustable thermostat for the regulation of temperature.
SPS 322.41(2)
(2) Circulating hot water systems. Circulating hot water systems shall include an automatic or readily accessible manual switch to turn off the circulating pump when the system is not in use.
SPS 322.41(3)
(3) Mercury thermostats. The installation of thermostats containing mercury is prohibited.
SPS 322.41 Note
Note: This section does not require the replacement of existing mercury-containing thermostats.
SPS 322.41(4)
(4) Heat pump supplementary heat. Heat pumps having supplementary electric-resistance heat shall have controls that, except during defrost, prevent supplemental heat operation when the heat pump compressor can meet the heating load.
SPS 322.41 History
History: CR 08-043: cr.
Register March 2009 No. 639, eff. 4-1-09.
SPS 322.42(1)
(1) Supply and return heating ducts, or portions thereof, that are not located completely within the thermal envelope, shall be provided with insulation with a thermal resistance of at least R-8.
SPS 322.42(1m)
(1m) Cooling supply ducts that pass through unconditioned spaces conducive to condensation, such as attics, shall be provided with insulation having a thermal resistance of at least R–8. The exterior of that insulation shall be covered with a vapor retarder that meets the requirements in
s. SPS 322.38 (1)
SPS 322.42(2)
(2) Building framing cavities may not be used as supply ducts.
SPS 322.43(1)
(1) Duct systems with joints not located entirely within the conditioned space or with joints located on the unconditioned side of stud bays, joist cavities and similar spaces, shall be sealed in accordance with this section.
SPS 322.43(2)
(2) Sealing shall be accomplished using welds, gaskets, mastics, mastic-plus-embedded-fabric systems or tapes installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
SPS 322.43(3)
(3) Insulation that provides a continuous air barrier may be used in lieu of sealing metal ducts.
SPS 322.43(4)
(4) Tapes and mastics used with rigid fibrous glass ducts shall be listed and labeled as complying with UL 181A.
SPS 322.43(5)
(5) Tapes and mastics used with flexible air ducts shall be listed and labeled as complying with UL 181B.
SPS 322.43(6)
(6) Tapes with rubber-based adhesives may not be used.
SPS 322.43(7)
(7) Except where exempted as indicated in
sub. (8), duct tightness shall be verified by either of the following:
SPS 322.43(7)(a)
(a) Postconstruction test: Leakage to outdoors shall be less than or equal to 8 cfm per 100 ft
2 of conditioned floor area or a total leakage less than or equal to 12 cfm per 100 ft
2 of conditioned floor area when tested at a pressure differential of 0.1 inches w.g. (25 Pa) across the entire system, including the manufacturer's air handler enclosure. All register boots shall be taped or otherwise sealed during the test.
SPS 322.43(7)(b)
(b) Rough-in test: Total leakage shall be less than or equal to 6 cfm per 100 ft
2 of conditioned floor area when tested at a pressure differential of 0.1 inches w.c. (25 Pa) across the roughed in system, including the manufacturer's air handler enclosure. All register boots shall be taped or otherwise sealed during the test. If the air handler is not installed at the time of the test, total leakage shall be less than or equal to 4 cfm per 100 ft
2 of conditioned floor area.
SPS 322.43(8)
(8) A duct tightness test is not required if the air handler and all ducts are located within conditioned space.
SPS 322.43 Note
Note: Standard duct tape or “duck tape" has a rubber-based adhesive and does not comply with the requirements of this section.
SPS 322.43 History
History: CR 08-043: cr.
Register March 2009 No. 639, eff. 4-1-09;
CR 15-041: cr. (7), (8)
Register December 2015 No. 720, eff. 1-1-16; numbering correction in (7) made under s.
13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., and correction in (7) (intro.), (b) made under s.
35.17, Stats.,
Register December 720, eff. 1-1-16.
SPS 322.44(1)
(1) Mechanical system piping capable of carrying fluids above 105
°F (41
°C) or below 55
°F (13
°C) shall be insulated to a minimum of R-3.
SPS 322.44(2)
(2) All circulating service hot water piping shall be insulated to at least R-2. Circulating hot water systems shall include an automatic or readily accessible manual switch that can turn off the hotwater circulating pump when the system is not in use.
SPS 322.44(3)
(3) Heating pipes in unheated spaces shall be insulated with material providing a minimum thermal resistance of R-4 as measured on a flat surface in accordance with ASTM standard C 335 at a mean temperature of 75
°F.
SPS 322.44 History
History: CR 08-043: cr.
Register March 2009 No. 639, eff. 4-1-09;
CR 15-041: renum. 322.44 to 322.44 (3), cr. (1), (2)
Register December 2015 No. 720, eff. 1-1-16.
SPS 322.45
SPS 322.45 Air conditioner and heat pump efficiencies. SPS 322.45(1)(1) Heating and cooling equipment shall meet the minimum efficiency requirements in Table 322.45 when tested and rated in accordance with the applicable test procedure.
SPS 322.45(2)
(2) The efficiency shall be verified through certification under an approved certification program or, if no certification program exists, the equipment efficiency ratings shall be supported by data furnished by the manufacturer.
SPS 322.45(3)
(3) Where multiple rating conditions or performance requirements are provided, the equipment shall satisfy all efficiency requirements under this chapter.
SPS 322.45(4)
(4) Where components, such as indoor or outdoor coils, from different manufacturers are used, calculations and supporting data shall be furnished by the designer that demonstrate that the combined efficiency of the specified components meets the requirements under this section.
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See PDF for table ![PDF](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/assets/image/file_acrobat.gif)
SPS 322.45 History
History: CR 08-043: cr.
Register March 2009 No. 639, eff. 4-1-09; correction in (1) made under s.
13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register December 2011 No. 672.
SPS 322.46
SPS 322.46 Replacement furnace and boiler efficiencies. SPS 322.46(1)(1) A replacement furnace in existing construction may meet only the prevailing federal efficiency standard provided the duct distribution system is sealed and tested at 0.02 inches water gage across the entire system, including the manufacturer's air handler enclosure, to have air leakage less than 10 percent of the furnace manufacturer's rated air flow across the blower at high speed.