(Effective until February 1, 2021)
Section R402.4—Air leakage.
R402.4 Air leakage. The building thermal envelope shall be constructed to limit air leakage in accordance with the requirements of Sections R402.4.1 through R402.4.4.
R402.4.1 Building thermal envelope. The building thermal envelope shall comply with Sections R402.4.1.1 and R402.4.1.2. The sealing methods between dissimilar materials shall allow for differential expansion and contraction.
R402.4.1.1 Installation. The components of the building thermal envelope as listed in Table R402.4.1.1 shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and the criteria listed in Table R402.4.1.1, as applicable to the method of construction. Where required by the code official, an approved third party shall inspect all components and verify compliance.
R402.4.1.2 Testing. The building or dwelling unit shall be tested and verified as having an air leakage rate of not exceeding 5 air changes per hour. Testing shall be conducted with a blower door at a pressure of 0.2 inches w.g. (50 Pascals). For this test only, the volume of the home shall be the conditioned floor area in ft2 (m2) multiplied by 8.5 feet (2.6 m). Where required by the code official, testing shall be conducted by an approved third party. A written report of the results of the test shall be signed by the party conducting the test and provided to the code official. Testing shall be performed at any time after creation of all penetrations of the building thermal envelope. Once visual inspection has confirmed sealing (see Table R402.4.1.1), operable windows and doors manufactured by small business shall be permitted to be sealed off at the frame prior to the test.
EXCEPTION: | For dwelling units that are accessed directly from the outdoors, other than detached one family dwellings and townhouses, an air leakage rate not exceeding 0.4 cfm per square foot of the dwelling unit enclosure area shall be an allowable alternative. Testing shall be conducted with a blower door at a pressure of 0.2 inches w.g. (50 Pascals) in accordance with RESNET/ICC 380, ASTM E779 or ASTM E1827. For the purpose of this test only, enclosure area to be calculated as the perimeter of the dwelling unit, measured to the outside face of the exterior walls, and the centerline of party walls, times 8.5 feet, plus the ceiling and floor area. Doors and windows of adjacent dwelling units (including top and bottom units) shall be open to the outside during the test. This exception is not permitted for dwelling units that are accessed from corridors or other enclosed common areas. |
During testing:
1. Exterior windows and doors, fireplace and stove doors shall be closed, but not sealed, beyond the intended weatherstripping or other infiltration control measures;
2. Dampers including exhaust, intake, makeup air, backdraft and flue dampers shall be closed, but not sealed beyond intended infiltration control measures;
3. Interior doors, if installed at the time of the test, shall be open, access hatches to conditioned crawl spaces and conditioned attics shall be open;
4. Exterior or interior terminations for continuous ventilation systems and heat recovery ventilators shall be sealed;
5. Heating and cooling systems, if installed at the time of the test, shall be turned off; and
6. Supply and return registers, if installed at the time of the test, shall be fully open.
EXCEPTIONS: | 1. Additions less than 500 square feet of conditioned floor area. |
| 2. Additions tested with the existing home having a combined maximum air leakage rate of 7 air changes per hour. To qualify for this exception, the date of construction of the existing house must be prior to the 2009 Washington State Energy Code. |
R402.4.2 Fireplaces. New wood-burning fireplaces shall have tight-fitting flue dampers or doors, and outdoor combustion air. When using tight-fitting doors on factory-built fireplaces listed and labeled in accordance with UL 127, the doors shall be tested and listed for the fireplace. Where using tight-fitting doors on masonry fireplaces, the doors shall be listed and labeled in accordance with UL 907.
R402.4.2.1 Gas fireplace efficiency. All vented gas fireplace heaters rated to ANSI Z21.88 shall be listed and labeled with a fireplace efficiency (FE) rating of 50 percent or greater in accordance with CSA P.4.1. Vented gas fireplaces (decorative appliances) certified to ANSI Z21.50 shall be listed and labeled, including their FE ratings, in accordance with CSA P.4.1.
R402.4.3 Air leakage of fenestration. Windows, skylights and sliding glass doors shall have an air infiltration rate of no more than 0.3 cfm per square foot (1.5 L/s/m2), and swinging doors no more than 0.5 cfm per square foot (2.6 L/s/m2), when tested according to NFRC 400 or AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440 by an accredited, independent laboratory and listed and labeled by the manufacturer.
