Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA)

The Center of Excellence for the Air Barrier Industry

Code, Standards & Test Methods

Codes

The following states have incorporated air barrier requirements into their commercial energy conservation codes. Information is posted as it is made available to the ABAA office. Please check back frequently.

(updated March 20, 2013)

Click here for a summary of the requirements for air barrier materials, air barrier assemblies, whole building testing and water resistive barriers in ASHRAE 90.1-2010, ASHRAE 189.1-11, 2012 IRC, 2012 IECC, 2012 IgCC and 2012 IBC

Where are Air Barriers Required by Code

Click here to a story written for the November 2012 ABAA Newsletter that details the progress that states are making in adopting codes that will require air barriers.

Upcoming ICC Code Changes

The District of Columbia will be adopting the 2012 ICC Codes on March 1, 2013. Please click here for the news release.

ICC Code Summary

The International Code Council (ICC) has a overview of the yearly version of all ICC codes that are adopted by each state. Click here to learn more about the status of the codes in each state.

Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP)

BCAP strives to be the premier resource for energy code support, coordination, technical assistance, news and information. Their mission is to reduce the energy consumed in the construction and operations of buildings by working with national, state, and local governments and other stakeholders to promote the adoption and implementation of building codes and standards. Please see the BCAP website for up-to-date news.

The Building Codes Assistance Project has created a series of maps to provide a national snapshot of building energy code adoption and implementation status, as well as international adoption status. Click here to learn more about the status of energy codes in each state and country.

Standards

Test Methods

E 2178 – Standard Test Method for Air Permeance of Building Materials

1. Scope

1.1 This test method is to determine the air permeance of building materials at various pressure differentials with the intent of determining an assigned air permeance rate of the material at the reference pressure difference (P) of 75 Pa.

1.2 The method is intended to assess flexible sheet or rigid panel-type materials using a 1 m 1 m specimen size.

1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurements are included in this standard.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

2. Referenced Documents


ASTM E2357-05 – Standard Test Method for Determining Air Leakage of Air Barrier Assemblies

1. Scope

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the air leakage rate of air barrier assemblies that are used in building enclosures. This procedure measures the air leakage of a representative air barrier assembly before and after exposure to specific conditioning cycles and then assigns a rating dependent upon the results. Although this is a laboratory procedure, the method may also be applied to site mockups.

1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

2. Referenced Documents