AS 3999 1992 Australian Standard Thermal insulation of dwellings Bulk insulation Installation requirements
This Australian Standard was prepared by Committee BD/58, Thermal performance and Insulation of Dwellings. It was approved on behalf of the Council of Standards Australia on 9 January 1992 and published on 16 April 1992. The following interests are represented on Committee BD/58: Acceptance Standards of Construction Committee, N.S.W. Aluminium Development Council Association of Municipal Electricity Authorities, Vic. Australian Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association Australian Clay Brick Association Australian Federation of Consumer Organizations Australian Institute of Building Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating Australian Uniform Building Regulations Coordinating Council Business and Consumer Affairs, N.S.W. CSIRO, Division of Building, Construction and Engineering Department of Administrative Services Australian Construction Services Department of Industry, Technology and Resources, Vic. Department of Mines and Energy, S.A. Fibreglass and Rockwool Insulation Manufacturers Association of Australia Housing Industry Association of Australia Hydro-Electric Commission, Tas. Master Builders Construction and Housing Association, Australia Ministry of Housing and Construction, Vic. The Plastics Institute of Australia Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (New South Wales) University of Adelaide The University of Melbourne Victorian Solar Energy Council Additional interests participating in preparation of Standard: Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association Electrical Contractors Association of Australia Queensland Electricity Commission State Electricity Commission of Victoria Review of Australian Standards. To keep abreast of progress in industry, Australian Standards are subject to periodic review and are kept up to date by the issue of amendments or new editions as necessary. It is important therefore that Standards users ensure that they are in possession of the latest edition, and any amendments thereto. Full details of all Australian Standards and related publications will be found in the Standards Australia Catalogue of Publications; this information is supplemented each month by the magazine The Australian Standard, which subscribing members receive, and which gives details of new publications, new editions and amendments, and of withdrawn Standards. Suggestions for improvements to Australian Standards, addressed to the head office of Standards Australia, are welcomed. Notification of any inaccuracy or ambiguity found in an Australian Standard should be made without delay in order that the matter may be investigated and appropriate action taken. This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 77139.
AS 3999 1992 Australian Standard Thermal insulation of dwellings Bulk insulation Installation requirements First published as AS 3999 1992. PUBLISHED BY STANDARDS AUSTRALIA (STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA) 1 THE CRESCENT, HOMEBUSH, NSW 2140 ISBN 0 7262 7334 1
AS 3999 1992 2 PREFACE This Standard was prepared by the Standards Australia Committee on Thermal Performance and Insulation of Dwellings. It is one of a series of Standards relating to thermal insulation. CONTENTS Page FOREWORD... 3 SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL 1.1 SCOPE... 4 1.2 APPLICATION... 4 1.3 REFERENCEDANDRELATEDDOCUMENTS... 4 1.4 DEFINITIONS... 5 1.5 BULKINSULATIONMATERIALS... 5 1.6 ANCILLARYMATERIALS... 5 SECTION 2 PRE-INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS AND INSPECTION 2.1 SCOPEOFSECTION... 6 2.2 GENERAL... 6 2.3 SPECIALFEATURES... 6 2.4 TREATMENT REQUIRED FOR SPECIAL FEATURES....................... 6 2.5 CONDENSATIONASSESSMENT... 6 2.6 ELECTRICALCABLESANDELECTRICALEQUIPMENT... 6 2.7 BUILT-INAPPLIANCES... 7 SECTION 3 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR INSULATION INSTALLATION 3.1 SCOPEOFSECTION... 8 3.2 GENERAL... 8 SECTION 4 REQUIREMENTS FOR INSULATION INSTALLATION IN ROOFS AND CEILINGS 4.1 SCOPEOFSECTION... 10 4.2 GENERAL... 10 4.3 LOW-PITCHEDROOFS... 13 4.4 PITCHEDROOFS... 15 SECTION 5 REQUIREMENTS FOR INSULATION INSTALLATION IN WALLS AND FLOORS 5.1 SCOPEOFSECTION... 20 5.2 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR WALLS AND BULKHEADS................ 20 5.3 REQUIREMENTS FOR FRAMED, MASONRY CAVITY AND CONCRETE WALLS.. 20 5.4 FLOORS... 23
3 AS 3999 1992 FOREWORD This Standard specifies the procedures for installing bulk thermal insulation in dwellings consistent with good building practice. The requirements were compiled from a wide range of procedures used in Australia and considered as good practice in the installation of all types of bulk thermal insulation with the exception of foamed in situ materials, which are dealt with elsewhere. The Committee has recognized the possibility of certain electrical cables and equipment overheating when operating for extended periods when partially or completely surrounded by thermal insulation. To minimize this possibility a pre-installation inspection has been called for in order to identify whether this potential problem may occur where the thermal insulation is to be placed. The procedure to be adopted as a result of the inspection is set out in this Standard. Rather than attempt to give details of all the usual methods of insulating all the building elements commonly found in dwelling construction, general requirements have been given to be followed by the insulation