Required Attic Vent Calculation


dshall
 Share

Recommended Posts

Suppose I have 300 s.f. of attic,  how much vent area do I need?

I use one of two rules to calculate required attic vent area.  Area divided by either 150 or 300

 

300 s.f. of attic/150 = 2 s.f. of required vents or 288 s.i.

or

300 s.f. of attic/300 = 1 s.f. of required vents or 144 s.i.

 

See the attached pic from this web site  (roofing company calculator.  Does this make sense?  Am I missing something?

http://www.decra.com/index.php/attic-ventilation-calculator  

 

5a033bb65843b_ScreenShot2017-11-08at9_08_45AM.thumb.png.ceb52e08611fb6dc7a58596ae3c73be4.png

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, Chopsaw said:

Scott,  Just looking at the math aspect I think you missed the "divided 50 / 50 between the inlets and outlets" part.

 

I should be clearer but these things always seem to be based on assumptions.

 

Chop,  I saw that,  so in the first example when it says 144 net free area,  that means 144 net free area in and 144 net free area out so a total of 288 s.f.?   And so when it says I need 3 panel vents,  does that mean I need 3 panel vents total or 3 vents in and 3 vents out for a total of 6?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, Kbird1 said:

I think Perry is right , the website has split the result in half because of the 50/50 rule on inlet and outlet air.  ie soffit vents and roof vents

 

So how much area do you think I need in example 1?  144 total vent area or 288 total vent area.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 minutes ago, dshall said:

 

So how much area do you think I need in example 1?  144 total vent area or 288 total vent area.

 

I think 288in ........   144in of soffit vent (Bottom)  144in of roof/ridge vent (top)

 

how many panels vents depends on how many sq.in each one is .... but in my book you can't have too many vent's.....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Scott, Since that is put out by a roofing company I think they are assuming that intake vents ( soffit ) are not a roofers responsibility.

 

And for example 1 you would need 144 in and 144 out for a total of 288 but again that is just an opinion as venting in Canada is different.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks guys.  You confirmed what I was thinking.  I was starting to question my mathematical ability..... if they had been clearer for dimwits like myself,  we wouldn't be having this conversation.  Thanks again for the input.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 minutes ago, Joe_Carrick said:

Scott,

Don't forget that vents may need to have auto fire dampers, depending on the jurisdiction.

I use the O'Hagan's low profile type, I wonder if you need auto dampers with those, haven't had to yet, but I usually don't do much in heavy fire areas

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, DRAWZILLA said:

I use the O'Hagan's low profile type, I wonder if you need auto dampers with those, haven't had to yet, but I usually don't do much in heavy fire areas

 

Imuse ohagin too,  never needed the dampers.  On this particular job spewing out very specific metal roof.  Not sure ohagin would work in this case.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 hours ago, dshall said:

 

Imuse ohagin too,  never needed the dampers.  On this particular job spewing out very specific metal roof.  Not sure ohagin would work in this case.

Vaulted ceilings have been a problem for me as we have to vent each bay using eave vents and in some cities ,ridge vents to the high vents.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You can't over vent an unconditioned attic space (especially in snow regions).  We vent every truss bay because we need every bay to have that "wash" on the bottom side of the shtg. to help prevent ice dams.

In your warmer climate you probably could get away with every 3rd bay. (but I would still reccomend over venting) :-)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share