2. Draught Finder 4. Air Tightness Inspections The Air Test Trevor Clark
Qualified - Air Tester & Thermographer
Non Destructive Inspections
Accredited by Independent Airtightness Testing Scheme

3. The result can be used as a direct comparison to other buildings
Air Tightness Inspections
The Air Test
Why do we need to perform an Air Tightness Test ?
1. To comply with Building Regulations – Part L Conservation of Fuel & Power
2. As part of an Energy Audit
To SAVE MONEY on heating or cooling
(ENERGY) bills
Can be carried out on ANY size of building
The result can be used as a direct comparison to other buildings

4. Air Tightness Inspections
The Air Test
Why do we need to perform an Air Tightness Test ?
To SAVE MONEY on heating or cooling
(ENERGY) bills
How does this save energy?
When the wind blows cold air from outside enters the building, more energy is needed to heat the cold air & to replace the lost warm air that gets pushed out.

5. Air Tightness Inspections
The Air Test
Why do we need to perform an Air Tightness Test ?
If we can prevent the air from leaking from our buildings we can SAVE Energy … and MONEY on heating our buildings.
But FIRST we need to find out HOW much air is leaking.
To Do this we need to Test the building for Air Tightness.

6. The fan is turned ‘ON’ and air is drawn out of the building
Air Tightness Inspections
The Air Test
How do we Test ?
We use a “BLOWER DOOR” and special pressure meter.
The fan is fitted into an external opening.
All external openings are closed and all internal doors are opened.
The fan is turned ‘ON’ and air is drawn out of the building

7. Air Tightness Inspections
The Air Test
How do we Test ?
The fan induces a very small pressure difference between inside and outside the building.
Equal to a wind speed of approx 22 mph
The pressure difference means that higher pressure air will force it’s way towards the lower pressure.
The test can be a “POSITIVE” or “NEGATIVE” pressure test
or BOTH depending on the test requirements.

8. Air Tightness Inspections
The difference between a ‘Tight’ or ‘Draughty’ building?
Air Leaky - Draughty
Air Tight - Ventilated Right
Air Leaky – High Heating Costs
Air Tight – Low heating Costs

9. Air Tightness Inspections
Benefits of an ‘Air Tight’ Building
Lower ENERGY RUNNING COSTS, less energy input
Improved COMFORT CONDITIONS, steady temperatures
Improved INDOOR AIR QUALITY, providing sufficient ventilation is installed
Quicker HEAT UP TIME, retaining heat longer.
Less DIRT & GRIME, brought into the building, Reduced Washing cycles
Improved INSULATION PERFORMANCE, prevents air blowing through or around insulation
Improved ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE, less noise transmitted
Improved OCUPANCY SATISFACTION, fewer complaints from tenants, reduced rent disputes
Avoidance of moisture related BUILDING DAMAGE, lower maintenance
Lower ENERGY CAPITAL EQUIPMENT COSTS, smaller replacements required
Improved BUILDING STANDARDS, Builders take more care when building
Less CO² used in heating or cooling – Helping Government meet CO² reduction targets

10. Air Tightness Inspections
If air is invisible, how do you find leaks?
By using one of three methods;
1. By Feeling the Air flow
2. Infrared Thermography
3. By using Special Smoke
For information on these, please see next slide show in this series;
7. Finding Air Leaks