EXCEPTIONS: | 1. Field-fabricated fenestration products (windows, skylights and doors). |
| 2. Custom exterior fenestration products manufactured by a small business provided they meet the applicable provisions of Chapter 24 of the International Building Code. Once visual inspection has confirmed the presence of a gasket, operable windows and doors manufactured by small business shall be permitted to be sealed off at the frame prior to the test. |
R402.4.4Combustion air openings. In Climate Zones 3 through 8, where open combustion air ducts provide combustion air to open combustion, space conditioning fuel burning appliances, the appliances and combustion air openings shall be located outside of the building thermal envelope, or enclosed in a room isolated from inside the thermal envelope. Such rooms shall be sealed and insulated in accordance with the envelope requirements of Table R402.1.1, where the walls, floors and ceilings shall meet the minimum of the below-grade wall R-value requirement. The door into the room shall be fully gasketed and any water lines and ducts in the room insulated in accordance with Section R403. The combustion air duct shall be insulated where it passes through conditioned space to a minimum of R-8.
EXCEPTIONS: | 1. Direct vent appliances with both intake and exhaust pipes installed continuous to the outside. |
| 2. Fireplaces and stoves complying with Section R402.4.2 and Section R1006 of the International Residential Code. |
R402.4.5 Recessed lighting. Recessed luminaires installed in the building thermal envelope shall be Type IC-rated and certified under ASTM E283 as having an air leakage rate not more than 2.0 cfm (0.944 L/s) when tested at a 1.57 psf (75 Pa) pressure differential and shall have a label attached showing compliance with this test method. All recessed luminaires shall be sealed with a gasket or caulk between the housing and the interior wall or ceiling covering.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
19.27A.020,
19.27A.045,
19.27A.160 and chapter
19.27 RCW. WSR 20-01-047, § 51-11R-40240, filed 12/9/19, effective 7/1/20. Statutory Authority: RCW
19.27A.020,
19.27A.045,
19.27A.160, and
19.27.074. WSR 16-02-127, § 51-11R-40240, filed 1/6/16, effective 7/1/16. Statutory Authority: RCW
19.27A.025,
19.27A.045,
19.27.020, and
19.27.074. WSR 14-24-123, § 51-11R-40240, filed 12/3/14, effective 1/3/15. Statutory Authority: RCW
19.27A.020,
19.27A.045 and chapters
19.27 and
34.05 RCW. WSR 13-04-055, § 51-11R-40240, filed 2/1/13, effective 7/1/13.]
(Effective February 1, 2021)
Section R402.4—Air leakage.
R402.4 Air leakage. The building thermal envelope shall be constructed to limit air leakage in accordance with the requirements of Sections R402.4.1 through R402.4.4.
R402.4.1 Building thermal envelope. The building thermal envelope shall comply with Sections R402.4.1.1 and R402.4.1.2. The sealing methods between dissimilar materials shall allow for differential expansion and contraction.
R402.4.1.1 Installation. The components of the building thermal envelope as listed in Table R402.4.1.1 shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and the criteria listed in Table R402.4.1.1, as applicable to the method of construction. Where required by the code official, an approved third party shall inspect all components and verify compliance.
R402.4.1.2 Testing. The building or dwelling unit shall be tested and verified as having an air leakage rate of not exceeding 5 air changes per hour. Testing shall be conducted with a blower door at a pressure of 0.2 inches w.g. (50 Pascals). For this test only, the volume of the home shall be the conditioned floor area in ft2 (m2) multiplied by 8.5 feet (2.6 m). Where required by the code official, testing shall be conducted by an approved third party. A written report of the results of the test shall be signed by the party conducting the test and provided to the code official. Testing shall be performed at any time after creation of all penetrations of the building thermal envelope. Once visual inspection has confirmed sealing (see Table R402.4.1.1), operable windows and doors manufactured by small business shall be permitted to be sealed off at the frame prior to the test.
EXCEPTION: | For dwelling units that are accessed directly from the outdoors, other than detached one family dwellings and townhouses, an air leakage rate not exceeding 0.4 cfm per square foot of the dwelling unit enclosure area shall be an allowable alternative. Testing shall be conducted with a blower door at a pressure of 0.2 inches w.g. (50 Pascals) in accordance with RESNET/ICC 380, ASTM E779 or ASTM E1827. For the purpose of this test only, the enclosure area is to be calculated as the perimeter of the dwelling unit, measured to the outside face of the exterior walls, and the centerline of party walls, times 8.5 feet, plus the ceiling and floor area. Doors and windows of adjacent dwelling units (including top and bottom units) shall be open to the outside during the test. This exception is not permitted for dwelling units that are accessed from corridors or other enclosed common areas. |
During testing:
1. Exterior windows and doors, fireplace and stove doors shall be closed, but not sealed, beyond the intended weatherstripping or other infiltration control measures;
2. Dampers including exhaust, intake, makeup air, backdraft and flue dampers shall be closed, but not sealed beyond intended infiltration control measures;
3. Interior doors, if installed at the time of the test, shall be open, access hatches to conditioned crawl spaces and conditioned attics shall be open;
