Airtightness Testing: Building Preparation

Why do we need to prepare a building for airtightness testing? What does this involve? Are there any tips?Potential heat loss due to air leakage through an enclosure with moderate or poor airtightness has a significant and measurable impact on the required heating energy for a building. An enclosure that has good or exceptional airtightness can provide significant energy savings.

Building codes require that building enclosures include continuous air barriers; the integrity of these air barriers can only be measured with an airtightness test. Airtightness testing is typically carried out using blower fans to pressurize and depressurize the building to measure the overall building airtightness. This video applies to both Part 3 and Part 9 buildings, and will be of interest to builders, developers, designers, energy advisors, and building officials.