Envelope Assembly Fields

This article describes how Inspection Sync updates envelope component information.

There are four categories of envelope data that can be included in an Inspection Sync JSON:

• aboveGradeWalls
• foundationWalls
• framedFloors
• ceilingsAndRoofs

Each of which effects components in their namesake sections of the Envelope tab of Ekotrope RATER.

While the components they effect are different, the format of acceptable inputs is identical across these four JSON fields. All of them must be arrays of objects of a form such as:

"aboveGradeWalls": [
    {
      "index": 0,
      "continuousInsulationR": 10.5
    },
    {
      "index": 1,
      "cavityInsulationGrade": "I",
      "studSpacing": 15.5,
      "studWidth": 1.5,
      "studDepth": 5.5
    }
]

General Notes:

• Each envelope assembly field is an array of objects containing a set of fields.
• All fields in an envelope assembly object are optional except for "index".
• The "index" field of an envelope assembly object must refer to an existing entry in the plan (If the plan has 3 wall entries an "aboveGradeWall" value with an index of 3 or higher will not be accepted.
• Envelope components being updated using Inspection Sync must use a type that was created using the "Assembly Calculator" input mechanism. Components using types that were made with "Classic Entry" cannot be updated by Inspection Sync.

Field Behavior

All of the envelope component fields of Inspection Sync update values of the component type in use in the component. Specifically the values change values of the "Assembly Calculator", for a refresher on how the Assembly Calculator works, see this article.

cavityInsulationGrade

The value given for "cavityInsulationGrade" sets the grade of all cavity insulation layers of the component assembly. Usually this will be just one layer, but if the envelope assembly in use has multiple cavity layers all will be given the new cavity grade.

cavityInsulationR

The value given for "cavityInsulationR" sets the sum R value of all materials in cavity layers of the wall assembly. If there is more than one cavity layer or multiple insulation materials in the layers, they will all be given a fraction of the new R value proportional to their existing R value before the update. For example if the assembly is for a double-stud wall, the "cavityInsulationR" would be split between the two stud/cavity layers based on the ratio of their existing R values.  If all existing cavity insulation materials have an R value of zero, then each will be given an equal share of the supplied "cavityInsulationR". 

continuousInsulationR

The value given for "continuousInsulationR" sets the sum R value of all materials in continuous layers of the wall assembly. If there is more than one continuous layer or multiple insulation materials in the layers, they will all be given a fraction of the new R value proportional to their existing R value before the update, in the same way as for "cavityInsulationR" (including equal fractions if all initially had R values of 0).

studSpacing

The value given for "studSpacing" sets the stud spacing (in inches) of all cavity insulation layers of the wall assembly. Usually this will be just one layer, but if the envelope assembly in use has multiple cavity layers all will be given the new spacing.

studWidth

The value given for "studWidth" sets the stud width(in inches) of all cavity insulation layers of the wall assembly. Usually this will be just one layer, but if the envelope assembly in use has multiple cavity layers all will be given the new spacing.

studDepth

The value given for "studDepth" sets the Spacing (in inches) of all cavity insulation layers of the wall assembly. Usually this will be just one layer, but if the envelope assembly in use has multiple cavity layers all will be given the new spacing.

studMaterial

The value given for "studMaterial" sets the stud material of all cavity insulation layers of the wall assembly. Usually this will be just one layer, but if the envelope assembly in use has multiple cavity layers all will be given the new spacing.

Library Types and Inspection Sync

Most envelope components use a type from a Component Library. Because Inspection Sync can make drastic changes to the values of the component type of an entry, when Inspection Sync updates a component, it makes a copy of the component type in use on the component and makes its modifications to the copy. This copy is unique to the component. Any changes made to the copy will not effect the original component type, and vice versa.

Verified Types

Many envelope component types are "Verified" by their organization. Because Inspection Sync can make significant modifications, the types created by Inspection Sync will not be marked as verified, with one exception.

The exception to this rule is if the Inspection Sync update meets the following criteria:

• The component type in use is verified.
• The only change made to the type is with the "cavityInsulationGrade" field.

For example, the following update would cause the component's type to stay verified:

"ceilingsAndRoofs": [
    {
      "index": 0,
      "cavityInsulationGrade": "I"
    },
]

Cases Where Layers Are Added to the Assembly

If the assembly of an envelope component is missing a layer; either stud/cavity, continuous insulation, or both; Inspection Sync can be used to add the missing layers to the assembly.

Continuous Layers

If there is no continuous insulation layer in the component assembly but the Inspection Sync data for the component includes "continuousInsulationR", a new layer will be added with the given R value. The new layer will be located in the assembly on the exterior side of the outermost stud/cavity layer. If no stud/cavity layer is to be found in the assembly, the layer will be placed on the interior of the assembly.

If the component is a ceiling/roof, the new layer will use the "Cellulose Dense Pack" material. For all other components, the layer's material will be "XPS".

An Example

The following type (which has no continuous insulation, only siding and plywood) is in use in a wall:
The following Inspection Sync data updates that wall:

"aboveGradeWalls": [
    {
      "index": 0,
      "continuousInsulationR": 11.5
    }
]

Which updates the wall to use a new copy of the wall type with a continuous insulation layer added:

Cavity Layers

If there is no cavity insulation layer in the wall assembly but all of the following fields are present:

• cavityInsulationR
• studSpacing
•  studWidth
•  studDepth
• studMaterial

Then a new layer will be added to the component assembly on the interior side.

If the component is a ceiling/roof, the new layer will use the "Cellulose Dense Pack" material. For all other components, the layer's material will be "Fiberglass Batts".

An Example

The following type (which lacks a stud/cavity layer) is in use in a wall:

The following Inspection Sync data updates that wall:

"aboveGradeWalls": [
    {
      "index": 0,
      "studDepth": 5.5,
      "studWidth": 1.5,
      "studSpacing": 15.5,
      "studMaterial": "WOOD",
      "cavityInsulationR": 18.5,
      "cavityInsulationGrade": "I"
    }
]

Which updates the wall to use a new copy of the wall type with a cavity insulation layer added:

Example Inspection Sync File with Envelope Assembly Data

[
	{
	  "projectId": "abcd1234",
	  "aboveGradeWalls": [
			{
				"index": 0,
				"studDepth": 8.5,
				"studWidth": 1.5,
				"studSpacing": 10.5,
				"studMaterial":"WOOD",
				"cavityInsulationR": 18.5,
				"cavityInsulationGrade": "I",
				"continuousInsulationR": 10.5
			},
			{
				"index": 1,
				"continuousInsulationR": 11.5
			},
			{
				"index": 2,
				"studDepth": 6,
				"studWidth": 1.5,
				"studSpacing": 15.5,
				"studMaterial":"WOOD",
				"cavityInsulationR": 18.5,
				"cavityInsulationGrade": "I"
			},	
		],
	  "ceilingsAndRoofs": [
			{
				"index": 0,
				"studDepth": 8.5,
				"studWidth": 1.5,
				"studSpacing": 10.5,
				"continuousInsulationR": 10.5
			}
		]
	}
]