Other techniques are described in other resource guides: see Insulated Corners, which explains how to construct corners with 2 studs instead of 3 studs to permit more insulation, Insulated Headers for tips on how and when to build open and insulated headers over windows and doors, Minimal Framing at Doors/Windows for efficient framing around doors and windows, and Insulated Interior/Exterior Wall Intersections for ways to reduce framing and add insulation where interior walls intersect exterior walls. Many building departments limit joist cantilevers to 24" maximum. Design homes on a two-foot grid with 2x6 studs spaced 24-inches on-center. If we install these same three windows packages to the 2x6 wall blown-in with no exterior insulation, we find that the whole-wall R-value … Report describing approaches to using less wood in home building that minimize waste. Code language is excerpted and summarized below. Construct framed walls using advanced framing details like using the minimum amount of wall studs permitted by code to reduce thermal bridging and allow more space for insulation. All other data is available on page 121 of the 2012 International Residential Code. 2. Reduced Thermal Bridging. The McCabe Residence passed the Energy Code Using the Performance path with the approved software REM Design. After running this model through REMDesign replacing all the R-15 walls with R-21 walls, the total energy savings are $41 per year. Guide describing details that serve as a visual reference for each of the line items in the Thermal Enclosure System Rater Checklist. Building walls of 2x6s 24-inch on-center has long been permitted in building codes in most jurisdictions, and is particularly appropriate for colder climates (IECC Climate Zones 5-8) where higher wall R-values are required (Baczek, Yost, and Finegan 2002; DOE 2002; Lstiburek 2010). There are 4 ways to pass the code: Prescriptive- Do exactly what the code recommends. Building codes are one of those necessary evils that can be annoying at times but go a long way toward ensuring a safe house. In some jurisdictions, particularly in hurricane zones, 16-inch on-center is the maximum stud spacing allowed; check with local code officials. Specify 24-inch on-center for 2x6 wall framing rather than 16-inch on-center 2x4 wall framing. This combination ensures that the insulation is neither too loose nor too tightly packed within the walls. 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