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    keywest karen's Avatar
    keywest karen Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Apr 25, 2007, 11:13 AM
    How do you vent an attic if soffit's are closed off?
    We are doing construction and the contractor said the fire code is to close off soffit vents. Well then how do you vent the attic if our house has a low pitched roof? I know air must come in to go out! Any suggestions? Fan's need air to suck in.
    Thank you... keywestkaren
    Kstar4u's Avatar
    Kstar4u Posts: 255, Reputation: 22
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    #2

    Apr 27, 2007, 07:32 PM
    There are a few common methods of venting attics but the primary goal is to provide air circulation. Without that... all kinds of "bad" stuff can happen to your house/roof. Soffit vents are usually considered "intakes" (due to their location at the low point of the space) while "roof" vents are normally higher (closer to the roof ridge line) and are the main "exhaust" end of the system. You can always install vents on the roof slope, at the low end (louvers) but they are not the most efficient way to go. Maybe consider a vented drip cap that provides adequate intake flow but isn't really an ope soffit vent. Most building codes require a minimum of 1 square foot of vent for each 150 square feet of ceiling area. If your "intake" vents are on the soffit and covered by insulation... you should need about twice as much "intake" vent sq. footage as you would if the vents weren't covered.

    Maybe your fire dept. should visit your building department (on their lunch-break of course). Good luck.
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