Review of possible implications of an airtightness standard for new dwellings in the UK.

The central purpose of this paper is to develop and test a case for compulsory pressurization testing for new dwellings. The authors have argued elsewhere in favour of such a policy. The paper reviews the available information on airtightness in the UK housing stock, the impact of airtightness on ventilation and fabric heat losses, the information that is available on the costs of making houses airtight and the logistics of pressurisation testing.