Roof Space Ventilation Building Regulations

Otherwise ventilation is required and this is known as a cold roof system.

Roof space ventilation building regulations.

For example in the average house with a cold loft there should be a minimum of a 7mm continuous ventilation gap at eaves when using a vapour permeable underlay with a normal unsealed ceiling. The roof space isn t intended to be a storage area so if you do put items up there you. Around 25 per cent of heat loss occurs through a building s roof but high levels of insulation in historic roofs can be counter productive sometimes even accelerating heat loss in the long term. Roof insulation thermal resistance at roof perimeter should be equal or greater to thermal resistance of exterior wall.

Roof space air quality 9 1 roof spaces with dampness problems such as from leaking roofs lid less water tanks moisture being vented into the roof space and moisture rising from the ground through building cavities require special attention. Contribute positively to moisture control in dwellings tending to be short of ventilation. A roof void above an insulated ceiling. Roofs with a pitch of 15 or more.

If the attic is equipped with high and low ventilation openings the requirement is 1. Cold roofs versus warm roofs. The requirements will be met by the ventilation of those roofs where the moisture from the building can pass through the insulation. Therefore it s important that the ventilation slots aren t blocked.

Minimum requirements bs 5250 sets out the minimum requirements for roof space ventilation. Pitched roof spaces should have ventilation openings at eaves level to promote cross ventilation. Attics must have a minimum of 1 square foot of ventilation openings for every 150 square feet of floor space. 1 300 ventilation ratio recommended.

In many pitched roofs a ventilation slot is built in along two opposite eaves so that air can flow across the roof space. The air gap dimensions shown on the drawings are the minimum widths required for clear continuous ventilation air paths at the eaves. Ventilation is not required to a warm roof system which is where the insulation is placed above the joists or rafters. Condensation encourages rot and mould growth.

Jonathan taylor s article unpacks the key issues including the role of moisture ventilation and buffering. Ventilation 2010 edition incorporating 2010 and 2013 amendments ref. And current best practice. When ventilating a roof the air should be able to enter at one end and travel through to the other end where it can exit.

Both building regulations and nhbc require ventilation to be provided in roof spaces. Duo pitch roofs greater than 200 pitch or greater than 10m span should have additional ventilation at the ridge to assist airflow through the roof void equivalent to at least a 3 mm wide continuous gap.