Air infiltration - Revision history

Designing Buildings: Redirected page to Air tightness in buildings

2015-08-26T13:07:34Z

Redirected page to Air tightness in buildings

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:07, 26 August 2015
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−	~~= Introduction =~~	+	#redirect:[[Air_tightness_in_buildings\|Air_tightness_in_buildings]]

−	Air infiltration (or leakage) is the unwanted introduction of outside air into a building. This is typically through cracks, porous building materials, unsealed surfaces, ducts and through the use of doors for passage.	+	[[Category:Regulations]] [[Category:DCN_Regulation]]
−		+
−	Wherever infiltration occurs, there is a corresponding exfiltration somewhere else in the building. During the summer, infiltration can bring humid, outdoor air into buildings. In winter, exfiltration can result in moist indoor air moving into cold wall cavities and can result in condensation and ultimately mould or rot. See Condensation for more information.	+
−		+
−	Unlike infiltration, ventilation is the controllable exchange of air between inside and out through a range of natural or mechanical devices. Whilst air infiltration is not desirable, it is important for buildings to have sufficient purpose-provided ventilation.	+
−		+
−	~~It is possible to reduce or limit air infiltration through air tightness measures. The benefits of air tight building include:~~	+
−	*Lower running costs through reduced heat loss.	+
−	*Fewer defects.	+
−	*Reduced condensation.	+
−	*Improved comfort.	+
−	*Reduced carbon emissions.	+
−	*Verification of build quality.	+
−		+
−	~~See Air tightness in buildings for more information.~~	+
−		+
−	~~As well as building tighter, the rate of air infiltration is constantly changing depending on a number of variables:~~	+
−	*Direction and strength of wind.	+
−	*Orientation of the building.	+
−	*Ventilation strategy – mechanical or passive.	+
−	*Internal to external temperature differences.	+
−	*Behaviour of occupants.	+
−	*Frequency of use.	+
−	*Maintenance of buildings.	+
−	*Pressure differences between the top and bottom of the building (the stack effect).	+
−		+
−	~~= Air permeability testing =~~	+
−		+
−	In April 2002 the UK government introduced legislation to enforce standards of building air tightness. This is done by air permeability testing (air tightness, air infiltration or blower door testing), which measures the air leakage rate per hour per square metre of building envelope.	+
−		+
−	Generally this involves mounting a door, incorporating a fan, into the frame of an external door opening. The fan is used to de-pressurise the building by extracting air, and the resulting difference between the external and internal pressure can be used to calculate the permeability of the building envelope (given that the area of envelope is known). This permeability is an indicator of how well sealed the building is, and whether there are openings in the envelope.	+
−		+
−	~~See Air permeability testing for more information.~~	+
−		+
−	~~= Find out more =~~	+
−		+
−	~~=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki. ===~~	+
−	*Air change rates.	+
−	*Air permeability testing.	+
−	*Air tightness in buildings.	+
−	*Condensation.	+
−	*Performance gap.	+
−	*The history of non-domestic air tightness testing.	+
−	*Thermographic survey.	+
−	*Ventilation.	+
−		+
−	~~=== External references ===~~	+
−	*[~~http~~:~~//www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_AD_F_2010_V2.pdf Approved Document F – The Building~~ Regulations ~~2010 Ventilation~~].	+
−		+
−	[[Category:~~Regulations~~]]	+
	[[Category:Construction_techniques]]		[[Category:Construction_techniques]]
	[[Category:Design]]		[[Category:Design]]

Designing Buildings at 07:20, 25 August 2015

2015-08-25T07:20:32Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:20, 25 August 2015
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	=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki. ===		=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki. ===
		+	*Air change rates.
	*Air permeability testing.		*Air permeability testing.
	*Air tightness in buildings.		*Air tightness in buildings.

Designing Buildings at 08:20, 29 July 2015

2015-07-29T08:20:57Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:20, 29 July 2015
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	*The history of non-domestic air tightness testing.		*The history of non-domestic air tightness testing.
	*Thermographic survey.		*Thermographic survey.
		+	*Ventilation.