installer. For a selected number of special cases, specific methods of installing thermal insulation have been given. The various sub-structures which may be insulated with bulk insulation are dealt with in separate sections with cross-references where necessary. Users of this Standard are therefore recommended to read the document as a whole in addition to information on any particular building sub-structure which it may be desired to insulate. Installation of bulk thermal insulation, using the requirements and methods given in this Standard, will lead to reduction of heat gain in summer and of heat loss in winter. Attention is drawn to the Application Clause in Section 1 which sets out the intentions of the Committee as to how the Standard should be applied. Copyright STANDARDS AUSTRALIA Users of Standards are reminded that copyright subsists in all Standards Australia publications and software. Except where the Copyright Act allows and except where provided for below no publications or software produced by Standards Australia may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system in any form or transmitted by any means without prior permission in writing from Standards Australia. Permission may be conditional on an appropriate royalty payment. Requests for permission and information on commercial software royalties should be directed to the head office of Standards Australia. Standards Australia will permit up to 10 percent of the technical content pages of a Standard to be copied for use exclusively in-house by purchasers of the Standard without payment of a royalty or advice to Standards Australia. Standards Australia will also permit the inclusion of its copyright material in computer software programs for no royalty payment provided such programs are used exclusively in-house by the creators of the programs. Care should be taken to ensure that material used is from the current edition of the Standard and that it is updated whenever the Standard is amended or revised. The number and date of the Standard should therefore be clearly identified. The use of material in print form or in computer software programs to be used commercially, with or without payment, or in commercial contracts is subject to the payment of a royalty. This policy may be varied by Standards Australia at any time.
AS 3999 1992 4 STANDARDS AUSTRALIA Australian Standard Thermal insulation of dwellings Bulk insulation Installation requirements SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL 1.1 SCOPE This Standard deals with the installation of bulk thermal insulation in all classes of dwellings. This Standard is not intended to apply to the insulation of building services and equipment. It does not deal with foamed in situ and reflective foil laminate thermal insulation materials. 1.2 APPLICATION 1.2.1 Relationship with regulations This Standard is intended to provide technical requirements for implementation by reference in statutory (building) regulations. The requirements of this Standard may be read in conjunction with, but do not take precedence over, any statutory regulations that may apply in any area. NOTE: It should be noted that an installation may come under the jurisdiction of several authorities with differing areas of responsibility, and that an approval from one does not necessarily constitute an approval from others. 1.2.2 Method of application This Standard is intended to be used by the building professions and the installers of bulk thermal insulation both commercial and do-it-yourself. Bulk thermal insulation shall comply with Sections 2 and 3, and the following, as applicable: (a) Roofs and ceilings Section 4. (b) Walls and floors Section 5. 1.2.3 New designs and innovations Notwithstanding the specific requirements of this Standard, any novel materials, designs and methods of assembly, which give equivalent results to those specified, are not necessarily prohibited if they are consistent with good building practice. 1.3 REFERENCED AND RELATED DOCUMENTS 1.3.1 Referenced documents The following documents are referred to in this Standard: AS 1326 Polyethylene (polythene) film for packaging and allied purposes 1736 Code of practice for pliable roof sarking 1903 Reflective foil laminate 2352 Glossary of terms for thermal insulation of buildings 2627 Thermal insulation of dwellings Design guide 2627.1 Thermal insulation of roof/ceiling in dwellings which require heating 2870 Residential slabs and footings 2870.1 Construction 3000 SAA Wiring Rules ASTM E 96 Test methods for water vapour transmission BS 2782 Methods of testing plastics Method 513 A, B, C, and D 5250 Code of basic data for the design of buildings: The control of condensation in dwellings Worksafe Australia National code of practice for the safe use of synthetic mineral fibres 1.3.2 Related documents Attention is drawn to the following related documents: 1366 Rigid cellular plastics sheets for thermal insulation 1366.1 Rigid cellular polyurethane (RC/PUR) 1366.2 Rigid cellular polyisocyanurate (RC/PIR) 1366.3 Rigid cellular polystyrene Moulded (RC/PS M) 1366.4 Rigid cellular polystyrene Extruded (RC/PS E) 1904 Code of practice for installation of reflective foil laminate in buildings 2461 Mineral wool thermal insulation Loose fill 2462 Cellulosic fibre thermal insulation 2463 Sea grass bulk thermal insulation 3742 Mineral wool thermal insulation Batt and blanket CA55 Code of recommended practice for the design and installation of bituminous fabric roofing COPYRIGHT
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