Originally Posted by
Bob Harper
So, why isn't such a hatch or door counted as "fenestration" or have to meet the energy code?
They are (basically).
From the Florida Building Code - Chapter 13, Energy Efficiency
- 3-606.1.ABC.1.2.3 Ceilings.
- - Ceilings shall be sealed at the following locations:
- - - 1. Between walls and ceilings.
- - - 2. At penetrations of the ceiling plane of the top floor of the building (such as chimneys, vent pipes, ceiling fixtures, registers, open shafts, or chases) so that air flow between the attic or unconditioned space and conditioned space is stopped.
- - - 3. Large openings, such as shafts, chases soffits, opening around chimneys, and dropped ceiling spaces (such as above kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, shower stalls, and closets), shall be sealed with an airtight panel or sheeting material and sealed to adjacent top plates (or other framing members) so that a continuous air barrier separates the spaces below and above the ceiling plane.
- - - 4. Gaps between ceiling gypsum board and the top plate shall be sealed with a sealant to stop air flow between the attic and the interior of wall cavities.
- - -
5. The attic access hatch, if located in the conditioned space shall have an airtight seal.
They already have (should already have) the same insulation permanently and securely attached to the top of the attic cover (so the insulation stays in place).
Many of our old homes have those silly 2x2 openings in closet where you can't get to them either. Then the inspectors were forced to realize
that the minimum attic opening size did not meet code, then they were impressed upon to understand that there needed to be room to put a ladder under the attic access for access to it, and, over time, those silly 2x2 openings went the way of most old 'we've always done it that way' things and the openings 'came out of the closet'.
