Originally Posted by
Phillip Stojanik
But (and you knew there was a "but" coming right?
)! Let's get
real rather than
theoretical for just a moment.
Insulation on, or over, a pulldown attic stairway (while a FANTASTIC idea as far as energy conservation and all concepts of building "green" are concerned) is
not a current code requirement in any "authoritative" jurisdiction that I am aware of.
In all honestly, does the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) that you personally work for these days enforce such a building code provision?
Here in the Daytona Beach/Ormond Beach area and all over South Florida - insulating the attic access hatch cover is a requirement, it is considered to be just what it actually is ... "attic ceiling area".
What code section? Why, the same one which requires a minimum of R-19 insulation on the ceiling to an unconditioned attic above.
Replace the attic access hatch with a pull-down stair and there is no difference, which is just one of the reasons that all of the pull-down stairs I see are in the unconditioned garages.
And, yes, if the attic insulation is R-30, then a section of R-30 batt needs to be somehow secured in place over the attic access hatch cover (yes, this is typically 'not secured in place', but it should be, otherwise, this batt is found laying 'next to' the cover instead of 'over' the cover. I've seen them attached to the covers with glue or staples (don't know what kind of glue was used for those which were glued and not stapled, though).
Does that answer your question regarding authority and code section? What code section do you use when the attic insulation is missing at the ceiling? Apply that same code section to the ceiling area at the attic access hatch cover. Apply that same code section to the ceiling area underneath the pull-down stair (if the pull-down stair is in a conditioned space).