sealing

20 low-income family houses were studied for Air Changes per Hour and Equivalent Leakage Area as measured by the Blower Door Test during the winter of 1985-86. The residents of 10 of these homes were given instruction on air sealing techniques and were provided a "starter kit" of retrofit materials. Upon retesting, these 10 homes showed no improvement in either ACH or ELA,indicating either a lack of interest on the part of the householders in making their homes more airtight, or an inability to do so based upon insufficient information or physical limitation.

Reports on research project to improve installation techniques using currently available building materials when making penetrations for services in sealing layers. States how careful installation and the use of proper materials and planning can ensure that Swedish Building Standards can be complied with. Notes small cost required to achieve improved sealing and recommends that sealing layers should not be penetrated where this can be avoided. Illustrates various service penetrations.

A field study was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of air leakage sealing techniques for reducing air infiltration in houses. Presealing and postsealing air leakage tests were performed upon 82 single detached houses inWinnipeg or southern Manitoba. All houses were placed under a negative pressure, and leakage sites were identified using smoke pencils. Windows and doors were weather-stripped and other unintentional openings caulked and sealed using specified materials and techniques.

Work has been in progress for several years on the revision of Byggeforeskrifter (Norwegian Building Regulations), and the new chapter 54 sets quantitative requirements for the air tightness of sections of a building and the building as a whole. In this project, good and bad solutions are illustrated and an effort is made to show the importance of good workmanship. The commonest types of leakage were identified by examination of Leca pipes.The conclusion drawn from the investigations was that Leca pipes should be surface treated to prevent large air leakages.

A study was conducted to determine the air leakage rates in Skymark 1, a high rise condominium in Toronto, particularly air leakage rates of the exterior walls of "Florida Rooms" which were constructed by the enclosure of original open balconies.

This paper describes a series of ventilation measurements carried out in two small factory units situated on an industrial estate in Newport, South Wales. One of the factories is typical of current design, and the other is designed to be of greater energy efficiency in terms of increased levels of insulation and reduced air infiltration rate.

Describes air sealing of existing homes by sealants, weatherstripping, air-vapour barriers, and other techniques. Discusses principles of air exchange, moisture movement, air sealing, control of indoor air quality, and combustion air. Identifies procedures for assessing air sealing measures in individual houses. Describes materials for air sealing and their applications.

This survey describes how external walls and joints are constructed in practice. The paper gives you an opportunity to compare how successful the implementation of airtightness has been in Sweden in comparison with the results presented in the report D2:1983 "Air infiltration control ..." by A Elmroth and P Levin. The survey covers the majority of all Swedish prefabricated single family houses constructed in 1984. All big prefabrication companies are included in the survey.