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Investigation of the Impact of Commercial Building Envelope Airtightness on HVAC Energy Use
NISTIR 7238 Investigation of the Impact of Commercial Building Envelope Airtightness on HVAC Energy Use Steven J. Emmerich Tim McDowell Wagdy Anis NISTIR 7238 Investigation of the Impact of Commercial Building Envelope Airtightness on HVAC Energy Use Steven J. Emmerich Building and Fire Research Laboratory Timothy P. McDowell TESS, Inc. Wagdy Anis Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott Prepared for: U.S. Department of Energy Office of Building Technologies June 2005 U.S. Department of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez, Secretary Technology Administration Phillip J. Bond, Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology National Institute of Standards and Technology Hratch Semerjian, Acting Director ABSTRACT This report presents a simulation study of the energy impact of improving envelope airtightness in U.S. commercial buildings. Despite common assumptions, measurements have shown that typical U.S. commercial buildings are not particularly airtight. Past simulation studies have shown that commercial building envelope leakage can result in significant heating and cooling loads. To evaluate the potential energy savings of an effective air barrier requirement, annual energy simulations were prepared for three nonresidential buildings (a two-story office building, a one-story retail building, and a four-story apartment building) in 5 U.S. cities. A coupled multizone airflow and building energy simulation tool was used to predict the energy use for the buildings at a target tightness level relative to a baseline level based on measurements in existing buildings. Based on assumed blended national average heating and cooling energy prices, predicted potential annual heating and cooling energy cost savings ranged from 3 % to 36 % with the smallest savings occurring in the cooling-dominated climates of Phoenix and Miami. -
Airbase 6142... [1248Kb]
House Airtightness Variation with Age M.R. Bassett Building Physicist, Building Research Association of New Zealand Total number of pages( excluding cover page)= 5 Full address/phone/fax Building Research Association of New Zealand Private Bag 50908, Porirua, New Zealand Ph (04)235-7600 Fax (04)235-6070 SUMMARY - This paper focuses on changes to the air tightness of houses in the first year after construction. Monthly blower door results for 7 houses are presented and the seasonal and longer term effects compared with equivalent measurements in a variety of overseas climates. The picture that emerges is of small airtightness changes in stable coastal climates and larger seasonal swings where the summer to winter temperature differences are more extreme. There are some exceptions in the New Zealand data, however, that could be attributed to water leaks in the roofs of two houses .. 1. AIR INFILTRATION AND HOUSE VENTILATION if they exist, or used in comparisons of buildings of different types, age or location around the world. The airtightness of housing has been studied because background air leakage can contribute to ventilation, and hence to building energy efficiency and indoor air quality. There have been considerable changes in building materials and construction methods over the years, and the background ventilation provided by air infiltration has been shown by Bassett (1992) to have generally declined. This has provided the motivation to design and build ventilation systems that more accurately cater for energy efficiency and indoor air quality. There are no targets for house airtightness in NZ building codes, and yet when windows are kept closed for security or soundisolationreasons, air infiltration will be the sole provider of ventilation. -
What Impacts Does Increasing Airtightness Have on Mould, Condensation and Measures of Indoor Air Quality?
“What impacts does increasing airtightness have on mould, condensation and measures of indoor air quality?” Rapid Review Report V 2.0 Authors Leela Kempton, Daniel Daly, Mark Dewsbury Sustainable Buildings Research Centre, University of Wollongong [email protected] [email protected] Title What impacts does increasing airtightness have on mould, condensation and measures of indoor air quality? ISBN Date September 2020 Keywords Airtightness, Ventilation, Indoor air quality, mould, moisture, condensation Publisher CRC LCL Preferred citation Kempton, L, Daly, D, Dewsbury, M (2020), Rapid Review: What impacts does increasing airtightness have on mould, condensation and measures of indoor air quality? CRC Low Carbon Living, Sydney. Rapid Review - Airtightness 2 Acknowledgements This research is funded by the CRC for Low Carbon Living Ltd supported by the Cooperative Research Centres program, an Australian Government initiative Disclaimer Any opinions expressed in this document are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the CRCLCL or its partners, agents or employees. The CRCLCL gives no warranty or assurance and makes no representation as to the accuracy or reliability of any information or advice contained in this document, or that it is suitable for any intended use. The CRCLCL, its partners, agents and employees, disclaim any and all liability for any errors or omissions or in respect of anything or the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done in reliance upon the whole or any part of this document. Peer review statement The CRCLCL recognises the value of knowledge exchange and the importance of objective peer review. -
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 ................................................................................................................................... -
Blower Door Testing Results Speak for Themselves, and We™Re Blown Away!
