Air permeability testing - Revision history

Designing Buildings at 09:55, 19 May 2023

2023-05-19T09:55:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:55, 19 May 2023
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	* Air infiltration.		* Air infiltration.
	* Air permeability in isolation rooms.		* Air permeability in isolation rooms.
		+	* Air permeability testing of isolation facilities.
	* Air tightness in buildings.		* Air tightness in buildings.
	* Approved documents.		* Approved documents.

Editor at 13:07, 5 January 2022

2022-01-05T13:07:32Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:07, 5 January 2022
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	See also: Air tightness in buildings.		See also: Air tightness in buildings.

−	= Related articles on Designing Buildings ~~Wiki~~ =	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings =

	* Air change rates.		* Air change rates.
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	* HVAC balancing.		* HVAC balancing.
	* Infrared thermography.		* Infrared thermography.
		+	* Let us evolve our buildings from being passive structures to interactive and reactive systems.
	* Performance gap.		* Performance gap.
	* Permeability.		* Permeability.

Designing Buildings at 09:21, 9 September 2020

2020-09-09T09:21:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:21, 9 September 2020
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	--[[User:ATTMA\|ATTMA]] 13:12, 24 February 2015 (UTC)		--[[User:ATTMA\|ATTMA]] 13:12, 24 February 2015 (UTC)

−	[[Category:~~Theory~~]] [[Category:~~Regulations~~]] [[Category:DCN_Regulation]] [[Category:~~Standards_/_measurements~~]] [[Category:~~DCN_Standard~~]] [[Category:Sustainability]] [[Category:Construction_techniques]]	+	[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:DCN_Regulation]] [[Category:DCN_Standard]] [[Category:Theory]] [[Category:Regulations]] [[Category:Standards_/_measurements]] [[Category:Sustainability]] [[Category:Construction_techniques]]

Designing Buildings at 13:34, 17 April 2020

2020-04-17T13:34:12Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:34, 17 April 2020
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	* Performance gap.		* Performance gap.
	* Permeability.		* Permeability.
		+	* Pervious.
		+	* Porous.
	* Standard assessment procedure.		* Standard assessment procedure.
	* Target emission rate.		* Target emission rate.
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	--[[User:ATTMA\|ATTMA]] 13:12, 24 February 2015 (UTC)		--[[User:ATTMA\|ATTMA]] 13:12, 24 February 2015 (UTC)

−	[[Category:Theory]] [[Category:Regulations]] [[Category:Standards_/_measurements]] [[Category:Sustainability]] [[Category:Construction_techniques]]	+	[[Category:Theory]] [[Category:Regulations]] [[Category:DCN_Regulation]] [[Category:Standards_/_measurements]] [[Category:DCN_Standard]] [[Category:Sustainability]] [[Category:Construction_techniques]]

Editor at 11:08, 15 April 2020

2020-04-15T11:08:16Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:08, 15 April 2020
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	* Energy audit.		* Energy audit.
	* Energy performance certificates.		* Energy performance certificates.
		+	* HVAC balancing.
	* Infrared thermography.		* Infrared thermography.
	* Performance gap.		* Performance gap.

Designing Buildings at 14:27, 26 March 2020

2020-03-26T14:27:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:27, 26 March 2020
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	* Infrared thermography.		* Infrared thermography.
	* Performance gap.		* Performance gap.
		+	* Permeability.
	* Standard assessment procedure.		* Standard assessment procedure.
	* Target emission rate.		* Target emission rate.

Designing Buildings at 07:23, 20 March 2020

2020-03-20T07:23:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:23, 20 March 2020
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	* Target emission rate.		* Target emission rate.
	* The history of non-domestic air tightness testing.		* The history of non-domestic air tightness testing.
		+	* Thermal imaging to improve energy efficiency in building design.

	= External references =		= External references =

Designing Buildings at 15:36, 26 August 2019

2019-08-26T15:36:12Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:36, 26 August 2019
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	* Approved documents.		* Approved documents.
	* Building emission rate.		* Building emission rate.
		+	* BREEAM Testing and inspecting building fabric.
	* Building services compliance with the building regulations.		* Building services compliance with the building regulations.
	* Domestic ventilation systems performance.		* Domestic ventilation systems performance.

Designing Buildings at 05:57, 23 August 2019

2019-08-23T05:57:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:57, 23 August 2019
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−	~~See also: Air tightness in buildings.~~
−
−	~~-----~~
	Approved document F, Ventilation, defines airtightness as ‘…a general descriptive term for the resistance of the building envelope to infiltration with ventilators closed. The greater the airtightness at a given pressure difference across the envelope, the lower the infiltration.’		Approved document F, Ventilation, defines airtightness as ‘…a general descriptive term for the resistance of the building envelope to infiltration with ventilators closed. The greater the airtightness at a given pressure difference across the envelope, the lower the infiltration.’

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	Air permeability testing can be carried out as an isolated study, or may be provided as part of a complete service to demonstrate Part L compliance (including Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) calculations and Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)) or may be part of an overall energy audit. Ideally, it should not be carried out simply as a compliance test, but should include an assessment of details, and diagnostic tests such as infrared thermography and if necessary smoke tests, to pinpoint air leakage paths.		Air permeability testing can be carried out as an isolated study, or may be provided as part of a complete service to demonstrate Part L compliance (including Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) calculations and Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)) or may be part of an overall energy audit. Ideally, it should not be carried out simply as a compliance test, but should include an assessment of details, and diagnostic tests such as infrared thermography and if necessary smoke tests, to pinpoint air leakage paths.
		+
		+	See also: Air tightness in buildings.

