--- title: Beauty and the Batts description: Fiberglass batts are commonly used to insulate flat ceilings and they're relatively easy to install, but that doesn't mean they're always installed right. image: https://information.insulationinstitute.org/hubfs/Yuda%20Schwartz-Superseal%201%5B1%5D.jpg --- [![Insulation Institute](https://information.insulationinstitute.org/hubfs/NAIMA_Jan2016_Theme/layout/logo.png)](https://insulationinstitute.org/) - [About NAIMA](https://insulationinstitute.org/about-naima/) - [News & Industry Issues](https://insulationinstitute.org/news-industry-issues/) - [Blog](https://information.insulationinstitute.org/blog) - [Tools & Resources](https://insulationinstitute.org/tools-resources/) - [Contact Us](https://insulationinstitute.org/contact-us/) [![Insulation Institute](https://information.insulationinstitute.org/hubfs/NAIMA_Jan2016_Theme/layout/logo.png)](https://insulationinstitute.org/) - [About NAIMA](https://insulationinstitute.org/about-naima/) - [News & Industry Issues](https://insulationinstitute.org/news-industry-issues/) - 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[Moisture Management](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/residential/installation-guidance-2/moisture-management/) - [Vapor Retarders](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/residential/installation-guidance-2/vapor-retarders/) - [Attics and Ceilings](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/residential/installation-guidance-2/attics-and-ceilings-2/) - [Walls and Knee Walls](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/residential/installation-guidance-2/walls-and-knee-walls/) - [Floors](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/residential/installation-guidance-2/floors/) - [Codes & Standards](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/residential/codes-standards/) - [Health & Safety](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/residential/health-safety/) - [Commercial](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/commercial/) - [Comparing Insulation Types](https://insulationinstitute.org/comparing-insulation-types/) - [Why Insulate](https://insulationinstitute.org/why-insulate/) - [Installation Guidance](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/commercial/installation-guidance/) - [Installation Considerations](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/commercial/installation-guidance/installation-considerations/) - [Moisture Management](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/residential/installation-guidance-2/moisture-management/) - [Vapor Retarders](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/residential/installation-guidance-2/vapor-retarders/) - [Ceilings](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/commercial/installation-guidance/ceilings/) - [Walls and Knee Walls](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/residential/installation-guidance-2/walls-and-knee-walls/) - [Floors](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/residential/installation-guidance-2/floors/) - [Codes & Standards](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/insulating-air-handling-systems/codes-standards/) - [Health & Safety](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/commercial/health-safety-2/) - [Metal Buildings](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/commercial/insulation-for-metal-buildings/) - [Air Handling](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/insulating-air-handling-systems/) - [Why Insulate](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/insulating-air-handling-systems/why-insulate/) - [Installation Guidance](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/insulating-air-handling-systems/installation-guidance/) - [Codes & Standards](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/insulating-air-handling-systems/codes-standards/) - [Health & Safety](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/insulating-air-handling-systems/health-safety/) - [Piping](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/piping/) - [Why Insulate](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/piping/why-insulate/) - [Installation Guidance](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/piping/installation-guidance/) - [Codes & Standards](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/piping/pipe-insulation-codes-standards/) - [Health & Safety](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/piping/insulation-health-and-safety-for-piping-systems/) - [Industrial](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/industrial-insulation/) - [Comparing Insulation Types](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/industrial-insulation/comparing-insulation-types/) - [Why Insulate](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/industrial-insulation/why-insulate/) - [Installation Guidance](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/industrial-insulation/installation-guidance/) - [Codes & Standards](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/industrial-insulation/codes-standards/) - [Health & Safety](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/industrial-insulation/health-safety/) ###### [Back to Blog Homepage](https://information.insulationinstitute.org/) # Insulation Institute Blog # Beauty and the Batts Apr 16, 2021 10:35:40 AM By [Stacy Fitzgerald-Redd](https://information.insulationinstitute.org/blog/author/stacy-fitzgerald-redd) [previous](https://information.insulationinstitute.org/blog/wheres-my-green-job) [next](https://information.insulationinstitute.org/blog/new-report-details-covids-effects-on-clean-jobs) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![Yuda Schwartz-Superseal 1\[1\]-1](https://information.insulationinstitute.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Yuda%20Schwartz-Superseal%201%5B1%5D-1.jpg?width=162&name=Yuda%20Schwartz-Superseal%201%5B1%5D-1.jpg)Fiberglass batts are commonly used to insulate flat ceilings and attic areas in both new and existing buildings. They offer performance, cost-effectiveness, and relative ease of installation, but that doesn’t mean they’re always installed properly. The performance of any insulation product is dependent not only on selecting the proper product but also on installing it correctly. So, how does one install batts in flat ceilings to maximize thermal performance? **Doing the Job Right** Ceiling batts are easy to install but the installer must take a few precautions to ensure quality application for a flat ceiling. Here are the basics: 1. Use a full-width product that is designed for the width between the ceiling joists (such as R-49). Never use narrow-width materials since the framing members will not be covered. 2. Install batts out over the exterior wall top plates. Batts assure thermal protection at the eaves by preventing cold spots and potential moisture condensation. 3. With eave vents, leave at least one inch of clearance between the insulation and roof deck. Use baffles where needed. 4. Make sure that the ends of the insulation batts butt together snugly. This is easy to accomplish with batt insulation. 5. When installing insulation from below, make sure that the batts are flush with the ceiling line. 6. Don’t cover recessed light fixtures with insulation. Unless the fixture is Insulation Contact (IC) rated, any insulation must be kept at least three inches away. 7. When using faced product, install the vapor retarder down toward the living space. Standard facing cannot be left uncovered and must be covered by drywall, paneling, or other appropriate interior finish. **Beauty and the Batts** Superior installation of batt insulation is a beautiful thing and doing it right means that the product will achieve expected thermal performance over the life of a building. Minding the [details](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/residential/installation-guidance-2/attics-and-ceilings-2/) of Grade I installation can also help ensure a HERS-rated home doesn’t get [penalized](https://information.insulationinstitute.org/blog/what-is-proper-insulation-installation) for a Grade II or Grade III installation according to RESNET’s grading system. For more details on installing batt insulation to Grade I specifications, visit our Grade I installation resources [page](https://insulationinstitute.org/im-a-building-or-facility-professional/residential/installation-guidance-2/grade-1-installation/) and take our Grade I installation [online training](https://insulationinstitute.org/tools-resources/grade-1-insulation-certification-training/) that even comes with a certificate of completion. ### ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER? 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