4. Exterior or interior terminations for continuous ventilation systems and heat recovery ventilators shall be sealed;
5. Heating and cooling systems, if installed at the time of the test, shall be turned off; and
6. Supply and return registers, if installed at the time of the test, shall be fully open.
EXCEPTIONS: | 1. Additions less than 500 square feet of conditioned floor area. |
| 2. Additions tested with the existing home having a combined maximum air leakage rate of 7 air changes per hour. To qualify for this exception, the date of construction of the existing house must be prior to the 2009 Washington State Energy Code. |
R402.4.2 Fireplaces. New wood-burning fireplaces shall have tight-fitting flue dampers or doors, and outdoor combustion air. When using tight-fitting doors on factory-built fireplaces listed and labeled in accordance with UL 127, the doors shall be tested and listed for the fireplace. Where using tight-fitting doors on masonry fireplaces, the doors shall be listed and labeled in accordance with UL 907.
R402.4.2.1 Gas fireplace efficiency. All vented gas fireplace heaters rated to ANSI Z21.88 shall be listed and labeled with a fireplace efficiency (FE) rating of 50 percent or greater in accordance with CSA P.4.1. Vented gas fireplaces (decorative appliances) certified to ANSI Z21.50 shall be listed and labeled, including their FE ratings, in accordance with CSA P.4.1.
R402.4.3 Air leakage of fenestration. Windows, skylights and sliding glass doors shall have an air infiltration rate of no more than 0.3 cfm per square foot (1.5 L/s/m2), and swinging doors no more than 0.5 cfm per square foot (2.6 L/s/m2), when tested according to NFRC 400 or AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440 by an accredited, independent laboratory and listed and labeled by the manufacturer.
EXCEPTIONS: | 1. Field-fabricated fenestration products (windows, skylights and doors). |
| 2. Custom exterior fenestration products manufactured by a small business provided they meet the applicable provisions of Chapter 24 of the International Building Code. Once visual inspection has confirmed the presence of a gasket, operable windows and doors manufactured by small business shall be permitted to be sealed off at the frame prior to the test. |
R402.4.4Combustion air openings. In Climate Zones 3 through 8, where open combustion air ducts provide combustion air to open combustion, space conditioning fuel burning appliances, the appliances and combustion air openings shall be located outside of the building thermal envelope, or enclosed in a room isolated from inside the thermal envelope. Such rooms shall be sealed and insulated in accordance with the envelope requirements of Table R402.1.1, where the walls, floors and ceilings shall meet the minimum of the below-grade wall R-value requirement. The door into the room shall be fully gasketed and any water lines and ducts in the room insulated in accordance with Section R403. The combustion air duct shall be insulated where it passes through conditioned space to a minimum of R-8.
EXCEPTIONS: | 1. Direct vent appliances with both intake and exhaust pipes installed continuous to the outside. |
| 2. Fireplaces and stoves complying with Section R402.4.2 and Section R1006 of the International Residential Code. |
R402.4.5 Recessed lighting. Recessed luminaires installed in the building thermal envelope shall be Type IC-rated and certified under ASTM E283 as having an air leakage rate not more than 2.0 cfm (0.944 L/s) when tested at a 1.57 psf (75 Pa) pressure differential and shall have a label attached showing compliance with this test method. All recessed luminaires shall be sealed with a gasket or caulk between the housing and the interior wall or ceiling covering.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
19.27A.045 and chapter
19.27A RCW. WSR 20-21-081, § 51-11R-40240, filed 10/19/20, effective 2/1/21. Statutory Authority: RCW
19.27A.020,
19.27A.045,
19.27A.160 and chapter
19.27 RCW. WSR 20-01-047, § 51-11R-40240, filed 12/9/19, effective 7/1/20. Statutory Authority: RCW
19.27A.020,
19.27A.045,
19.27A.160, and
19.27.074. WSR 16-02-127, § 51-11R-40240, filed 1/6/16, effective 7/1/16. Statutory Authority: RCW
19.27A.025,
19.27A.045,
19.27.020, and
19.27.074. WSR 14-24-123, § 51-11R-40240, filed 12/3/14, effective 1/3/15. Statutory Authority: RCW
19.27A.020,
19.27A.045 and chapters
19.27 and
34.05 RCW. WSR 13-04-055, § 51-11R-40240, filed 2/1/13, effective 7/1/13.]