Page 10 - Green Builder Magazine July 2015 Issue
P. 10
Access Hatches and Doors
An excerpt from ICC’s Significant Changes to the International Residential Code® (2015)
Significant Changes to the IrC 2015 Edition N1102.2.4 ■ access Hatches and Doors 213
ChANgE TypE: Clarification N1102.2.4
ChANgE summAry: Vertical doors that access unconditioned at- Access hatches
tics and crawl spaces do not require an R-value to match the required and doors
wall insulation. Such doors must comply with the fenestration U-factor
requirements of Table N1102.1.2.
2015 CodE: N1102.2.4 (r402.2.4) Access hatches and doors. Significant Changes to the
Access doors from conditioned spaces to unconditioned spaces such as International Residential Code®
attics and crawl spaces shall be weatherstripped and insulated to a level (2015) is a valuable tool for
equivalent to the insulation on the surrounding surfaces. Access shall be transitioning to the new code.
provided to all equipment that prevents damaging or compressing the in- The book lists the Change
sulation. A wood-framed or equivalent baffle or retainer is required to Type, Change Summary and
be provided when loose fill insulation is installed, the purpose of which Change Significance for the
is to prevent the loose fill insulation from spilling into the living space most important changes allowing
when the attic access is opened, and to provide a permanent means of readers to save substantial time
maintaining the installed R-value of the loose fill insulation. learning new requirements. This
publication may be purchased by
Exception: Vertical doors that provide access from conditioned to visiting the ICC online store at
unconditioned spaces shall be permitted to meet the fenestration re- www.iccsafe.org/GBchanges.
quirements of Table N1102.1.2 based on the applicable climate zone
specified in Section N1101.7.
N1102.2.4 continues
Insulation with equivalent R-value Attic © International Code Council
to surrounding ceiling insulation
Loose fill insulation
Insulation baffle
Attic access panel Ceiling framing
Finish ceiling Weatherstrip
Horizontal attic access hatch
Unconditioned attic
Conditioned room Min. wall R-value © International Code Council
Vertical attic access door
Max. fenestration
U-factor
54732_part04_ptg01_hr_207-227.indd 213 C/M/Y/K S4-CARLISLEDESIGN SERVICES OF 13/06/14 8:07 AM
Short / Normal Publishing Services
# 153129 Cust: Cengage Au: IRC Pg. No. 213
Title: International Residential Code 2015 Edition
