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BS 9250:2007

$189.07

Code of practice for design of the airtightness of ceilings in pitched roofs

Published By Publication Date Number of Pages
BSI 2007 48
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This standard provides guidance on methods that can be used to meet the “well sealed ceiling” requirements defined in BS 5250 for cold and warm pitched roofs.

This standard provides architects, house builders, and building control officers with robust design details for the construction of more airtight ceilings and for the control of air movement into pitched roofs.

It provides guidance for dwellings and buildings of domestic type construction on the selection of materials, design principles, construction methods and design details covering: the junction of walls and ceilings; junctions of ceiling materials; penetration through ceilings (e.g. pipes, outlets, cables, light fittings, loft hatches, tubular rooflights and roof windows).

It includes cold and warm roof applications and will apply to new, and the refurbishment of existing, buildings.

PDF Catalog

PDF Pages PDF Title
3 Contents
1 Scope 1
2 Normative references 1
3 Terms and definitions 2
4 Design criteria 3
5 Materials, fittings and accessories 8
6 Design details and installation 11
Annexes
Annex A (informative) Requirements for airtightness and control of condensation in the Building Regulations 38
Bibliography 40
List of figures
Figure 1 – Defining the conditioned zone in a cold-roof building 5
Figure 2 – Defining the conditioned zone in a warm-roof building 6
Figure 3 – Joint in AVCL as a membrane with solid support, sealed using adhesive or double-sided tape 12
Figure 4 – Joint in AVCL as a membrane with solid support, sealed using adhesive or double-sided tape and secured with a compression batten 13
Figure 5 – Joint in AVCL as a membrane without solid support, sealed using adhesive tape (non-preferred solution) 14
Figure 6 – Continuity of AVCL ensured at stud partition 15
Figure 7 – Continuity of AVCL ensured at a purlin 16
Figure 8 – Joints in an air barrier formed by bevel-edged plasterboard, joined at a joist or rafter 17
Figure 9 – Joints in an air barrier formed by square-edged plasterboard, joined at a joist or rafter 18
Figure 10 – Ensuring an air-tight seal at the junction of a masonry cavity wall and ceiling using air-impermeable foil or lining paper 19
Figure 11 – Ensuring an air-tight seal at the top of a masonry cavity wall using plasterboard jointing tape (cold roof) 20
Figure 12 – Joints in an air barrier formed by a plasterboard-lined timber frame wall using plasterboard tape 21
Figure 13 – Joints in an air barrier formed by plasterboard lining a metal frame wall (cold roof) 22
Figure 14 – Joint in an air barrier formed by plasterboard lining an internally insulated wall (cold roof) 23
Figure 15 – Joint in an air barrier formed by plasterboard lining an externally insulated wall (cold roof) 24
Figure 16 – Join in a plastered masonry cavity wall using plasterboard jointing tape 25
Figure 17 – Join in a plastered internal block wall using plasterboard jointing tape 26
Figure 18 – Ensuring an air-tight seal at the top of a masonry cavity wall below a warm roof 27
Figure 19 – Warm roof construction with a small void above insulation 28
Figure 20 – Illustrative detail of a pipe penetration with collar 29
Figure 21 – Illustrative detail of a cable penetration with support and grommet 30
Figure 22 – Example of a pendant light fitting 31
4 Figure 23 – Example of a flush light fitting 32
Figure 24 – Example of a recessed light fitting showing a sealed hood or box 33
Figure 25 – Illustrative detail of a drop-down loft hatch with seals 34
Figure 26 – Illustrative detail of a tubular rooflight 35
Figure 27 – Illustrative detail of a sealed ventilation duct in a ceiling 37
Figure 28 – Illustrative detail of a window in a warm roof 37
List of tables
Table 1 – Whole building airtightness requirements by building type 4
Table 2 – Sealant types 9
