Comparison of Blower Door and Tracer Gas Testing Methods for Determination of Air Infiltration Rates Through Building Envelopes at Normal Operating Conditions

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tapan Patel ◽  
Constandinos Mitsingas ◽  
James P. Miller ◽  
Ty A. Newell
Keyword(s):  
Building Envelope ◽  
Leakage Rate ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Air Leakage ◽  
Tracer Gas ◽  
Annual Average ◽  
Normal Operating ◽  
Infiltration Rates ◽  
Air Infiltration ◽  
Air Leakage Rate

Tracer gas and blower door testing are two widely used methods to determine the rate of air infiltration through a building envelope. Blower door testing is performed at elevated pressure differentials across the building envelope whereas tracer gas testing is conducted at near zero differential pressures, better reflecting the air leakage rate at near normal building operating conditions. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether extrapolation of blower door test data to normal building operating conditions provides a good estimate of annual average air infiltration at those conditions. Two methods were used to extrapolate the data and were then compared to the baseline tracer gas tests. A secondary objective was to determine the ventilation rate of a residential facility using tracer gas tests. Tracer gas testing seems to be more reliable in determining the air leakage rate at normal operating pressures, but is sensitive to the tracer gas and ambient weather conditions. Regardless, for the subject facility, the ACH50/20 rule and Sherman’s ACH50/N correlation, extrapolated from the blower door tests, are within 6%–33% and 4%–38% of the tracer gas results, respectively. However, these errors are dependent on the assumptions used. Nevertheless, it appears that simple blower door testing can provide a reasonable measure of a building’s annual average air infiltration rate regardless of ambient conditions, whereas the more expensive and complex tracer gas tests may better reflect seasonal variations in air infiltration rates.

scholarly journals Air Leakage of Joints Filled with Polyurethane Foam

Buildings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaanus Hallik ◽  
Heleen Gustavson ◽  
Targo Kalamees
Keyword(s):  
Polyurethane Foam ◽  
Failure Rate ◽  
Polyurethane Foams ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Leakage Rate ◽  
Air Leakage ◽  
High Failure Rate ◽  
Surface Type ◽  
Sawn Timber ◽  
Air Leakage Rate

Air leakage through the building envelope joints is usually one of the main reasons why airtightness targets are not achieved. The objective of this study was to analyse the air leakage of joints filled with polyurethane foam and its influencing factors. Wooden test specimens (54 in total) with planed, sawn and plastic-coated cavities and two cavity thicknesses were filled with three different polyurethane foams and tested according to standard EN 12114. The surface type and thickness of the joint had a significant effect on the air leakage of joints filled with polyurethane foam. In laboratory conditions, a consistent and very low air leakage rate was obtained with planed timber surfaces. Joints with plastic-coated and sawn timber surfaces performed worse, on average, by a factor of two or more and contributed to very variable airtightness, with up to 28% and 50% of the test specimens failing the airtightness testing. On the basis of the high ‘failure rate’, polyurethane foam may classify as a not completely trustworthy solution in guaranteeing the airtightness of construction joints. A comparison of estimated and previously measured overall airtightness of an entire building envelope showed dependency on ‘failure rate’ rather than on average measured leakage rate.

scholarly journals Overview of large building testing in Baltic countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 172 ◽  
pp. 05007
Author(s):  
Andrejs Nitijevskis ◽  
Vladislavs Keviss
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Pressure Difference ◽  
Leakage Rate ◽  
Air Leakage ◽  
Baltic Countries ◽  
Measurement Results ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mandatory Testing ◽  
Air Leakage Rate ◽  
Large Building

The objectives of this paper are to review measurements of airtightness of 2 large building groups – middle size shops, and warehouses/distribution centres. The mean air leakage rate at 50 Pa pressure difference q50 was 1.04 m3/m2h and 1.35 m3/m2h for shops and warehouses respectively. Analysis of measurement results is valuable because it allows to make a conclusion about compliance of national and corporative construction airtightness norms with actual air barrier condition on a comissioning stage. In the concluding part of the study there are suggested ways to improve air barrier such as review of construction norms, implementation of a mandatory testing and quality control of a measurement.

