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• <br /> MINNESOTA ENERGY CODE <br /> All Buildings <br /> SUMMARY OF BASIC CATEGORY 1 AND CATEGORY 2 BUILDING REQUIREMENTS <br /> FOR INSULATION PROTECTION,AIR TIGHTNESS,AND VENTILATION <br /> MINIMUM: All buildings must meet the following minimum code requirements: <br /> VENTILATION: A Category 2 building is one where infiltration and passive ventilation(operable windows)are <br /> relied on to provide necessary year-round ventilation. If one or more of the Category 1 measures below is <br /> incorporated into the residential design,however,a residential mechanical ventilation system as specified below <br /> must be installed. <br /> . VAPOR RETARDER: A vapor retarder,also known as a moisture barrier or vapor barrier,must be installed on the <br /> warm side of insulated ceilings,walls and floors. Polyethylene vapor retarders must be 4-mills or thicker. The code <br /> requires a vapor retarder to be installed only on rim joists that are susceptible to condensation from moisture diffusion. <br /> AIR BARRIER: A barrier against air leakage must be installed to prevent leakage of moisture-laden air from the <br /> conditioned space into exterior ceilings,walls and floors. <br /> • Plumbing and heating penetrations must be air sealed. An air barrier must be provided behind any tub or shower that <br /> is located on an exterior wall. <br /> • Air sealing must be done at all dropped ceiling areas,chimney flues,ventilation ducts,and other fire stops that <br /> penetrate the vapor retarder. <br /> • Holes in the building envelope for electrical and telecommunications equipment must be air sealed, including the <br /> service entrance,wires,conduit,cables,panels,recessed light fixtures,and fans(where vapor retarder is penetrated). <br /> • Joints in the building envelope must be sealed, including around window and door frames, between wall cavities and <br /> window or door frames. <br /> • •Tested air infiltration rates must not exceed 0.34 cfm/square foot of operable sash crack for windows, 0.5 cfm/square <br /> font for residential doors and 1.25 cfm/square foot for commercial doors. <br /> WIND WASH BARRIER: An air-impermeable barrier must be installed at the attic edge(baffles must be rigid <br /> material resistant to wind driven moisture);and overhangs,such as cantilevered floors and bay windows. <br /> IOPTIONAL: Category 1 Buildings meet all requirements as listed above plus the following: <br /> RESIDENTIAL MECHANICAL VENTILATION SYSTEM FOR RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS: <br /> A system that,by mechanical means, is capable of introducing and distributing outdoor air to all habitable rooms and <br /> removing indoor air at a rate of not less than 035 air changes per hour or 15 cfm per bedroom plus another 15 cfm, <br /> whichever is greater. <br /> AIR LEAKAGE BARRIER: A barrier against air leakage must be installed to prevent leakage of moisture-laden air <br /> from the conditioned space into the building envelope: <br /> • Electrical boxes and fan housings must also be sealed. <br /> • All rim joists,band joists,and where floor joists or trusses meet outer walls must be sealed. <br /> • The top of interior partition walls that join insulated ceilings must be sealed. <br /> • Joints must be sealed between wall assemblies and their rim joists,sill plates,foundations, between wall and <br /> roof/ceilings,and between separate wall panels. <br /> WIND WASH BARRIER: All exterior joints in the building envelope that may be sources of air leaks must sealed. <br /> This is a summary only. Other requirements may apply. See the Minnesota Energy Code. 2/5/96 <br /> Questions? Call Department of Public Service Information Center at 612/296-5175 or 1-800/657-3710. <br /> o,. <br />