air tightness

A study has been undertaken to (1) evaluate airtightness in recent construction dwellings in New York State, (2) evaluate the effectiveness of various strategies in providing adequate ventilation, and (3) study the use of various ventilation options by residential builders and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) contractors.

The paper presents some selected results of evaluation of improvement effectiveness of thermal insulation and tightness of multifamily dwelling houses located in the region of Silesia. The effect of the modernization work on heat consumption (to heat the buildings) and ventilation performance is discussed. Attention is paid mainly to the sensations of the flat users connected with air flows and change. Prospects of effective implementation of thermorenovation of buildings are evaluated in the conclusions when taking into account predominating role of ventilation.

The "Passivhaus Darmstadt-Kranichstein" is a 4 unit terrace house with an extremely low total annual energy consumption of less than 32 kWh/m² of living area, thereof about 12 kWh are needed for room heating /Feist 1994/. The determinig factors for the low consumption are the superinsulation, airtightness of the thermal envelope in combination with a highly efficient VAV ventilation system, and an improved window construction. The "Passivhaus" therfore is a typical example of an improved low energy house.

A Test House at EA Technology, Capenhurst, has been refurbished to provide a ventilation test facility. The house was required to meet the following requirements: - A high standard of air tightness - Insulation to current Building Regulations or better - Incorporation of several ventilation systems - Comprehensive instrumentation The original timber frame front and rear facades of the house were replaced with brick and block construction. All internal floors, ceilings and partitions were replaced and the external walls replastered.

The UK factory stock is predominantly naturally ventilated. Measurements performed in this class of building have indicated that air infiltration rates in factories are usually excessive in relation to occupants' requirements for health and safety, resulting in an energy penalty. As part of a project to investigate construction options for energy efficient industrial buildings, three factories of different cladding construction types were designed and then built at Aberarnan, South Wales.

New Zealand homes have traditionally been ventilated through open windows and by background infiltration. In recent times, new materials and construction practices have led to more airtight buildings, and open windows are seen more and more as a security risk. These trends call for new ventilation options that are inexpensive and consistent with home security, weathertightness and draught control. This paper is part one of a study of passive ventilation options for NZ homes.

Blower Doors are used to measure the air tightness and air leakage of building envelopes. As existing dwellings in the United States are ventilated primarily through leaks in the building shell (i.e., infiltration) rather than by whole-house mechanical ventilation systems, quantification of airtightness data is critical in order to answer the following kinds of questions: What is the Construction Quality of the Building Envelope? Where are the Air Leakage Pathways? How Tight is the Building? How Much Ventilation Does the Air Leakage Supply?

Two new halls of residence, designed by Rick Mather Associates, are currently under construction at the University of East Anglia. All 800 of the near-identical student rooms have en-suite, prefabricated bathrooms, designed to be craned into position. Their low energy design required high standards of air-tightness and that mechanical ventilation systems be threaded through the buildings.