Deck 4: Insulation and Air Sealing

Question 1

Federal regulations introduced in the late 1970s required that insulation products provide increased fire resistance; these codes favored nonflammable glass products over paper-based cellulose, leading to the long-standing market dominance of ____ insulation.

A) fiberglass
B) asbestos
C) wood fiber
D) cellulose

Answer 1

fiberglass

Question 2

____-based insulation is created from plants, animals, or other renewable sources.

A) Environment
B) Bio
C) Non-waste
D) Green

Answer 2

Bio

Question 3

The performance of a particular insulation in a building component is affected as much by the ____ as by the rated R-value.

A) U-value
B) quality of the air barrier
C) quality of the installation and the completeness of the air barrier
D) thickness of the installation

Answer 3

quality of the installation and the completeness of the air barrier

Question 4

Foam insulation is the only commonly available insulation product that is ____.

A) vapor permeable
B) semi-permeable
C) air impermeable
D) air permeable

Question 5

The cellular glass rigid insulation ____ offers the greatest termite and rodent resistance of any insulation material.

A) Styroglas
B) Bioglas
C) Celluglas
D) Foamglas

Question 6

Sized to fit in standard ____ framing cavities, batt insulation must fit snugly without any compressions or gaps to work effectively.

A) 5" and 10"
B) 12" and 20"
C) 16" and 24"
D) 1-foot and 2-foot

Question 7

____ insulation is sprayed into framing cavities and on the top of ceilings and, when installed properly, does an excellent job of eliminating gaps and compressions common in batt installations.

A) Quick-spray
B) Blown
C) Filler
D) Batt

Question 8

____ panels are load-bearing wall, roof, or floor panels made of insulation foam sandwiched between two sheets of plywood or oriented-strand board.

A) Straw bale
B) Extruded polystyrene
C) Insulation board
D) Structural insulated

Question 9

The cost of insulating a house can be divided into several distinct segments: materials, installation, peripheral costs, and ____.

A) cumulative energy costs through the lifetime of the structure
B) initial energy costs
C) first-year energy costs
D) average yearly energy costs

Question 10

____ product have the lowest embodied energy.

A) Petroleum-based SPF
B) Recycled and natural
C) Rigid foam
D) Man-made

Question 11

The ____approach involves completely sealing the drywall to the framing to provide the air barrier.

A) sealed drywall
B) housewrap
C) airtight drywall
D) sealed exterior sheathing

Question 12

Deciding exactly where to place the thermal ____, where the insulation and air sealing will be installed in contact to each other, is one of the most important decisions made when planning a house.

A) connection
B) barrier
C) wall
D) envelope

Question 13

Insulated sheathing on the exterior of the wall structure helps reduce thermal bridging at the framing members-a particularly effective strategy in ____ climates where it can reduce or eliminate condensation within the wall structure while serving as an effective air barrier.

A) cold
B) hot
C) wet
D) dry

Question 14

Cotton insulation, available in unfaced batts, is made from over 80% post-industrial recycled denim waste with ____ that are similar to those used in textiles.

A) natural fibers
B) flame retardants
C) man-made fibers
D) microfibers

Question 15

Closed-cell foam, which is installed at a rate of approximately ____ lb/ft³, has a high R-value and very low vapor-permeability.

A) 0.5
B) 1.2
C) 2
D) 5

Question 16

A hybrid insulation system, commonly referred to as ____, combines a 1" to 2" layer of closed-cell SPF that is covered with fiberglass batts to fill the framing cavity.

A) flash and foam
B) foam and wool
C) cellulose and batt
D) flash and batt

Question 17

When comparing costs and performance of different insulation materials, it is critically important to make sure that each of them will be installed according to RESNET ____ criteria and to the R-values specified.

A) Grade 1
B) Grade A
C) Premium Grade
D) Superior Grade

Question 18

ICFs are available in ____ and mineralized wood.

A) polyurethane foam
B) agricultural fiber
C) lightweight solid concrete
D) cellulose

Question 19

Air-sealing at the ____ is the most challenging and among the most important areas to address.

A) electrical outlets
B) windows
C) ceiling
D) floor

Question 20

____ rooflines, also known as cathedral ceilings, can either be in an unfinished attic or in a living space with finish material applied directly to the rafters.

A) Pointed
B) A-line
C) Vaulted
D) Insulated

Question 21

One of the most challenging areas to create an effective envelope is the ____ of finished rooms above garages, where a poor air-seal can allow carbon monoxide and other poisonous gases to enter the living space.

A) ceiling
B) floor
C) walls
D) windows

Question 22

A house can never be too ____; it can only be underventilated.

A) loose
B) stiff
C) tight
D) solid

Question 23

Multiple-point testing measures air flow at multiple pressures, usually in increments of ____ Pa.

A) 5
B) 25
C) 50
D) 500

Question 24

The equation for air changes per hour natural is ACH_Natural = ____.

A) ACH₅₀ / N
B) N / ACH₅₀
C) ACH₅₀ - N
D) ACH₅₀ x N

Question 25

Tracer gas testing is primarily a research technique, although it is sometimes used in evaluating ____.

A) storage facilities
B) single-family homes
C) apartment buildings
D) commercial and large multifamily buildings

Question 26

Match each statement with item below

-Thermal or sound insulation material, made of fiberglass, mineral wool, or cotton, which comes in varying widths and thicknesses to conform to standard framing of walls and joists.

A)Cavity insulation
B)Batt insulation
C)Air impermeable
D)Housewrap
E)Cellulose insulation
F)Integrated insulation

Question 27

Match each statement with item below

-The material itself does not allow air to pass through it.

A)Cavity insulation
B)Batt insulation
C)Air impermeable
D)Housewrap
E)Cellulose insulation
F)Integrated insulation

Question 28

Match each statement with item below

-Typically a plastic or spun-fiber polyethylene textile material.

A)Cavity insulation
B)Batt insulation
C)Air impermeable
D)Housewrap
E)Cellulose insulation
F)Integrated insulation

Question 29

Match each statement with item below

-Made primarily of recycled newsprint, chemically treated to resist fire, mold, and pests.

A)Cavity insulation
B)Batt insulation
C)Air impermeable
D)Housewrap
E)Cellulose insulation
F)Integrated insulation

Question 30

Match each statement with item below

-In wood frame structures, it must be kept dry to both maintain its R-value and to protect the building from mold and rot.

A)Cavity insulation
B)Batt insulation
C)Air impermeable
D)Housewrap
E)Cellulose insulation
F)Integrated insulation

Question 31

Match each statement with item below

-Eliminates most or all of the framing members that create thermal bridges and reduce the amount of insulation in wall, ceiling, or floor structure.

A)Cavity insulation
B)Batt insulation
C)Air impermeable
D)Housewrap
E)Cellulose insulation
F)Integrated insulation