DOCSLIB.ORG

MARS Blower Door and Pressure Diagnostics Part 1

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
MARS Blower Door and Pressure Diagnostics Part 1 Blower Door and Building Diagnostics Funding Funding for this class was provided by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC). 1 Wisdom and Associates, Inc. 2 Amenities Refreshments Bathrooms Cell Phones Break schedule 3 Disclaimer The information and materials provided by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation are not comprehensive and do not necessarily constitute an endorsement or approval, but are intended to provide a starting point for research and information. AHFC does not endorse or sell any products. All photos and videos are property of Wisdom and Associates, Inc. unless otherwise noted. 4 Resources • AHFC - Research Information Center • Alaska Residential Building Manual www.ahfc.us • Cold Climate Housing Research Center www.cchrc.org • One stop shop for AK Energy Efficiency information www.akenergyefficiency.org About the Instructor 6 Participant Introductions • Name • Reason for participation • Your expectations Scope of Course • Blower door testing and techniques • Building airflow standard • Diagnostic pressure testing Covered In This Course • Conducting a blower door test • Interpreting results • Air tightness • Pressure imbalances in the home • Building Airflow Standard • Pressure diagnostics • Basic duct testing Definitions • ACH - Air Changer per Hour: the number of times per hour that the entire volume of air in a house is exchanged in one hour at a particular pressure. Generally expressed at neutral pressure and at 50 Pascals of pressure Definitions • CFM - Cubic Feet per Minute: the number of cubic feet per minute flowing through a house. • Correlation Coefficient - how well individual pressure and flow readings fit to an average curve. This number measures the accuracy of a blower door test. Definitions • ELA - Effective Leakage Area: The area, in square inches, of a hole which leaks the same amount as a house at 4 Pascals pressure difference • EqLA - Equivalent Leakage Area: The area, in square inches, of a hole which leaks the same amount as a house at a 10 Pascal pressure difference Definitions • House Volume: The volume of air inside the thermal envelope of a house. • Infiltration: Uncontrolled air leakage into a building • “n”: The slope of a leakage curve. An indicator of the size of holes in a house. A number less than .6 indicates large holes, a number greater than .7 indicates smaller holes. Definitions • Negative Pressure: Less than atmospheric pressure inside the house. Negative pressure occurs when the pressure inside the house is less than the pressure outside. Negative pressure promotes air infiltration. • Pascal - Pa: A metric unit of pressure. 50 Pascals equals 0.2 inches of water column Definitions • Positive Pressure: Greater than atmospheric pressure inside the house. Positive pressure occurs when the pressure inside outside the house is more less than pressure outside. Positive pressure promotes air exfiltration. What is a Blower Door? What is a Blower Door? • Diagnostic tool used to measure air tightness – Locate air leakage sites – Document air tightness – Estimate natural air infiltration – Document effectiveness of air sealing – Measure duct leakage What is a Blower Door? • Powerful calibrated fan temporarily sealed in an exterior doorway • Pulls air into or out of a building • Creates air pressure differential between inside and outside – Pressure forces air through gaps and cracks in the building envelope What is a Blower Door Test? • Single or series of fan flow measurements from 15 to 60 Pascals – One Pa (Pascal) = .004 Inches Water Column • Test conducted at high pressure to reduce interference from wind, stack effect • “One Point” (50 Pa) test used for quick airtightness assessment Tectite What is a Blower Door Test? • Can estimate leakage between house and attached structural components – Garage, attic, crawlspace • Can estimate outside air leakage into ductwork • Assists use of chemical smoke, infrared camera Equipment Calibration • Equipment must be factory calibrated – Fans and gauges • Energy Conservatory – 2 yrs for gauges, 4 for fans • Retrotec – 5 yrs for gauges and fans • Self check between calibrations recommended Safety Considerations • Blower door is powerful, potentially dangerous • Keep people and pets away • Plug in tightly • Do not use ungrounded or adapter plugs • Do not use if wet • Unplug if making fan adjustments • Do not reverse while blades are turning • Do not leave on for long periods (overheat) Safety Considerations • For long term operations (blower door directed air sealing) use a flow ring to increase velocity – Do not leave on low speed • Fan may automatically shut down if too hot • Turn off combustion appliances for the test! – Flame roll out, CO – Includes attaches spaces (duplex etc.) Safety Considerations • Fires and wood stove completely out – Close damper – Clean out ashes! • Leave the house like you found it – Thermostats – Pilot lights • Put your car keys on the appliance you shut off! Manometer Gauges Two Primary Providers • Energy Conservatory • RetroTec Energy Conservatory DG-700 • 2 Independent Channels that can be read simultaneously • 4 time averaging functions • Automatically calculates flow readings for Minneapolis products Energy Conservatory DG-700 • Can measure and record pressure baselines • 50 and 25 Pascal leakage measurement at any building pressure • Can conduct an automated test with TECTITE Energy Conservatory DG-700 • Can maintain 50, 25, and 0 Pascal pressure without a computer (Cruise Mode) Retrotec DM-2 • Two independent pressure channels • Continuous time averaging • Measures and removes baseline pressures • Enter volume and area for air change and leakage ratios Retrotec DM-2 • Can directly control fan speed • 50 Pascal cruise control w/ flow, ACH and leakage measurements • 3 fan splitter available for simultaneous control of 3 fans at once Setting Up the Building Setting up the Building • Perform inspection of the home and adjacent spaces • Pollutants may be drawn into the living space by the fan – Mold – Vermiculite – Asbestos etc. Setting up the Building • Close all adjustable openings – Windows – Exterior doors – Attic access hatch – Crawlspace hatch (only if unconditioned) – Crawlspace vents – Passive ventilation vents Setting up the Building • Open interior doors – Treat house as a single unit • Conditioned basements and crawlspaces opened Setting up the Building • Turn off combustion appliances – Turn off switch – Unplug – Set to “pilot” • If combustion appliances turn on during a depressurization test, it is possible for flames to be sucked out of the combustion air inlet (flame rollout). This is a fire hazard and can possibly result in high CO levels. Setting up the Building • Turn off combustion appliances in adjacent units of multi-family housing • Wood stoves and fire places completely out – Close damper – Clean out ashes • Turn off exhaust fans – Clothes dryer, exhaust fan, range hood Video: Setting up the house Conducting a Depressurization Test Depressurization Test • Two common test procedures – One point test – Multi point test • One point test - singe measurement at -50 Pa – Quick and simple way to measure air tightness – TECTITE not required (although useful) Depressurization Test • Multi point test – Measures over a range of pressures (60Pa to 15Pa) • Required for AHFC energy ratings • Minimum 5 to 8 different target pressures • Averages out errors, increases accuracy • Estimates leakage area of building Depressurization Test • Turn on fan for initial inspection • Increasing fan speed increases pressure differential • Frame may pop out of door if not installed properly! • At -30Pa walk through to look for doors/window popping open, ashes Can’t Reach 50 Factors • Unable to depressurize building to -50Pa, remove flow restrictions and try again • Still can’t reach -50Pa, no adjustment for DG-700 users • Manual gauges: – Take one point test at highest possible building pressure – Manually use Table 2 to estimate air flow Can’t Reach 50 Factors Can’t Reach 50 Factors • Can’t Reach 50 Factor formula: Can’t Reach 50 Factors - Errors • The actual exponent of the leaks being measured differing from the assumed exponent (N) of 0.65. • The assumed exponent value of 0.65 is based on the average observed exponent for a large sample of residential Blower Door tests Can’t Reach 50 Factors - Errors CRF 50 Example • With the fan running full speed, you are able to achieve a building pressure of 44 Pascals with a measured fan flow of 6,000 cfm. • The corresponding CRF Factor for a building pressure of 44 Pascals is 1.09. The estimated flow needed to achieve the target pressure of 50 Pascals is 6,000 x 1.09 = 6,540 cfm. CRF Exercise • With the fan running full speed, you are able to achieve a building pressure of 28 Pascals with a measured fan flow of 5,600 cfm. • What is the CRF Factor? • What is the estimated CFM50? CRF Exercise • The corresponding CRF Factor for a building pressure of 28 Pascals is 1.46. • The estimated flow needed to achieve the target pressure of 50 Pascals is 5,600 x 1.46 = 8,176 cfm. Can’t Reach 50 Factors • The TECTITE program automatically applies the CRF Factors to One-Point Test data. Can’t Reach 50 Factors • Multi-Point test • Subtract rings until target pressure is reached • Still can’t reach? Start at highest achievable pressure and work down Testing in Windy Weather • Strong, gusty winds cause fluctuations in pressure • Watch gauges and use “Time Average” function • Use multiple outdoor reference hoses • During a multi point test, errors are averaged out • If it is
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program June 2021 Field Guide & Standards
    Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program June 2021 Field Guide & Standards Contacts Michael Figueredo Weatherization Training & Technical Assistance Coordinator (503) 986-0972 Published date: July 1st, 2021 REV 06/2021 Acknowledgements Oregon Housing and Community Services Tim Zimmer, Energy Services Section Manager Steve Divan, Weatherization Program Manager Kurt Pugh, Senior Quality Assistance Field Inspector Oregon Energy Coordinators Association & Oregon Training Institute Members of the Community Action Agency Network of Oregon The Energy Conservatory of Minneapolis, MN Pacific Power Portland General Electric Weatherization Program of South Carolina Reese Byers Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program: Field Guide & Standards - 2 - REV 06/2021 Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program: Field Guide & Standards - 3 - REV 06/2021 Table of Contents How to use this manual ................................................................................................ 8 Key Terminology ................................................................................................................................ 8 Standard Work Specifications ............................................................................................................. 8 Section 0: General Installer Requirements .................................................................. 9 Section 1: Ceiling Insulation ....................................................................................... 11 1.01: General ...................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Deep Energy Retrofits
    A Practical Look atDeep-Energy Retrofits BY MARTIN HOLLADAY Cutting a home’s energy use by f you pay any attention to 50% to 90% is a worthy goal, but the building science, you have extreme costs keep it out of reach probably seen the term “deep-energy retrofit”— for many. We take a look at the Ia phrase being thrown around most cost-effective alternatives. with the colloquiality of “sus- tainability” and “green.” Like the word “green,” the term “deep-energy retrofit” is poorly defined and somewhat ambig- uous. In most cases, though, “deep-energy retrofit” is used to describe remodeling projects designed to reduce a house’s energy use by 50% to 90%. Remodelers have been per- forming deep-energy retrofits— originally called “superinsulation retrofits”—since the 1980s (see “retrofit Superinsulation,” FHB #20 and online at Fine Homebuilding.com). Most deep- energy retrofit projects are pre- dominantly focused on reducing heating and cooling loads, not on the upgrade of appliances, light- ing, or finish materials. While a deep-energy retrofit yields a home that is more com- fortable and healthful to live in, the cost of such renovation work can be astronomical, making this type of retrofit work impossible for many people in this country. Those of us who can’t afford a deep-energy retrofit can still An old house with a new shell. This deep-energy retrofit in Somer- ville, Mass., received 4 in. of spray polyurethane foam on its exte- study the deep-energy approach, rior. (For more information, see the case study on p.
    [Show full text]
  • Blower Door) Testing for Florida Code Compliance
    September 2018 Residential Air Leakage (Blower Door) Testing for Florida Code Compliance Infiltration is the uncontrolled inward air Why is uncontrolled air leakage through cracks and crevices in any leakage important? building element and around windows As its name implies, uncontrolled and doors of a building caused by pressure air leakage is outdoor airflow into differences across these elements due to factors such as wind, inside and outside buildings that is not planned or temperature differences (stack effect), and intended. While some level of imbalance between supply and exhaust air outdoor air is important, too much systems (see Definitions on next page). will increase energy use, and in hot-humid climates like Florida’s, To address the energy and indoor air quality introduce a lot of moisture. This impacts of air leakage in homes, the current air may also be pulled into the Florida Building Code includes a building air building from undesirable locations leakage testing requirement for new Florida such as the attic or garage. In more homes. The Code stipulates both a maximum air leakage rate and, at the lower end, an air extreme cases, uncontrolled airflow leakage rate “trigger” at which whole-house can lead to significant indoor air mechanical ventilation is required. quality issues. As houses become more airtight, outdoor air is brought As discussed in more detail later in this in via whole-house mechanical guide, the air leakage test (or “blower ventilation to decrease indoor door test”) uses a calibrated fan and digital pollutant concentrations, but unlike pressure gauge to either pressurize or uncontrolled air leakage, mechanical depressurize a home to a standard test ventilation allows control over how pressure of 50 Pascals with respect to the outside and measure the air leakage flow much air is brought in and the at that pressure.
    [Show full text]
  • Blower Door Brochure
    BUILDING PERFORMANCE TESTING TOOLS ® Minneapolis Blower Door™ • Measure airtightness level of building envelopes • Diagnose air leakage problems • Estimate natural infiltration rates • Estimate efficiency losses from building air leakage • Code compliance For 30 years, the Minneapolis Blower Door™ has been the system of choice for utility programs, energy raters, HVAC contractors, builders, insulation contractors and weatherization professionals. © 2013 The Energy Conservatory ™ Anatomy of the Minneapolis Blower Door 1 1 Lightweight, durable door frame and panel 2 • Snap-together aluminum frame with compact case. • Sets up in seconds and fits an 8-foot door without special parts. 2 • Precision cam lever mechanism securely clamps the nylon panel into the door opening. 2 DG-700 pressure and flow gauge 3 • Most accurate Digital Pressure Gauge on the market to meet all airtightness testing standards for residential and commercial buildings. • Two precision sensors provide simultaneous display of 3 building pressure and fan flow. Stable auto-zero to eliminate sensitivity to orientation and temperature. • Specialized @50 and @25 test modes make it simple to conduct one-point airtightness tests. • Four separate time-averaging modes accurately measure fluctuating pressures (1, 5, 10 second & long-term). • “Baseline” feature lets you measure and record a 4 baseline pressure reading and then display the 5 baseline-adjusted reading. • USB, serial or WiFi Link for computer connection. 3 Fan-cooled, solid-state digital speed controller • State of the art precision control of fan speed. • Compatible with Cruise Control feature and automated testing. 4 Powerful and reliable calibrated fan 5 Automated Testing • Powerful 3/4 hp motor. Automated testing with your computer automatically • Comes with rings A and B to measure down to 300 CFM.
    [Show full text]
  • Energy Code Handbook
    The Vermont Residential Building Energy Standards Vermont Residential Building Standards (RBES) Energy Code Handbook A Guide to Complying with Vermont’s Residential Building Energy Standards (30 V.S.A. § 51) FIFTH EDITION Base & Stretch Energy Code Effective September 1, 2020 Energy Code Assistance Center 855-887-0673 ~ toll free Vermont Public Service Department Efficiency & Energy Resources Division 112 State Street Montpelier, VT 05620-2601 802-828-2811 This publication was prepared with the support of the U.S. Department of Energy. Vermont Residential Building Energy Code Basic Requirements ~ Summary 1 Seal all joints, access holes and other such openings in the building envelope, as well as connections between building assemblies. Air Air Sealing and barrier installation must follow criteria established in Section 2.1a. Refer to Table 2-2 for a summary. Air leakage must be tested, using a Leakage blower door test by a certified professional. Refer to Section 2.1b for details. 2 Vapor Retarder Provide an interior vapor retarder appropriate to wall insulation strategy; refer to Section 2.2. Duct Location, Ducts with any portion that runs outside the building thermal envelope must be sealed and tested for air tightness. Refer to Section 2.4c for 3 Insulation, and details. Ducts, air handlers, and filter boxes must be located inside the building thermal envelope or be insulated to meet the same R-value as Sealing the immediately proximal surfaces. Building framing cavities may not be used as ducts or plenums. HVAC Systems: HVAC heating and cooling systems must comply with minimum federal efficiency standards. All HVAC systems must provide a means of 4 Efficiency & balancing, such as air dampers, adjustable registers or balancing valves.
    [Show full text]
  • Not Just Another Façade Test. Actually Achieving Whole Building Air Tightness Makes a Huge Difference
    Not Just Another Façade Test. Actually Achieving Whole Building Air Tightness Makes a Huge Difference. What is the percentage of Energy Use for Heating & Cooling in Commercial buildings? New more energy efficient buildings 25% Typical Australian Office Buildings 40% Why should we care about The Air Barrier? • Air leakage (infiltration) impacts – Thermal Comfort of Occupants – Indoor Air Quality (IAS) – Structural stability/ integrity (Condensation) – Energy Efficiency • Air leakage and mechanical contractor – Air balancing / effective air distribution – Over sizing or Under sizing of plant – Can Disturb building control The Energy 3 Rs Remove Reduce Renewable What Drives Air Leakage On Commercial buildings? Getting what you paid for? • Bad modelling? • Bad operation? • Bad construction? Source: GBCA. August 2013. “Achieving the Green Dream: Predicted vs. Actual” 11 OK… so Where is the Air barrier? Defining the Air Barrier / Envelope Why worry about the Air Barrier? What’s Wrong with Our Buildings? • Air leakage (infiltration/exfiltration) is one of the key parameters affecting the performance of buildings and has been largely overlooked by the building industry. – Architects have not paid sufficient attention to detailing air barriers – Builders generally overlook the detail, and aren’t interested in the additional cost and effort required to remediate. – Trade contractors may not be aware of the significant effects from unsealed penetrations Building Leakage Points - Don’t just look for big holes. It’s a numbers game! Air tightness is