	=== External references ===		=== External references ===

Designing Buildings at 08:19, 29 July 2015

2015-07-29T08:19:09Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:19, 29 July 2015
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	Wherever infiltration occurs, there is a corresponding exfiltration somewhere else in the building. During the summer, infiltration can bring humid, outdoor air into buildings. In winter, exfiltration can result in moist indoor air moving into cold wall cavities and can result in condensation and ultimately mould or rot. See Condensation for more information.		Wherever infiltration occurs, there is a corresponding exfiltration somewhere else in the building. During the summer, infiltration can bring humid, outdoor air into buildings. In winter, exfiltration can result in moist indoor air moving into cold wall cavities and can result in condensation and ultimately mould or rot. See Condensation for more information.

−	Unlike infiltration, ventilation is the controllable exchange of air between inside and out through a range of natural or mechanical devices. Whilst air infiltration is not desirable, it is important for buildings to have sufficient purpose-provided ventilation.	+	Unlike infiltration, ventilation is the controllable exchange of air between inside and out through a range of natural or mechanical devices. Whilst air infiltration is not desirable, it is important for buildings to have sufficient purpose-provided ventilation.

	It is possible to reduce or limit air infiltration through air tightness measures. The benefits of air tight building include:		It is possible to reduce or limit air infiltration through air tightness measures. The benefits of air tight building include:
Line 42:		Line 42:
	*Air tightness in buildings.		*Air tightness in buildings.
	*Condensation.		*Condensation.
		+	*Performance gap.
	*The history of non-domestic air tightness testing.		*The history of non-domestic air tightness testing.
	*Thermographic survey.		*Thermographic survey.

Designing Buildings at 08:18, 29 July 2015

2015-07-29T08:18:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:18, 29 July 2015
Line 1:		Line 1:
−

	= Introduction =		= Introduction =

−	Air infiltration (or leakage) is the unwanted introduction of outside air into a building. This is typically through cracks, porous building materials, unsealed surfaces, ducts and through the use of doors for passage.	+	Air infiltration (or leakage) is the unwanted introduction of outside air into a building. This is typically through cracks, porous building materials, unsealed surfaces, ducts and through the use of doors for passage.
−		+
−	~~Unlike infiltration, ventilation is the controllable exchange of air between inside and out through a range of natural any/or devices.~~	+
−		+
−	Wherever infiltration occurs, there is a corresponding exfiltration somewhere else in the building. During the summer, infiltration can bring humid, outdoor air into buildings. In winter, exfiltration can result in moist indoor air moving into cold wall cavities and can result in condensation and ultimately mould or rot.	+

−	~~Whilst air~~ infiltration ~~is not desirable~~, it is ~~important for buildings to have sufficient purpose-provided ventilation~~. ~~It is possible to reduce or limit air~~ infiltration into ~~a building through~~ air ~~tightness measures~~.	+	Wherever infiltration occurs, there is a corresponding exfiltration somewhere else in the building. During the summer, infiltration can bring humid, outdoor air into buildings. In winter, exfiltration can result in moist indoor air moving into cold wall cavities and can result in condensation and ultimately mould or rot. See Condensation for more information.

−	~~This can result in:~~	+	Unlike infiltration, ventilation is the controllable exchange of air between inside and out through a range of natural or mechanical devices. Whilst air infiltration is not desirable, it is important for buildings to have sufficient purpose-provided ventilation.

−	The benefits of air tight building include:	+	It is possible to reduce or limit air infiltration through air tightness measures. The benefits of air tight building include:
	*Lower running costs through reduced heat loss.		*Lower running costs through reduced heat loss.
	*Fewer defects.		*Fewer defects.
Line 19:		Line 14:
	*Improved comfort.		*Improved comfort.
	*Reduced carbon emissions.		*Reduced carbon emissions.
		+	*Verification of build quality.

	See Air tightness in buildings for more information.		See Air tightness in buildings for more information.

