English

Discusses the tracer dilution method for measuring air change rates. The technique entails introducing small amounts of tracer gas into a building and measuring the rate of change in tracer concentration. Describes the method and compares different tracer gases. Outline ways of obtaining an estimate of the air infiltration from experimental data. An appendix discusses the errors in the procedure.

Notes that altering interior moisture content of a building can influence both energy use and other performance characteristics. Gives an assessment of the moisture interaction as related to health and comfort of the occupants, fire safety, durability and maintainability and design and construction of light-frame housing. Reviews published recommendations.

Reviews the state of the art in the measurement of ventilation and air infiltration. Considers tracer gas techniques and discusses some of the tracer gases used as well as some of the potential sources of error. Also discusses fan pressurization-evacuation procedures for measuring building tightness and compares fan and tracer measurements. Discusses the ASHRAE crack method.

Reports wind tunnel measurements of the wind-induced internal pressures of models of low-rise buildings of different geometry and internal volume. Three different uniform porosities (0.0 0.5 and 3.0% of the total surface area) have been examined in combination with openings in a wall ranging from 0 to 100% of that wall's area. Two terrain roughnesses were used corresponding to open country and suburban regions.< Finds that internal pressures are variable but generally lower than local external pressures.

Briefly describes method for pressure testing a house. Discusses problems and limitations of method. Discusses results of 130 (de)pressurization tests carried out in dwellings in the Netherlands. Gives results of the distribution of air leakage in four houses found by measuring the leakage of all components separately.

Tests carried out during the sixties and seventies showed that there was a correlation between lung cancer and the existence of radon gas in mines and that there was radon gas in homes built of aerated concrete based on slate. This led to political activity with regulations for limits on emanation in new, re-built and existing buildings. Provisions were also made for grants to help house owners finance the improvements specified.< In the new bye-laws, SBN 80, gamma radiation is not to exceed 50 mu.R/h, the radon content is not to exceed an annual mean of 70 Bq/cu.m.

Notes that many existing dwellings are inadequately insulated and in need of caulking and weatherstripping. Gives criteria for the selection of retrofit materials which are eligible for the Department of Energy Weatherization Assistance Program. Materials discussed are insulation, storm windows and doors, caulks and sealants, weatherstripping, vapour barriers, clock thermostats and replacement windows. Discusses the literature on retrofitting. Describes the different caulks and sealants available. Outlines precautions to be taken when applying different retrofit materials.

Encore-Canada is a Fortran IV computer program which performs a dynamic simulation of energy use on an hourly basis using weather data. The program includes the calculation of air infiltration and solar effects. This report describes the program structure, data preparation, output and procedures for running the program. Gives examples of program applied to a house giving floorplan of the house, input data and program output.

Gives a brief guide to the computer program ZSTEP, which is a program for simultaneous calculation of the thermal performance of up to ten zones in a building. Outlines the structure and operation of the program and describes the type of input needed and the output produced. Discusses applications of the program and planned developments. An appendix gives data preparation sheets.

Reports a study carried out to assess whether homeowners occupying more highly insulated houses have actually realised fuel savings over those realised by comparable homeowners in less heavily insulated houses. Describes method of the survey which included air leakage tests.