Table 3 – Draught strips 9
5 Foreword
7 1 Scope
2 Normative references
8 3 Terms and definitions
3.1 air barrier
3.2 air and vapour control layerAVCL
3.3 cold pitched roof
3.4 conditioned zone
3.5 vapour control layer VCL
3.6 warm pitched roof
9 3.7 well-sealed ceiling
a) The design avoids constructional gaps, especially at the wall/ceiling junction and holes in the ceiling.
b) No access door or hatch should be located in rooms where large amounts of moisture are produced, including kitchens or bathrooms.
c) The air leakage rate through an access hatch, including its frame, when tested to BS EN 13141-1:2004 4.3 is less than 1 m3/h at a pressure difference of 2 Pa.
d) Penetrations, such as those for services and rooflights, are permanently sealed with suitable proprietary products.
e) The ceiling is sealed to the external walls to limit any leakage through cracks.
f) The total leakage through all recessed light fittings should not exceed 0.06 m3/h·m2 of ceiling at 2 Pa pressure difference across the ceiling.
g) The head of any cavity in any wall or partition should be sealed to prevent transfer of warm moist air into the loft
4 Design criteria
4.1 Airtightness of ceilings
10 4.1.1 General
4.1.2 Airtightness requirements
Table 1 Whole building airtightness requirements by building type
11 4.1.3 Conditioned zones of the building and roof space
4.1.3.1 Cold roof
Figure 1 Defining the conditioned zone in a cold-roof building
12 4.1.3.2 Warm roof
Figure 2 Defining the conditioned zone in a warm-roof building
13 4.1.4 Halls and stairwells that connect directly to the ceiling at roof level (warm and cold roofs)
4.1.5 Bathrooms and kitchens that connect directly to the ceiling at roof level (warm and cold roofs)
4.2 Air barrier
4.3 Air and vapour control layers
14 5 Materials, fittings and accessories
5.1 Air barriers/AVCLs
1) flexible plastic sheet (e.g. low density and high density polyethylene sheets are frequently used as air barriers); and/or
2) rigid material (e.g. plasterboard or plywood).
5.2 Sealants
5.2.1 Sealing tapes
COMMENTARY ON 5.2.1 BS 7116 provides guidance for the selection of double-sided pressure sensitive self-adhesive tapes including self-adhesive foamed tapes.
5.2.2 Liquid sealants
COMMENTARY ON 5.2.2 Sealants for building construction joints are classified in British Standards by performance requirements, b…
15 Table 2 Sealant types
5.3 Compressible foam (draught stripping)
COMMENTARY ON 5.3 General information on choice of draught strips is given in Table 3.
Table 3 Draught strips
16 5.4 Loft hatches
5.5 Light fittings
a) BS EN 60598-1 in conjunction with BS 4533-102.1/EN 60598-2-1 for pendant fittings and flush fittings; or
b) BS EN 60598-1 in conjunction with BS EN 60598-2-2 for recessed fittings.
17 5.6 Pipe boots/top hats
COMMENTARY ON 5.8 Pipe boots or top hat seals around pipes are available in flexible single piece “pull over” or semi-rigid two part types. Such products may not be suitable for multi pipe penetrations.
5.7 Ventilators
5.8 Fire alarms
6 Design details and installation
6.1 General – Details in both cold and warm roofs
6.1.1 Installation of AVCLs
18 Figure 3 Joint in AVCL as a membrane with solid support, sealed using adhesive or double-sided tape
19 Figure 4 Joint in AVCL as a membrane with solid support, sealed using adhesive or double-sided tape and secured with a compression batten
20 Figure 5 Joint in AVCL as a membrane without solid support, sealed using adhesive tape (non-preferred solution)
21 Figure 6 Continuity of AVCL ensured at stud partition
22 Figure 7 Continuity of AVCL ensured at a purlin
23 6.1.2 Joints in an air barrier formed by plasterboard
Figure 8 Joints in an air barrier formed by bevel-edged plasterboard, joined at a joist or rafter
24 Figure 9 Joints in an air barrier formed by square-edged plasterboard, joined at a joist or rafter
6.2 Cold roofs
6.2.1 Ceiling-to-wall junctions
6.2.1.1 Plasterboard lined masonry cavity walls
25 Figure 10 Ensuring an air-tight seal at the junction of a masonry cavity wall and ceiling using air-impermeable foil or lining paper