Blower Door Testing Results Speak for Themselves, and We’re Blown Away! A Call for Innovation Once a city owned parking lot, the apartment complex spreads across six floors, with an average of five windows for each of the building’s 105 apartments. Sound familiar? We’re referring to the Eagles Landing DensElement® Barrier System case study in Burlington, Vermont. The one with just under 600 windows—That’s the one! Well, we decided to check in with the building envelope consultant, Zero by Degrees at the time, now known as BVH Integrated Services, upon the completion of the project to get the scoop on the performance of the DensElement® Barrier System. Mike LaCrosse, project manager, at BVH Integrated Services, provided his feedback. He said, “I was impressed with the DensElement® Barrier System, and admittedly, my experience with the system is limited, but it seems to be a respectable product, especially in comparison against a self-adhered membrane installation.” LaCrosse added, “Due to the nature of the PROSOCO material, the entire system is what I would call a highly “inspectable” system. Meaning you can visually inspect the system and identify air leakage pathways with relative ease, even without testing it, although we prefer qualitative testing regardless. The same can be true of self-adhered membrane systems, but leakage path ways are often a bit more nuanced. With the PROSOCO, there is either a hole that leaks, or there isn’t.” Between visual inspections and qualitative testing of the DensElement® Barrier System throughout construction, LaCrosse felt confident in the building’s air tightness performance. -
New Buildings and Major Renovations Version 3.2 December 2019 Includes Updated Section: Energy and Atmosphere
New Buildings and Major Renovations Version 3.2 December 2019 Includes Updated Section: Energy and Atmosphere Center for Sustainable Building Research College of Design · University of Minnesota All rights reserved. © Regents of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus, College of Design. All rights reserved. 2019 1 © Regents of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus, College of Design. All rights reserved. 2019 2 Print Version Contents Print Version Contents ............................................................................................................................................................................... 3 B3 Guideline Version History ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Guidelines Organization ............................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Applicability ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Process ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Performance Management Guidelines ................................................................................................................................................... -
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. -
Effects of Air Leakage of Residential Buildings in Mixed and Cold Climates
Effects of Air Leakage of Residential Buildings in Mixed and Cold Climates Florian Antretter Achilles Karagiozis, PhD Anton TenWolde Andreas Holm, PhD Member ASHRAE Member ASHRAE Member ASHRAE ABSTRACT This paper deals with the effects of air leakage in residential buildings and provides an overview of the influence of air leakage on the measured performance of the interior temperature and relative humidity in two very different US climate zones (IECC zone 4, Knoxville) and (IECC zone 6, Madison). The air leakage of residential buildings depends on a number of factors like building age, volume or the climate zone, as it is a common assumption that in colder climate zones more importance is attached to airtight buildings than in warmer climates. To quantify these differences and to show the dependence of air leakage on various influences an investigation in occupied build- ings has been carried out. The air tightness of a number of homes in the mixed climate of eastern Tennessee and in the cold climate of south-central Wisconsin was measured on a seasonal basis. The interior conditions were monitored for each of the homes to investigate the link to the respective air leakage of the buildings. The results show that an estimation of the air leakage of residential buildings can be made with knowledge of some simple boundary conditions. Seasonal changes do not have a significant influence on the air leakgage. This information is critical for developing reasonable boundary conditions for hygrothermal models. INTRODUCTION or removal by the HVAC systems and the moisture flux caused Heat, air and moisture transport is a complex phenome- by operation of the ventilation equipment. -
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. -
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 -
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. -
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