GBA Logo horizontal Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram YouTube Icon Navigation Search Icon Main Search Icon Video Play Icon Plus Icon Minus Icon Picture icon Hamburger Icon Close Icon Sorted

Community and Q&A

Vapor barrier location question

stuccofirst | Posted in General Questions on

I have an air handler in my attic space. The attic is out of the envelope and I would like to build a rigid foamboard box around it to maintain a more even temperature. Should I vapor barrier (Fypar) the inside of the box, the outside, or neither?

It blows heat in the winter and AC in the summer. Of course, its surroundings are just the opposite. Any input would be appreciated.

GBA Prime

Join the leading community of building science experts

Become a GBA Prime member and get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

Replies

  1. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | | #1

    Shane,
    Rigid foam board is already a vapor retarder. For example, 1 inch of extruded polystyrene has a permeance in the range of 0.4 perm to 1.24 perm, and 1 inch of foil-faced polyisocyanurate has a permeance of 0.05 perm.

    I'm not sure what "Fypar" is. If you meant to write "Typar," then you should know that Typar is not a vapor barrier. Typar is vapor-permeable.

Log in or create an account to post an answer.

Community

Recent Questions and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |