Ductwork airtightness in France: regulatory context, contol procedures, results

Ductwork airtightness is an input parameter in the French energy performance calculation method for new buildings (RT 2012) which influences the energy performance rating. If the ductwork airtightness class used in the calculation is better than the default value (2.5*class A), the ductwork airtightness has to be justified in accordance with a third-party testing scheme operational since 2014. Furthermore, there is a minimum ductwork airtightness requirement set to leakage class A if the building applies for the Effinergie+ or BEPOS labels.

The Effinergie approach to ease transitions to new regulatory requirements

Since 2006, the Effinergie certification has been a major market driver in France for energy efficiency initiatives in all building types, new and renovated. It has been a laboratory for the 2012 energy regulation in France, for instance, for the overall primary energy minimum requirements or for the mandatory justification of an envelope airtightness level. In the same vein, the Effinergie+ and Bepos labels operational since 2012 and 2013 experiment new requirements and methods, which will serve for the 2020 revision of the energy regulation.

Selecting EPC input data for HVAC systems: a series of French guidance sheets

Because of the relative complexity of the French method for calculating the energy performance of new buildings, the selection of input data for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems can be a challenge without any guidance.

Building airtightness in France — regulatory context, control procedures, results

Since 2006, there has been a significant reward in the French energy regulations for good airtightness, which has been combined with a minimum requirement for residential buildings in the 2012 version of the regulation. Airtightness test results show that the average building airtightness performance has improved by nearly 50% in single- and multi-family buildings since 2006 and now stabilises below the minimum requirements around q50 = 2.8 m3/h per m2 of envelope area, excluding lowest floor (or about n50 = 1.8 h-1).

Regulatory compliance checks of residential ventilation systems in France

Regulatory compliance checks on samples of residential ventilation systems are operational in France. The analysis of their results shows a significant rate of non-compliance with the ventilation regulation (rate on the order of 50%).

French voluntary scheme for harmonised publication of ventilation product data

Fact sheet #03 describes a voluntary scheme defining the data to be announced in the product documentation. The scheme has been launched in 2012 by Uniclima, the French association of ventilation product manufacturers. It ensures that product characteristics are provided under a harmonised form (same physical quantity, unit and assessment method), and facilitates access to relevant input data for the energy performance calculation of a building. The scheme contributes to enhancing the compliance of published data.

Building regulations can foster quality management - the French example on building airtightness

Fact sheet #01 describes how a quality management scheme has been introduced in the French energy regulation to encourage professionals to question their current practice and find effective solutions to improve building airtightness. The scheme allows successful applicants (mostly builders of single-family dwellings) to justify for a given airtightness level without systematic third-party testing. The fact sheet details the basic principles of the approach as well as the requirements applicants have to fulfil.

15-17 April 2015, Conference, Lyon - Fan 2015

This three day conference will include three separate, but complimentary tracks:

  • Industrial and commercial fan systems
  • Fan noise
  • Theoretical methods and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).

All types of fans, such as those used in industrial process, HVAC, electronic equipment, household appliances, automotive and traction fall within the scope of the conference. Conversely, high speed fans in aeronautical propulsion applications will not be included. 

English

14-18 September 1992, Conference, Nice - 13th AIVC Conference

The 13th AIVC Conference - Ventilation for Energy Efficiency and Optimum Indoor Air Quality, was held in Nice, France, 14-18 September 1992.

English

23-26 October 2002, Conference, Lyon - 23rd AIVC Conference

The 23rd AIVC and Epic 2002 Conference (in conjunction with 3rd European Conference on Energy Performance and Indoor Climate in Buildings), Energy efficient and healthy buildings in sustainable cities", was held in Lyon, France, 23-26 October 2002.

English

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