Presents method and results of laboratory tests on the air leakage of rolled section steel windows. Results show that steel windows manufactured of solid rolled sections are, on the average, more weathertight than wood windows.
Describes apparatus and test procedure used to measure air leakage through metal windows and gives test results. Concludes that infiltration loss through metal windows can be reduced by about 10% by locking an unweatherstripped window and by an average additional 56% by applying weatherstrips to the locked window.
Gives expression for the hourly air volume passing around a window due to pressure difference, and the total heat transference by infiltration. Describes tests made on site and in the laboratory on windows and discusses the resultant curves. The wood framed windows tested were either double-sashed or double- glazed units while the metal-framed windows were all double-glazed.
Describes laboratory test performed on four steel swing windows and one steel double-hung window to determine leakage rates at different values of pressure and humidity. Concludes there is a wide variation in leakage rates of well constructed windows. Test results depend on the method of closing and latching windows, leakage for steel swing windows is found to differ when determined with ascending and descending pressure differences because the window is closed more tightly after completion of the ascending pressure difference.
Studies effect of joints between building components on air tightness of buildings, and the factors which influence the air leakage through a joint. As a pilot test, the air leakage for different widths of joints between building components in timber has been studied by varying the pressure between 150 to +/- 700 pa. Describes main apparatus and gives results of the investigation on the leakage of air pressure in various types of joints.
Describes pressure method for testing whole houses for air leakage. States main advantages compared to tracer gas technique are that equipment is inexpensive, easy to handle and so well adapted to routine tests. The house is pressurized using a powerful fan and the flow through the fan is equivalent to the leakage through the building envelope at given pressure. Summarizes measurements made on test houses. and shows use of thermography to detect leaks. suggests use of pressure test to estimate the natural ventilation of a house.
Describes study and operating principles of device allowing a window (or more usually a light-weight cladding unit) to be placed in variable temperature conditions simulating actual summer and winter conditions, in order to determine the airtightness of the window under these conditions. Describes testing of three plastic window frames in the device and supplies the measured values of the airtightness before, during and after the tests, and the corresponding curves.
The airtightness of windows is an important feature in deciding habitability. in additional to the conventional, the window sashes featuring improved soundproofing and insulation performance have appeared. Summarizes the results of measurements of the air-tightness of these sashes made using carbon dioxide as a tracer gas, as well as double sliding and single sliding windows using actual size samples. Explains experimental apparatus and measuring method.
The significance of air tightness on building performance and the factors affecting the air leakage performance of the building enclosure are discussed. the ability of the ASTM standard air leakage test method to check the quality of design and manufacture of factory-assembled walls, windows and doors as well as the inability of the method to provide the building designer with quantitative air leakage data for calculating heating and cooling loads and designing smoke control means is also discussed.
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