TL;DR
An airtight recessed fixture is a can light built with a gasketed, sealed housing so conditioned air cannot stream through it into the attic, a leak path ordinary recessed cans are notorious for. Units are labeled AT or certified under ASTM E283 to leak no more than 2 CFM at 75 pascals, and IC-rated versions can also touch insulation safely.
What it means
An airtight recessed fixture is a can light built with a gasketed, sealed housing so conditioned air cannot stream through it into the attic, a leak path ordinary recessed cans are notorious for. Units are labeled AT or certified under ASTM E283 to leak no more than 2 CFM at 75 pascals, and IC-rated versions can also touch insulation safely. The IECC requires sealed housings whenever a fixture penetrates the thermal envelope. Swapping leaky cans for these, or capping old ones with airtight LED retrofits, is a routine air-sealing measure during energy upgrades.
Where it sits in the glossary
Airtight recessed fixture is part of the Trade jargon group inside the ProFix Directory glossary. Browse every term in this category from the glossary index.
Why Ohio homeowners should know it
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