ASHRAE SLC June 2008Airtightness Testing of Commercial Buildings ASHRAE SEMINAR Retrofit of Commercial Buildings to Reduce Air Leakage Airtightness Testing of Commercial Buildings David Saum Infiltec Falls Church, VA

ASHRAE SLC June 2008Airtightness Testing of Commercial Buildings Where are commercial buildings regularly tested?  In 2002 the UK began testing buildings over 1,000 m2 (10,000 ft2) floor area.  In July 2008 Ireland will begin requiring testing for new a retrofit buildings.  The UK air leakage standard requires shell meet 10m3/h/m2 ( Pa  Shell is defined as walls, ceiling and floors  How tight is this? 30x50x8 ft house meets standard at Pa  Test standard developed by ATTMA

ASHRAE SLC June 2008Airtightness Testing of Commercial Buildings Tools used for commercial air leakage testing Blower door fans can be stacked but building power is limited. Large mobile fans require trailers and external power sources.

ASHRAE SLC June 2008Airtightness Testing of Commercial Buildings Example of a Very Large Building Test:  Building Type: food distribution warehouse  Location: Manchester, UK  Volume: 256,000 m3 (9,000,000 ft3)  Surface: 58,000 m2 (624,000 ft2)  Worst Case Test flow: 142 m3/s (300k 50 Pa to meet 10 m3/s/m2  Test equipment: Five mobile fans with 60, ”wc (27 50 Pa)

ASHRAE SLC June 2008Airtightness Testing of Commercial Buildings Exterior of 9,000,000 ft3 Warehouse

ASHRAE SLC June 2008Airtightness Testing of Commercial Buildings Trailer Mounted 60,000 cfm Mobile Fan

ASHRAE SLC June 2008Airtightness Testing of Commercial Buildings Five 60,000 cfm fans required for worst case test

ASHRAE SLC June 2008Airtightness Testing of Commercial Buildings Warehouse depressurized to 50 Pa via truck bays

ASHRAE SLC June 2008Airtightness Testing of Commercial Buildings Aligning Fans with Bay Openings

ASHRAE SLC June 2008Airtightness Testing of Commercial Buildings Unpacking the 60 Inch Diameter Flex Duct

ASHRAE SLC June 2008Airtightness Testing of Commercial Buildings Opening the Gasoline Engine Exhaust Port

ASHRAE SLC June 2008Airtightness Testing of Commercial Buildings Fan Connected to Temporary Door Seal

ASHRAE SLC June 2008Airtightness Testing of Commercial Buildings Five Fans Depressurizing Building Simultaneously

ASHRAE SLC June 2008Airtightness Testing of Commercial Buildings Fan Control Panel Analog and Digital Gauges

ASHRAE SLC June 2008Airtightness Testing of Commercial Buildings Recording Fan Data During Test

ASHRAE SLC June 2008Airtightness Testing of Commercial Buildings Trailer Mounted Mobile Fan Specifications:  Calibrated Flow: 7-27 m3/s (15k-65k cfm)  Power: 25hp gasoline engine, electric start  Weight: 570 kg (1250 lb) without trailer  Dimensions: 1.8m x 1.8 m x 2.0 m  Gauges: digital, plus analog backup  Fan Blade: 1.37 m (54 inch) diameter  Fuel Container: marine type, external  Electric power: car battery, option  Flex Duct: 4.5 m long, 1.5 m diameter  Fuel: standard unleaded gasoline

ASHRAE SLC June 2008Airtightness Testing of Commercial Buildings Future of Commercial Building Testing?  Other EU Countries follow UK and Ireland testing  Increased US testing by ESCOs, government, and proactive building owners  Tougher leakage standards  More Publications of results  Calibration Standards  Tester Certification