Building Air Leakage Testing

During an air barrier test our experts use large commercial fans to depressurize and pressurize the building.

Building air leakage testing.

During this process we record the air leakage rates and present them in a graph form in the final report. An air leakage test is a test to determine the level of uncontrolled air flow through gaps or cracks in the fabric of a building. We use a computer to control 3 fan systems that speed up and down to measure the amount of air leakage and various pressure levels. By specification these leakage rates are measured while the building is at a pressure difference of 50 to 75 pa between the interior and exterior.

In essence it is a measure of heat loss through cold draughts. At a test pressure of 75 pa 0 3 in a leakage rate of 0 4 cfm sq ft of air barrier would be a very high leakage rate and 0 1 cfm sq ft would be a very low leakage rate. The test measures air leakage rates through a building envelope under controlled pressurization and depressurization. Part l states that new developments must meet specific air permeability targets to minimise the risk of heat loss and energy inefficiency caused by air leakage.

With few exceptions new dwellings will require an air leakage test as part of the building control post construction sign off procedure.