−	As well as building tighter, the rate of air infiltration is constantly changing ~~and~~ depending on a number of variables:	+	As well as building tighter, the rate of air infiltration is constantly changing depending on a number of variables:
	*Direction and strength of wind.		*Direction and strength of wind.
	*Orientation of the building.		*Orientation of the building.
	*Ventilation strategy – mechanical or passive.		*Ventilation strategy – mechanical or passive.
−	*Internal to external temperature.	+	*Internal to external temperature differences.
	*Behaviour of occupants.		*Behaviour of occupants.
	*Frequency of use.		*Frequency of use.
Line 34:		Line 30:
	= Air permeability testing =		= Air permeability testing =

−	In April 2002 the UK government introduced legislation to enforce standards of building air tightness. This is done by air permeability testing (air tightness, air infiltration or blower door testing), which measures the air leakage rate per hour per square metre of building envelope ~~area at a test reference pressure differential across the building envelope of 50 Pascal (50 N/m2)~~.	+	In April 2002 the UK government introduced legislation to enforce standards of building air tightness. This is done by air permeability testing (air tightness, air infiltration or blower door testing), which measures the air leakage rate per hour per square metre of building envelope.

−	Generally this involves mounting a door, incorporating a fan, into the frame of an external door opening. The fan is used to ~~depressurise~~ the building by extracting air, and the resulting difference between the external and internal pressure can be used to calculate the permeability of the building envelope (given that the area of envelope is known). This permeability is an indicator of how well sealed the building is, and whether there are openings in the envelope.	+	Generally this involves mounting a door, incorporating a fan, into the frame of an external door opening. The fan is used to de-pressurise the building by extracting air, and the resulting difference between the external and internal pressure can be used to calculate the permeability of the building envelope (given that the area of envelope is known). This permeability is an indicator of how well sealed the building is, and whether there are openings in the envelope.

	See Air permeability testing for more information.		See Air permeability testing for more information.

Designing Buildings: Created page with " = Introduction = Air infiltration (or leakage) is the unwanted introduction of outside air into a building. This is typically through cracks, porous building materials, unseal..."

2015-07-29T08:14:03Z

Created page with " = Introduction = Air infiltration (or leakage) is the unwanted introduction of outside air into a building. This is typically through cracks, porous building materials, unseal..."

New page

= Introduction =

Air infiltration (or leakage) is the unwanted introduction of outside air into a building. This is typically through cracks, porous building materials, unsealed surfaces, ducts and through the use of doors for passage.

Unlike infiltration, ventilation is the controllable exchange of air between inside and out through a range of natural any/or devices.

Wherever infiltration occurs, there is a corresponding exfiltration somewhere else in the building. During the summer, infiltration can bring humid, outdoor air into buildings. In winter, exfiltration can result in moist indoor air moving into cold wall cavities and can result in condensation and ultimately mould or rot.

Whilst air infiltration is not desirable, it is important for buildings to have sufficient purpose-provided ventilation. It is possible to reduce or limit air infiltration into a building through air tightness measures.

This can result in:

The benefits of air tight building include:
*Lower running costs through reduced heat loss.
*Fewer defects.
*Reduced condensation.
*Improved comfort.
*Reduced carbon emissions.

See Air tightness in buildings for more information.

As well as building tighter, the rate of air infiltration is constantly changing and depending on a number of variables:
*Direction and strength of wind.
*Orientation of the building.
*Ventilation strategy – mechanical or passive.
*Internal to external temperature.
*Behaviour of occupants.
*Frequency of use.
*Maintenance of buildings.
*Pressure differences between the top and bottom of the building (the stack effect).

= Air permeability testing =

In April 2002 the UK government introduced legislation to enforce standards of building air tightness. This is done by air permeability testing (air tightness, air infiltration or blower door testing), which measures the air leakage rate per hour per square metre of building envelope area at a test reference pressure differential across the building envelope of 50 Pascal (50 N/m2).

Generally this involves mounting a door, incorporating a fan, into the frame of an external door opening. The fan is used to depressurise the building by extracting air, and the resulting difference between the external and internal pressure can be used to calculate the permeability of the building envelope (given that the area of envelope is known). This permeability is an indicator of how well sealed the building is, and whether there are openings in the envelope.

See Air permeability testing for more information.

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki. ===
*Air permeability testing.
*Air tightness in buildings.
*Condensation.
*The history of non-domestic air tightness testing.
*Thermographic survey.

=== External references ===
*[http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_AD_F_2010_V2.pdf Approved Document F – The Building Regulations 2010 Ventilation].

[[Category:Regulations]]
[[Category:Construction_techniques]]
[[Category:Design]]