Air Tightness Testing

Building air tightness testing is a simple tool used to measure the air tightness of buildings and to help locate unplanned air leakages.

Air tightness testing is an important aspect of the Department of Environment TGD Part L. (available from www.environ.ie)

The procedure is straightforward and can be applied to new and existing dwellings.
Building air tightness measurements are used for a variety of purposes, including:

• Identifying unplanned air paths into a building.
• Documenting the construction air tightness of buildings.
• Quality checking of windows and external doors.
• Measuring and documenting the effectiveness of sealing activities.
• Providing the air tightness metric for the Building Energy Ratings.
• Reducing a buildings heating cost.
• Reducing a house’s carbon generation.

Air leakage can detract from the thermal performance of a construction by providing a ventilation path for heat loss, therefore ‘short-circuiting’ the thermal insulation, and reducing the u-value of the construction.

Air Tightness Test Procedure

Utilising the Energy Conservatory Tectite software Clean Energy Ireland performs air tightness testing in accordance with:

• IS EN 13829 (Thermal performance of buildings – Determination of air permeability of buildings – Fan pressurization method)
• CIBSE Technical Manual TM 23 (Testing Buildings for Air Leakage)
  ATTMA TS 1 (2006).

It is important that the client is involved in the test procedure. For example the following factors are important:

1. Test location and opening size.
2. Size and condition of house.
3. Interference to other work during test process.
4. Availability of power.
5. Accessibility to all rooms in the property.
6. Implications of unsavoury weather conditions.

We allow sufficient time for a retest of a house so that we achieve the best performance.
The test equipment is calibrated to UK National Standards requirements.