	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =

Editor at 11:44, 22 August 2019

2019-08-22T11:44:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:44, 22 August 2019
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	Approved document F, Ventilation, defines airtightness as ‘…a general descriptive term for the resistance of the building envelope to infiltration with ventilators closed. The greater the airtightness at a given pressure difference across the envelope, the lower the infiltration.’		Approved document F, Ventilation, defines airtightness as ‘…a general descriptive term for the resistance of the building envelope to infiltration with ventilators closed. The greater the airtightness at a given pressure difference across the envelope, the lower the infiltration.’

−	It suggests that air permeability is ‘…the physical property used to measure the airtightness of the building fabric. It is defined as air leakage rate per hour per square metre of envelope area at a test reference pressure differential across the building envelope of 50 Pascal (~~50 N~~/m2). The design air permeability is the target value set at the design stage.	+	It suggests that air permeability is ‘…the physical property used to measure the airtightness of the building fabric. It is defined as air leakage rate per hour per square metre of envelope area at a test reference pressure differential across the building envelope of 50 Pascal (50N/m2). The design air permeability is the target value set at the design stage.

−	In April 2002 the UK government introduced legislation to enforce standards of building air tightness. This was intended to: lower running costs; verify the standards of materials, components and workmanship; prevent uncomfortable drafts and avoid condensation problems.	+	In April 2002 the UK government introduced legislation to enforce standards of building air tightness. This was intended to lower running costs; verify the standards of materials, components and workmanship; prevent uncomfortable drafts and avoid condensation problems.

−	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).	+	This is achieved 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. Testing requires that fires are put out, doors and windows are closed and ventilators are shut or sealed.	+	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. Testing requires that fires are put out, doors and windows are closed and ventilators are shut or sealed.

	The method for testing required by the building regulations is set out in ATTMA TSL1 (for dwellings) and ATTMA TSL2 (for non-dwellings).		The method for testing required by the building regulations is set out in ATTMA TSL1 (for dwellings) and ATTMA TSL2 (for non-dwellings).
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	The ‘design air permeability’ is the target value used to calculate the TER. The ‘assessed air permeability’ is the measured value used to establish the BER (or DER).		The ‘design air permeability’ is the target value used to calculate the TER. The ‘assessed air permeability’ is the measured value used to establish the BER (or DER).

−	Testing is required on all residential developments (this may be a sample of units) and non-dwellings. ~~buildings~~ with a useful floor area less than ~~500 m2~~ MAY be exempt. Where testing is not carried out, an assessed air permeability of ~~15 m3~~/h.m2 must be used in calculations.	+	Testing is required on all residential developments (this may be a sample of units) and non-dwellings. Buildings with a useful floor area less than 500m2 MAY be exempt. Where testing is not carried out, an assessed air permeability of 15m3/h.m2 must be used in calculations.

−	On large developments, where a specific dwelling is not tested, the assessed air permeability is the average test result obtained from other dwellings of the same dwelling type on the development, increased by 2.~~0 m3~~/h.m2.	+	On large developments, where a specific dwelling is not tested, the assessed air permeability is the average test result obtained from other dwellings of the same dwelling type on the development, increased by 2.0m3/h.m2.

	In compartmentalised buildings where pressure testing the whole unit may be impractical, testing may be carried out on a representative area.		In compartmentalised buildings where pressure testing the whole unit may be impractical, testing may be carried out on a representative area.

−	Air permeability testing can be carried out as an isolated study, or may be provided as part of a complete service to demonstrate Part L compliance (including Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) calculations and Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)) or may be part of an overall energy audit. Ideally, it should not be carried out simply as a compliance test, but should include an assessment of details, and diagnostic tests such as infrared thermography and if necessary smoke tests to pinpoint air leakage paths.	+	Air permeability testing can be carried out as an isolated study, or may be provided as part of a complete service to demonstrate Part L compliance (including Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) calculations and Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)) or may be part of an overall energy audit. Ideally, it should not be carried out simply as a compliance test, but should include an assessment of details, and diagnostic tests such as infrared thermography and if necessary smoke tests, to pinpoint air leakage paths.

−	~~--[[User:ATTMA\|ATTMA]] 13:12, 24 February 2015 (UTC)~~	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =
−		+
−	~~= Find out more =~~	+
−		+
−	=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===	+

	* Air change rates.		* Air change rates.
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	* The history of non-domestic air tightness testing.		* The history of non-domestic air tightness testing.

−	=== External references ===	+	= External references =

	* [http://www.attma.org/ ATTMA] (Air Tightness Testing and Measurement Association).		* [http://www.attma.org/ ATTMA] (Air Tightness Testing and Measurement Association).
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	* USA government, [http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/blower-door-tests blower door tests].		* USA government, [http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/blower-door-tests blower door tests].

−	[[Category:Regulations]] [[Category:Standards_/_measurements]] [[Category:Sustainability]] [[Category:Construction_techniques]]	+	--[[User:ATTMA\|ATTMA]] 13:12, 24 February 2015 (UTC)
		+
		+	[[Category:Theory]] [[Category:Regulations]] [[Category:Standards_/_measurements]] [[Category:Sustainability]] [[Category:Construction_techniques]]