Unvented Attics In Hot Humid Climates

Article osti 1344250 title sealed attics exposed to two years of weathering in a hot and humid climate author miller william a and railkar sudhir and shiao ming c and desjarlais andre omer abstractnote field studies in a hot humid climate were conducted to investigate the thermal and hygrothermal performance of ventilated attics and non ventilated semi conditioned attics.

Unvented attics in hot humid climates.

Insulation approaches for unvented attics vary by climate. He says that researchers have found that in hot humid climates buildings with unvented attics are actually less likely to have condensation and mold than those with vented attics. Therefore replacing the hotter attic air with cooler outside air even at a considerably higher relative humidity rh tends to dry the space minimizing the potential for condensation. Due to night sky radiation the metal roof or radiant barrier temperature can be depressed below the attic air dew point temperature allowing condensation and possible water damage to ceiling materials to occur.

What is less well understood is that venting causes many problems in cold dry climates as well. To provide an unvented conditioned space for locating hvac equipment in the attic and or to provide a continuous thermal barrier for designs that have complex coffered ceiling planes and or numerous penetrations for lights speakers vents soffits etc which make it difficult to achieve an airtight ceiling plane. As home energy readers know venting attics in hot humid climates brings a great deal of moisture into the structure see conditioned attics save energy in hot climates he may june 97 p. The hotter the air the more moisture i e.

Install insulation along the underside of the roof deck of an unvented attic rather than on the ceiling deck of a vented attic for either of two reasons. If you convert your vented unconditioned attic to an unvented conditioned attic by installing open cell spray foam on the underside of your roof sheathing you may be surprised to discover. High humidity in unvented conditioned attics. Not venting the attic avoids this problem.

Even when outside air is hot and humid if the attic space is air sealed from the interior it is much hotter than outside air. In predominantly hot humid climates attics sealed to outside air exchange would correct this problem. The roof deck in an unvented attic must be exceptionally airtight. Absolute humidity the air space can hold.