Energy Saver, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Building energy performance can be improved if it can be measured. Commercial and residential buildings account for 40% of the total U.S. energy consumption. Lighting and HVAC systems have been rapidly improving efficiency in recent years, but the total system to achieve energy savings also includes the building envelope. The main inefficiency in the building envelope can be attributed to air leakage, which dramatically increases heating and cooling costs, and can cause undesirable air moisture imbalances. Z6 Commissioning’s passion to deliver assurances on all facets of airtightness evaluation has expanded to include Blower Door testing. Given the potential blower door testing offers for improved understanding of HVAC equipment loads and the management of IAQ and condensation risks, as well as energy savings, it makes increasing sense to test whole buildings of all sizes for airtightness and to take steps to address any and all air leakage Issues.
Looking towards the future, it’s clear the building industry is moving forward on requiring airtightness compliance with mandatory air leakage statements in the latest building codes and energy programs, and because building owners are looking for optimized building design. These include buildings that cost less due to lower energy consumption, are more comfortable, provide better indoor air quality, and lower the risk of moisture damage.
With our distinctive background in building performance testing, we believe airtightness testing via the blower door method is a critical part of any building energy audit and code compliance. Information about airtightness, specifically with quantitative information, is useful for the following reasons:
An air blower door test is conducted throughout the entire building and measures the number of air changes per hour based on the standards established for the climate zone in which the building is located. The test is conducted by inserting a calibrated fan into an airtight shroud installed over an exterior door opening and creating a vacuum over the entire structure. Test equipment then measures the airflow (how much air is moved into the building) and the corresponding pressure difference acting across the building enclosure. If the measured airflow exceeds the standard, due to higher outside air pressure flowing in through unsealed cracks and openings, the entire structure then undergoes a forensic investigation. The use of certified thermography equipment and technicians displays leaks in living color. Sometimes it’s possible to literally feel, see or hear where air is coming into the building. When not as obvious, heatless smoke tools are also used to verify leak locations are due to outside air infiltration rather than internal mechanical systems.
Airtightness is not just about walls, doors, and windows. In modern buildings, air leakage can happen through mechanical systems, grills and openings. Airtightness targets are useful during the design process for new buildings as well as retrofits—they establish quantitative expectations for a very important aspect of building enclosure performance and provide a key input into the mechanical designer’s load and energy calculations. Airtightness tests should therefore be an important part of the construction process since they provide confirmation that those targets are met. If timed properly, they can also afford the opportunity to address problems before it is too late.
Airtightness testing can also be used diagnostically. For new construction, you should typically do a test as early as possible in the construction process so that if the building fails, remedial work can be undertaken to find the cause and fix it. Similarly, if you are about to do a major energy efficiency retrofit—replace windows, add insulation or take other substantive steps—it is usually advisable to do a test before you get too far into the design of the retrofit.
Testing should be done as part of the assessment of the existing building to compile data on how much and where the building is leaking. The results allows for better decision making in determining how much effort should be spent on air tightening versus how much effort should be spent on, for example, insulation or new windows.
Establishing the proper building tightness using blower door testing can help: