Unconditioned attic: Attic access hatch in conditioned or unconditioned space?
otinkyad
| Posted in General Questions on
Attic will be unconditioned and vented, Zone 5 (Iowa). Builder proposes attic hatch in garage (which will be unconditioned). But I wondered if it should be inside the conditioned space.
I’ve looked at quite a bit of information about *sealing* the access hatch (eg from Martin Holladay’s and Allison Bailes’ books) — but did not seem to find information on *where* the access hatch should be.
Is it preferable to have it in the conditioned space or in the unconditioned space?
Thanks!
GBA Detail Library
A collection of one thousand construction details organized by climate and house part
Search and download construction details
Replies
If it's in unconditioned space you don't have to seal it. Is there a benefit you're seeing to having it in conditioned space?
DCcontrarian, thank you for the reply.
I think the main reason I wondered if the access hatch *should* be in the conditioned space was all the stuff I had read about how to seal it -- which led me to infer that it's *expected* to be in conditioned space. But I see now that is probably faulty inference on my part.
So then is it fine to have the access hatch in the unconditioned garage...? It would be nice if that could then eliminate the need to worry about sealing the hatch...
Thanks for any additional thoughts..
The big additional thought I'll offer is that you should prepare to be amazed at how hard it will be during construction to get people to see where the boundary between conditioned and unconditioned space is. The plumber will want to run pipes and drains in the unconditioned space, the HVAC guy will want to run ducts. Because it's easier for them. Don't let them. Prepare for the insulation contractor to not insulate part of the boundary, or insulate the wrong walls, because he doesn't see where the boundary is. Even though that's what they do all day, it's incredibly common for them not to get it.
Thanks for these cautions! I have begun suspecting that constant vigilance will be necessary going forward, but I wouldn't have thought of these particular aspects -- thanks!