26 Figure 11 Ensuring an air-tight seal at the top of a masonry cavity wall using plasterboard jointing tape (cold roof)
27 6.2.1.2 Plasterboard lined timber frame walls
Figure 12 Joints in an air barrier formed by a plasterboard-lined timber frame wall using plasterboard tape
28 6.2.1.3 Plasterboard lined metal frame walls
Figure 13 Joints in an air barrier formed by plasterboard lining a metal frame wall (cold roof)
29 6.2.1.4 Plasterboard lined internally insulated solid walls
Figure 14 Joint in an air barrier formed by plasterboard lining an internally insulated wall (cold roof)
30 6.2.1.5 Plasterboard lined externally insulated walls
Figure 15 Joint in an air barrier formed by plasterboard lining an externally insulated wall (cold roof)
31 6.2.1.6 Plasterboard lined internal partitions
6.2.1.7 Plastered masonry cavity walls
Figure 16 Join in a plastered masonry cavity wall using plasterboard jointing tape
32 6.2.1.8 Plastered internal partitions
Figure 17 Join in a plastered internal block wall using plasterboard jointing tape
33 6.3 Warm roofs
Figure 18 Ensuring an air-tight seal at the top of a masonry cavity wall below a warm roof
34 Figure 19 Warm roof construction with a small void above insulation
35 6.4 Penetrations through ceilings
6.4.1 Pipes
COMMENTARY ON 6.4.1 Where pipe seals or boot cannot be used it is important that any sealants or foams have some means of support during curing to ensure a well sealed junction.
Figure 20 Illustrative detail of a pipe penetration with collar
36 6.4.2 Cables
Figure 21 Illustrative detail of a cable penetration with support and grommet
6.4.3 Light fittings
37 Figure 22 Example of a pendant light fitting
38 Figure 23 Example of a flush light fitting
39 Figure 24 Example of a recessed light fitting showing a sealed hood or box
40 6.4.4 Loft hatches
Figure 25 Illustrative detail of a drop-down loft hatch with seals
41 6.4.5 Tubular rooflights
Figure 26 Illustrative detail of a tubular rooflight
42 6.4.6 Extraction outlets
COMMENTARY ON 6.4.7 Extraction units, to which ducting is connected, remove unwanted water vapour from the building. It is impor…
Figure 27 Illustrative detail of a sealed ventilation duct in a ceiling
43 6.4.7 Roof windows
Figure 28 Illustrative detail of a window in a warm roof
44 Annex A (informative) Requirements for airtightness and control of condensation in the Building Regulations
A.1 Introduction
A.2 Approved Document C – Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture
45 A.3 Approved Document F – Ventilation
A.4 Approved Document L – Conservation of fuel and power.
46 Bibliography
[1] Airtightness in commercial and public buildings. B.C. Webb and R. Barton. Garston: BRE. 2002.
[2] BRE IP 4/06. Airtightness of ceilings – Energy loss and condensation risk. Garston: BRE. March 2006.
[3] BRE IP 5/06. Modelling condensation and air flow in pitched roofs. Garston: BRE. April 2006.
[4] GREAT BRITAIN. Approved Document F – Ventilation, 2003. London: The Stationery Office. (http://www.planningportal.gov.uk)
[5] GREAT BRITAIN. Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000. (Amended 2005 and twice in 2006.) London: The Stationery Office. (http://www.planningportal.gov.uk)
[6] SCOTLAND. Technical Handbooks 2007. Livingston: Scottish Building Standards Agency. (http://www.sbsa.gov.uk)
[7] GREAT BRITAIN. Approved Document L2 – Air permeability requirements for buildings, 2006. London: The Stationery Office. (http://www.planningportal.gov.uk)
[8] GREAT BRITAIN. Approved Document P – Electrical safety – Dwellings, 2006. London: The Stationery Office. (http://www.planningportal.gov.uk)
[9] GREAT BRITAIN. Approved Document C – Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture, 2006. London: The Stationery Office. (http://www.planningportal.gov.uk)
[10] GREAT BRITAIN. Approved Document L1 – Conservation of fuel and power in dwellings, 2006. London: The Stationery Office. (http://www.planningportal.gov.uk)
BS 9250:2007
$189.07