Building Air Leakage Test Results

These test methods produce results that characterize the airtightness of the building envelope.
Building air leakage test results. In essence it is a measure of heat loss through cold draughts. These results can be used to compare the relative airtightness of similar buildings determine airtightness improvements from retrofit measures applied to an existing building and predict air leakage. Use of this standard in conjunction practices. It s importanat to know what you ve achieved.
With few exceptions new dwellings will require an air leakage test as part of the building control post construction sign off procedure. I wouldn t want a carpenter building me a wall without testing it for squareness or a plumber working on my pipes without testing for leaks. An air leakage test is a test to determine the level of uncontrolled air flow through gaps or cracks in the fabric of a building. Water 1 57 lb ft2 0 02 l s m2 under a pressure differential of 75 pa in accordance with.
Testing the completed using both pressurization and building depressurization and documenting that the air leakage rate of the building thermal envelope does not exceed 0 25 cfm ft2 under a pressure differential of 0 3 in. Building testing is not a mandatory test prescribed in building codes but a performance based option that many designers are requiring.