The Passivhaus standard is a set of voluntary criteria for an ultra-low energy use homes. It was originally developed in Germany for houses and low-rise multi-unit residential buildings, but the standard has been popularized in recent years in residential homes.

One of the most important parts of a passive house is roofing insulation. A homes roof is one of the biggest sun collecting surfaces and if not properly insulated will cause significant heat transfer.

Having heat transfer through your roof will cause your home to heat up significantly and will require more energy to used for heating and cooling; and since the passive house standard is meant to reduce energy usage this isn’t acceptable.

The passive house standard calls for R-60 to R-90 insulation for roofs depending on what region you are building. Having this much insulation not only will make your roof incredibly efficient, it will also help prevent ice dam build ups in colder climates like Park City.

What if your house is already build and you want to make your home more efficient?

If you are replacing your roof, you can increase the insulation R-value by having exterior insulation installed on top of your existing roof deck. This is referred to as a super insulated roof and can have dramatic effects on a homes heating and cooling costs as well as having the added benefit of prevent ice dams if the r-value is increased enough.

Conclusion

When it comes to passive house standards, having a well insulated roof is one of the pillars of ensuring that your create a structure that is as efficient as possible. R-values between R-60 and R-90 are what passive house standards call for depending on what region you are building in.