Air infiltration through building envelopes: A review

2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 267-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chadi Younes ◽  
Caesar Abi Shdid ◽  
Girma Bitsuamlak
Keyword(s):  
Indoor Air ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Building Energy ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Energy Costs ◽  
Air Leakage ◽  
Building Envelopes ◽  
Air Infiltration ◽  
Considerable Impact ◽  
Evaluation Techniques

Air leakage through the building envelope into the building interiors has a considerable impact on the energy loads and consequently energy demand and energy costs of buildings. This phenomenon known as infiltration happens through various openings and venues in the building envelope varying from large openings such as doors and windows to minute cracks and crevices. In addition to impacting building energy loads, infiltration impacts indoor air quality and can result in moisture accumulation problems in the building envelope. A generalized review of infiltration that includes evaluation techniques and models, quantification, and interaction with other heat transfer phenomena is presented in this article.

scholarly journals Evaluating methods for estimating whole house air infiltration rates in summer: implications for overheating and indoor air quality

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben M. Roberts ◽  
David Allinson ◽  
Kevin J. Lomas
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Estimation Methods ◽  
Tracer Gas ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Infiltration Rates ◽  
Air Infiltration ◽  
Fan Pressurisation

PurposeAccurate values for infiltration rate are important to reliably estimate heat losses from buildings. Infiltration rate is rarely measured directly, and instead is usually estimated using algorithms or data from fan pressurisation tests. However, there is growing evidence that the commonly used methods for estimating infiltration rate are inaccurate in UK dwellings. Furthermore, most prior research was conducted during the winter season or relies on single measurements in each dwelling. Infiltration rates also affect the likelihood and severity of summertime overheating. The purpose of this work is to measure infiltration rates in summer, to compare this to different infiltration estimation methods, and to quantify the differences.Design/methodology/approachFifteen whole house tracer gas tests were undertaken in the same test house during spring and summer to measure the whole building infiltration rate. Eleven infiltration estimation methods were used to predict infiltration rate, and these were compared to the measured values. Most, but not all, infiltration estimation methods relied on data from fan pressurisation (blower door) tests. A further four tracer gas tests were also done with trickle vents open to allow for comment on indoor air quality, but not compared to infiltration estimation methods.FindingsThe eleven estimation methods predicted infiltration rates between 64 and 208% higher than measured. The ASHRAE Enhanced derived infiltration rate (0.41 ach) was closest to the measured value of 0.25 ach, but still significantly different. The infiltration rate predicted by the “divide-by-20” rule of thumb, which is commonly used in the UK, was second furthest from the measured value at 0.73 ach. Indoor air quality is likely to be unsatisfactory in summer when windows are closed, even if trickle vents are open.Practical implicationsThe findings have implications for those using dynamic thermal modelling to predict summertime overheating who, in the absence of a directly measured value for infiltration rate (i.e. by tracer gas), currently commonly use infiltration estimation methods such as the “divide-by-20” rule. Therefore, infiltration may be overestimated resulting in overheating risk and indoor air quality being incorrectly predicted.Originality/valueDirect measurement of air infiltration rate is rare, especially multiple tests in a single home. Past measurements have invariably focused on the winter heating season. This work is original in that the tracer gas technique used to measure infiltration rate many times in a single dwelling during the summer. This work is also original in that it quantifies both the infiltration rate and its variability, and compares these to values produced by eleven infiltration estimation methods.

scholarly journals Investigation of Influencing Factors on Air Leakage of Canadian Dwellings

2019 ◽  
pp. 536-543
Author(s):  
Maysoun Ismaiel ◽  
Yuxiang Chen
Keyword(s):  
Influencing Factors ◽  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Leakage Rate ◽  
Air Leakage ◽  
Remarkable Effect ◽  
Construction Methods ◽  
Heating And Cooling ◽  
Construction Techniques ◽  
New Construction ◽  
Air Leakage Rate

Air leakage is one of the main influencing factors in buildings’ thermal performance. The adverse effects of poor air leakage include higher energy costs, consumption in space heating and cooling, poor thermal comfort, corrosion, and the growth of molds due to air leakage induced condensation. The main objective of this study is to investigate the characteristics of air leakages of Canadian homes related to construction methods, age, size and climatic zones. The air leakage test results of 226,000 dwellings in three provinces of Canada were analyzed. Statistical analysis was utilized to compare the mean of air leakage with respect to different factors. Generally, the air leakage decreased by 40% in the period from 1960 until 2018, which has shown a remarkable effect of new construction techniques on air leakage. Investigations also indicated that the average air leakage rate of homes constructed by using the onsite technique is approximately 25% to 60% higher than those prefabricated in modular or panels, varying with respect to the workmanship and construction quality control. This study concluded that the prefabricated construction techniques could decrease the air leakage rate significantly, which will have a remarkable effect on buildings’ thermal performance as well as home’s heating and cooling costs. The findings contribute to estimating the effects of influencing factors on air leakage, also it is useful in performance simulations, HAVC sizing and energy management. And recommend the use of the prefabricated in modular or panel’s construction method to achieve better and acceptable air leakage performance.

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