What is a Class 1 Vapor Retarder?

Crawl spaces require a class 1 vapor retarder to be installed on the exposed dirt to assist in moisture control. Although, moisture control is the goal, rarely is installing a vapor retarder alone able to control moisture. Many builders and home improvement contractors are under the assumption that throwing down plastic controls crawl space moisture but we find this not to be accurate. A class 1 vapor retarder is a material that has a perm rating of 0.1 perms or less.

Examples of Class 1 Vapor Retarders

Materials used for moisture control that are considered class 1 vapor retarders include:

• Glass
• Rubber Membrane
• Polyethelene Sheeting
• Sheet metal
• Aluminum foil

These materials are used in different locations throughout the home. The intended purpose of a vapor barrier is to control moisture. Controlling moisture in the crawl space is vital. Reduced moisture levels can hinder mold growth and termite activity. Rarely is a class 1 vapor retarder installed in a crawl space able to control moisture without assistance. Make sure the crawl space vapor retarder is covering all exposed earth and at minimum a crawl space dehumidifier is installed.

What is Perm Rating?

Perm rating or permeability is a unit of measure given to a materials ability to retard the diffusion of water vapor. Other classes of vapor retarder includes class 2 with a perm of greater than 0.1 and less than or equal to 1.0. Class 3 has a perm rating of greater than 1.0 and less than or equal to 10 perms.

Class 2 Vapor Retarder Examples (greater than 0.1 and less than or equal to 1.0)

• Kraft paper coated with bitumen
• 30lb asphalt coated paper
• Unfaced expanded or extruded polystyrene insulation
• Plywood

Class 3 Vapor Retarder Examples (greater than 1.0 and less than or equal to 10)

• Unfaced fiberglass insulation
• Cellulose insulation
• CMU (concrete block)
• Brick
• House wrap
• 15lb asphalt coated paper
• Gypsum board

Installing Vapor Retarders in Crawl Spaces

The material most used in new construction is a 6-mil thick class 1 vapor retarder. This material is considered builder grade and can be purchased just about anywhere. If your home has a builder grade vapor retarder, ensure all of the ground surface is covered. There should be no exposed dirt showing to ensure moisture control. Keep in mind this is the minimum required by code and is usually the lease effective at controlling moisture.