    [Show full text]
  • Testing. Blower Door Test Required the Test Is Performed After the Building Is Installed
    TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION Regulatory Program Management Division/Industrialized Housing & Buildings Program P. O. Box 12157 • Austin, Texas 78711 • (512) 539-5735 • (800) 803-9202 Fax: (512) 539-5736 • [email protected] • www.tdlr.texas.gov Industrialized Housing and Buildings Technical Bulletin IHB TB 12-02 – Blower Door Test -- Residential Occupancies Revised April 17, 2017 Code: 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) Referenced Sections: 402.4 Air leakage (Mandatory) The 2015 Energy Conservation Code becomes effective for the Texas Industrialized Housing and Buildings program on August 1, 2017. There is no option for visual inspection in lieu of the blower door test in the 2015 code. The 2015 IECC now requires residential occupancies, including detached one- and two-family dwellings and multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses) as well as Group R-2, R-3 and R-4 buildings three stories or less in height, to pass a blower door test. A FINAL INSPECTION CANNOT BE PASSED WITHOUT A TEST REPORT DEMONSTRATING COMPLIANCE. IECC 402.4.1.2 – Testing. Blower door test required The test is performed after the building is installed. The building or dwelling shall be tested and verified as having an air leakage rating not exceeding the following: • Five air changes per hour in Climate Zone 2 • Three air changes per hour in Climate Zones 3 and 4 The test shall be conducted in accordance with ASTM E 779 or ASTM E1827 and reported at a pressure of 0.2 inch w.g. (50 Pascals). The test report shall be signed by the party conducting the test and provided to the Council approved inspector responsible for the installation inspections.
    [Show full text]
  • Blower Door Testing
    The Pennsylvania Housing Research/Resource Center Blower Door Testing Builder Brief BB0201 Bill Van der Meer Introduction The test methodology is widely accepted and is used as one of the predictors for “energy efficiency” in Have you ever had to deal with call-backs from homes. It has been used by energy retrofitters for home owners who complain that they aren’t years to measure the success of their air sealing comfortable or that their fuel bills are higher than efforts. expected? It’s a rare builder/remodeler who hasn’t. These problems can often be traced directly to air Builders who carry out repeated blower door testing leakage into and out of the conditioned space. on finished houses learn to anticipate where and how Uncontrolled air loss from a building can have a air leakage problems are likely to occur and are able significant impact on comfort, heating and cooling to find ways of avoiding them during the costs, and maintenance; typically, air leakage can construction process. By avoiding air leakage account for as much as 25% or more of building heat problems in the first place, builders can avoid costly loss. At the same time, a house should not be made callbacks and increase customer satisfaction with too airtight. Tightening a house too much, in an their product. The safety of ventilation levels for effort to save energy, can increase the risk of indoor occupants can also be assessed. In addition, the air quality problems. knowledge that builders or remodelers gain from the frequent use of this testing leads to a better Builders routinely provide controlled openings for understanding of the dynamics of airflow in ventilation and for the exhaustion of combustion buildings, and thus a better understanding of how byproducts.
    [Show full text]
  • Effects of Neighboring Units on the Estimation of Particle Penetration Factor in a Modeled Indoor Environment
    Article Effects of Neighboring Units on the Estimation of Particle Penetration Factor in a Modeled Indoor Environment Yonghang Lai 1, Ian A. Ridley 1 and Peter Brimblecombe 1,2,3,4,* 1 School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; [email protected] (Y.L.); [email protected] (I.A.R.) 2 Department of Marine Environment and Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan 3 Aerosol Science Research Center, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan 4 School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Ingress of air from neighboring apartments is an important source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in residential multi-story buildings. It affects the measurement and estimation of particle deposition rate and penetration factor. A blower-door method to measure the particle deposition rate and penetration factor has previously been found to be more precise than the traditional decay- rebound method as it reduces variability of PM2.5 ingress from outside. CONTAM is a multi-zone indoor air quality and ventilation analysis computer program to aid the prediction of indoor air quality. It was used in this study to model the indoor PM2.5 concentrations in an apartment under varying PM2.5 emission from neighboring apartments and window opening and closing regimes. The variation of indoor PM2.5 concentration was also modeled for different days to account for typical outdoor variations. The calibrated CONTAM model aimed to simulate environments found during measurement of particle penetration factor, thus identifying the source of error in the estimates.
    [Show full text]
  • COVID-19 Field Operations Guidelines and Resources
    WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM COVID-19 Field Operations Guidelines and Resources A collection of relevant safety guidelines for weatherization program field workers and staff. The subsequent information are guidelines; it is up to the field worker to enforce, uphold, and practice safety protocols as necessary. Keep the information in this packet accessible for reference while on-site. 1. Personal Protective Equipment Checklist 2. Field Worker Safety Guidelines 3. Employee / Client Health Screening Tips 4. Energy Audit (Inspection) Safety Guidelines and Protocols 5. PPE Resources and Training Links • CDC Stop Spread of Germs Poster • National Association of Home Builders Basic Infection Prevention Guidelines • CDC Cloth Mask Use and Fabrication • N/R/P Mask Comparison • NIOSH Surgical Mask vs. N95 Differences • Milwaukee Tool Company Cleaning Guidelines • The Energy Conservatory COVID19 Blower Door Considerations WAP Field Worker List of Personal Protective Equipment & Materials _____________________________________________________________________________________ Remember, the health and safety of you and those around you comes first. Do not work in environment where you or others may be at risk. Gloves • Disposable – Latex, neoprene. Discard once soiled. • Washable – Change between appointments. Clean after each daily use. Face Covering • Cloth Mask, Filtering Respirators – Each must fit snug and cover both nose and mouth. • Consult manufacturer sites on reuse protocols. If not specified as “single use” or “discard after use” mask may potentially be worn again depending on condition. Eye Protection Liquid Sanitizer • At least 60% alcohol. Sanitizer Wipes • To clean equipment and areas frequently touched Household • To clean, possibly disinfect surfaces and equipment. Refer to EPA list of Cleaner(s) approved disinfectants Liquid Soap • To clean both hands, body, and equipment as necessary Bucket • To use as necessary to clean tools and equipment Shoe covers • Washable – Keep multiple and change between appointments.
    [Show full text]
  • How Pulse Works 3 1
    www.buildtestsolutions.com O Pulse is a portable compressed air based system which is used to measure the air leakage of a building Manufactured in the UK or enclosure at an ambient pressure level (4Pa). By measuring at a lower pressure, the system provides an air change rate measurement that is representative of normal inhabited conditions, helping to improve understanding of energy performance and true building ventilation needs. The full Pulse system comprises of an air receiver, an air compressor and a touch screen control module. Key Features Why measure at low pressure? A 4Pa reference pressure is generally considered the typical pressure differential across a building envelope over the course of the seasons (i.e. representative whole year average). It is the pressure used as an infiltration reference in the ASHRAE Handbook of Quick & simple to operate Practical Fundamentals, ASTM E741 and within the building Setup, test and pack down in as Pulse is a self-contained codes used in France, Switzerland and the US. little as 10 minutes. The Pulse device, able to test the whole It is this low pressure differential field of measurement unit is simply placed into the building envelope or enclosure, where Pulse is most truly unique and innovative. centre of a building and can be including all doorways. It can Whilst the blower door fan method is a useful stress operated using single button also be used to test individual test of the fabric and able to be used for leakage operation. rooms. path diagnostics, the Pulse method provides a direct measurement of air permeability characteristics under ambient conditions.
    [Show full text]
  • Air Leakage Basics
    AIR LEAKAGE BASICS To properly utilize the diagnostic capabilities of your blower door, it is important to understand the basic dynamics of air leakage in buildings. For air leakage to occur, there must be both a hole or crack, and a driving force (pressure difference) to push the air through the hole. The five most common driving forces which operate in buildings are: 1. Stack Effect Stack effect is the tendency for warm buoyant air to rise and leak out the top of the building and be replaced by colder outside air entering the bottom of the building (note: when outside air is warmer than inside air, this process is reversed). In winter, the stack effect creates a small positive pressure at the top of the building and small negative pressures at the bottom of the building. Stack effect pressures are a function of the temperature difference between inside and outside, the height of the building, and are strongest in the winter and very weak in the summer. Stack induced air leakage accounts for the largest portion of infiltration in most buildings. 2. Wind Pressure Wind blowing on a building will cause outside air to enter on the windward side of the building, and building air to leak out on the leeward side. At exposed sites in windy climates, wind pressure can be a major driving force for air leakage. 3. Point Source Exhaust or Supply Devices Chimneys for combustion appliances and exhaust fans (e.g. kitchen and bath fans) push air out of the building when they are operating.
    [Show full text]