Everything you want to know about Air Leakage Testing
Air pressure testing is a method of measuring and quantifying the air leakage of a building. The test consists of putting a fan contained in a temporary screen into an outside door rebate and pressurising or depressurising the building whilst recording the air leakage rates. The external air pressure, wind speed and temperature are measured at the same time, since they have a bearing on the results of the test. Part 1LA of the Building Regulations 2006 makes it a legal requirement that new domestic dwellings pass a mandatory air tightness test before being occupied.
What is air leakage in buildings?
Air leakage (also known as air permeability or air infiltration) is the air lost from a dwelling through uncontrolled means such as cracks and gaps in the building envelope. Any ventilation system installed in a building is seen as a source of controlled air flow and is therefore not considered as air leakage. At a very basic level, air leakage may be seen as unwanted draughts.
Why do I need to test the air tightness of a building?
Air pressure testing of a proportion of all new domestic housing is a legal requirement in accordance with the guidance given in Approved Document Part L1A - Conservation of Fuel and Power in New Dwellings of the Building Regulations. Testing the air tightness of existing dwellings can highlight problematic areas which can then be treated cost-effectively to improve the energy efficiency of the dwelling as a whole.
To help our clients pass first time we have produced an Air Pressure Testing Checklist
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