Attic Ventilation Ratio

Generally speaking you need a ratio of 1 300 where for every 300 square feet of ceiling space you need 1 square foot of attic ventilation.

Attic ventilation ratio.

This is based principally on good historical experience and simple psychrometric analysis handegord giroux 1984. Ventilation manufacturers assign an nfa value to the non motorized vents they make. So in our example we will divide the 1 500 square feet by 300. Attic square footage 2 square inches of exhaust and square inches of intake net free area nfa needed.

Ventsure inflow intake vent. You can also contact your local municipality to check on building code in your area. According to the national roofing contractors association nrca a power vent with an airflow rate of 1 0 cubic foot per minute per square foot of attic space measured at the attic floor is generally considered to be equivalent to a 1 150 ventilation ratio. 1 square foot of nfva per 300 square feet of attic floor if a vapor barrier is installed on the ceiling below.

Most building codes require a ratio of 1 150 ventilation space to attic floor space. Without exception you should talk to a professional to determine what your home requires. Ventilation of attic spaces is required by most building codes as well as by roofing material manufacturers and the national roofing contractors association nrca. 1 square foot of net free vent area nfva per 150 feet of attic floor.

Intake vents located at the lowest part of the roof under the eaves. Ok so now we know the square footage of the attic area to be ventilated. Federal housing authority recommends a minimum of at least 1 square foot of attic ventilation evenly split between intake and exhaust for every 300 square feet of attic floor space. Remember the minimum area requirement when using a continuous system is a ratio of 1 300.

What does the code require. Nfa is the unobstructed area through which air can pass through a vent usually measured in square inches. That said air resistance and interference such as vent grates reduces the area of true ventilation. The recommended ventilation ratio to provide for vented attic assemblies when an air barrier is present is the 1 300 ratio as specified by most building codes.

Attic ventilation works on the principle that heated air naturally rises primarily utilizing two types of vents. Allows cool dry air to enter the attic. Proper attic ventilation consists of a balance between air intake at your eaves soffits or fascias and air exhaust at or near your roof ridge.