Building Air Leakage Testing

Air leakage can give rise to localised draught discomfort for people located near the.

Building air leakage testing.

Buildings below 500m gifa are only exempt from an air test if an air leakage rate of 15 m h m is used in the sbem calculation and that calculation passes. In addition to the assessment of building air tightness or building envelope leakage bel commonly known as blower door testing cetec also utilises similar methodologies to assess the air exchange effectiveness of occupied spaces. Initial air tightness testing sample air test is carried out to give an estimation of final air testing performance including identifying any key air leakage issues. Air leakage can affect these items by allowing air of an undesired temperature into the enclosure.

Air tightness tests are useful to architects building services designers energy assessors builders services installers fire sealers air tightness testers building controllers building owners occupiers etc. Airtightness testing is the best way to assess the performance of the building fabric in stopping the uncontrolled passage of air. Systems are often oversized to offset uncertainties in air leakage. Air barrier testing is aimed at locating and isolating areas of your building that allow air to move in and out of your building.

The only requirements for whole building testing are in the state of washington the united states general services administration and all united states army corps of engineers projects. Building science is the study of how heat air and moisture move through buildings. This target figure is required before one can conduct an air test. Whole building air barrier testing gain control of the air in your building and gain control of your costs and air quality with approximately 30 of your building s energy usage utilized to compensate for air leakage the need to control the air entering and leaving your building is more than an air quality issue it is also a cost issue.

Pre test inspections audit site visits throughout construction to ensure adherence to air barrier strategy including a detailed illustrated report. The air test standard targeted is the design air permeability rate found in the sbem calculation. To avoid draught discomfort. This can cause drafts in certain rooms and bring in moisture which can increase the relative humidity of the conditioned space.

When conducting a leakage test on a building enclosure it is important to know some basic building science concepts. While minor intrusions may not be out of the ordinary major leaks or multiple leaks can cause serious wear and tear on your building. Building testing is not a mandatory test prescribed in building codes but a performance based option that many designers are requiring. As a leading uk air tightness testing firm we strive to deliver swift professional testing for a highly competitive fee.

The test measures air leakage rates through a building envelope under controlled pressurization and depressurization. Testing buildings for air leakage leakage of a building may be so great that the hvac system cannot provide comfort conditions during extremes of seasonal weather conditions sud1 as when it is cold or windy.