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Ducts | Residential | General Audiences

Summary
Ducts distribute conditioned air (heated or cooled) from HVAC systems
to the house. It is essential for ducts to maintain a constant tempera- QUICK FACTS
ture as long as possible so that they can “deliver” it through registers
in an efficient and effective manner. Research shows that as much as Duct Insulation and Sealing - Section 403.2 in
one third of all conditioned air can escape through leaks in a conven- the 2009 IECC
tionally sealed duct system. Builders must seal ducts with approved Ducts outside of conditioned space must be
(UL-181 A and B) duct sealants. insulated
Current Code
Approved sealants include UL-181 A and B
The 2009 IECC covers duct insulation and sealing in Section 403.2.
duct sealant
Previous Code
Duct insulation requirements are identical in the 2006 and 2009 IECC. Mandatory for all climate zones (where appli-
The 2009 IECC presents the first significant change to duct sealing re- cable)
quirements. It requires that the ducts either be (a) designed and in- Detailed information can be found at:
stalled in the conditioned space or (b) pressure tested to meet the
specifications in Section 403.2.2. Another change to the 2009 IECC is Programmable thermostats from Energy Star
the Section 403.7 requirement that builders construct ducts serving Thermostats and control systems from EERE
multiple dwelling units in accordance with Sections 503 and 504. Ducts
must be insulated to R-5 when located within the building envelope Duct insulation from PNNL
and R-8 outside of it, as well as sealed to low, medium or high pressure Duct sealing from Energy Star
specifications.
Exemptions Duct design from EERE (w/graphics)
Requirements covered in the 2009 IECC Section 403.2 are mandatory Duct testing graphic
and universal for all climate zones.
Requirements
All parties must be aware of the requirements covered in the 2009
IECC and need to ensure that:
All ducts outside the conditioned space are insulated
Ducts are properly sealed using appropriate sealant
Insulation meets statewide requirements
All ducts are sealed with mastic or UL-181 A and B tapes
They check for poorly installed duct work
Typical Problems
Standard issues/concerns that arise include:
Ducts getting buried in attic insulation Figure 1: Properly Sealed Ducts
Lack of duct sealing within the dwelling

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