In the past buildings were 'leaky', and much of the required ventilation was provided by this fortuitous air leakage. Modern building construction however, aims to provide an airtight envelope in order for controllable ventilation to increase energy efficiency, eliminate discomfort from cold draughts, and prevent polluted air from entering. TM23: Testing buildings for air leakage describes how by understanding and appreciating the need for airtight construction in the early stages of design, building engineers and designers will achieve the high controllable ventilation standards demanded by clients. This publication tells you why you should be carrying out air leakage testing, sets out acceptable rates of air filtration, and explains what you can do if you discover you have a problem.
Contents:
- Introduction
- Aim
- Background
- Method
- Recommended air leakage standards
- Air leakage tests and infiltration rate
Acknowledgements
Task Group
Chair: P Jones (Welsh School of Architecture)
Members: I Andrews (Vent Axis Ltd); D Braham (Termodeck); G Brundrett (CIBSE); N Jones (Woods); P Langford (Colt International Ltd); B Webb (BRE); M Duggan (FETA)
Other contributors: N Potter (BSRIA); R Stephen (BRE); S Borland (Building Sciences Ltd); D Lawson (Building Sciences Ltd); P Jackman (BSRIA); R Harris (Centre for Window and Cladding Technology)