Page 34 - November 2015 Green Builder Magazine

The Homeowner’s Handbook SIXTH EDITION

Indoor Air
32 Quality05

Manage air flow—and materials.

Controlling the flow of air in and Keep Walls Under Wraps
out of the home has a huge impact
www.greenbuildermag.com 11.2015 on indoor air quality, but monitoring Housewrap is only as effective as its installation. For example,
potential toxins in materials and
metal flashing above doors or windows should be installed
Oproducts is equally important.NE OF THE confusing characteristics of green
building certification programs is the way they before the housewrap, not on top of it.
lump together two different aspects of building
science: saving energy and keeping indoor air safe Virtues Caveats
and clean. Is a green home one that saves energy,
or one that has healthier indoor air than a conventional home? ■■ Reduces air infiltration ■■ Can’t be left exposed indefinitely
The answer is both. How did the two concepts get mashed together
this way? Blame tight houses. As windows, walls and basements have ■■ Repels windborne rain ■■ Requires careful installation
become less leaky, the stuff that pollutes air inside the home—glues,
carpets, paints, pressed board cabinets—has suddenly become a lot ■■ Long service life
more dangerous. So, here’s the deal. If you want to build or retrofit
your home to be greener, you’ll have to control the air quality at might condense and encourage mold or mildew), at the same
the same time. There are three ways to do this: first, by eliminating time preventing unwanted outdoor air from creeping into the
pollutants at the point source; second, by keeping moisture levels home. Housewrap is only as good as its installation, however.
healthy indoors; and third, by mechanically “cleaning” the air. The Department of Energy says that housewrap must be taped at
every seam. Otherwise, it may be 20 percent less efficient. It’s also
Here are some key products whose attributes help important that housewrap not be left exposed to sun and wind
provide healthier indoor air: for too long, factors that can degrade its effectiveness over time.

HOUSEWRAP
Passive Resistance

Some modern building products operate passively. Housewraps
fall under this description. These weather-resistant barriers allow
water vapor to escape living spaces and wall cavities (where it

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speed selector allows a user to select required vacuums. The system comes with the BEAM Alliance
airflow (80 or 110 CFM). Installation for this HEPA filter and a collection receptacle that snaps
Energy Star-certified fan is made easy with the into place to assure a perfect seal, preventing dirt and
Flex-Z Fast installation bracket and detachable allergens from re-entering your home.
installation adapter. http://bit.ly/1U48PEQ www.beamvac.com