This report presents a new technique for measuring the leakage area of residential buildings. This technique, called AC pressurization, is designed to overcome most of the shortcomings of fan pressurization, the conventional technique for measuring leakage area.
Describes infrasonic method of measuring the air leakage of a house or apartment. Describes apparatus, consisting of a motor driven source of known output a sensitive pressure pickup and anelectronic signal processor. A low frequency (about one cycle per second) alternating air flow of known magnitude is applied to the interior of the building, and the alternating component of inside pressure that results is measured. The pressure response is a function of the type and size of leakage paths. Describes measurements made on three interior rooms and gives sample results.
Reports low-pressure measurements of the leakage function of a building using an alternating (AC) pressure source with variable frequency and displacement. Synchronous detection of the indoor pressure signal created by the source eliminates the noise dueto fluctuations caused by the wind. Finds good agreement between AC and DC leakage results in pressure regions where the results can be compared. The low-pressure values made with the AC source suggest that the air flow is dominated by orifice flow effects down to pressures less than one Pascal.
Outlines the problems of modelling air infiltration. Reports measurements of the leakage function measured at low pressures using an alternating pressure source with variable frequency and displacement. Synchronous detection of the indoor pressure signal created by the source eliminates the noise due to fluctuations caused by the wind. Presents comparisons between these results and extrapolations of direct fan leakage measurements.
Describes an infrasonic method as an alternative to blower method for measuring the composite effective size of all the air-leakage passages of a building. Sinusoidally varying volumetric flows between 0.05 and 5Hz are generated by a motor-driven bellows-like source located inside the building under test. Resulting pressure variations are measured using a microphone-like sensor having an electronic signal processor. Reports system design and test results obtained to date. One house, five apartment and three interior rooms have been tested.
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