Sixty five houses in Ontario, Canada, were air tightened with the aid of fan depressurization. The average percentage reduction equivalent leakage area for all houses was 36%. An improvement in comfort was noted. No significant changes occurred in the overall number of moisture problems but there was a definite change in the type of problem. The net fuel reduction for the total sample was 4.8%.

Radon-222 and 222Rn progeny concentrations, barometric pressure and pressure differentials between inside and outside were measured continuously in the basement of a recently constructed energy-efficient house in metropolitan Denver, Colorado

This paper reviews the most recent research on wind loads on low-rise buildings. Novel measurement techniques and methodologies are reviewed, and selected experimental results from various studies are presented. Particular emphasis is given to works aimed at the formulation of codified data, ie,results appropriate for incorporation into design standards and codes of practice. Only either full-scale studies or those done under conditions simulating the earth's atmospheric boundary layer have been considered. Comparisons between full-scale and laboratory results are discussed.

The thermal effects of air flows in building structures have been analyzed by computer simulation. Some laboratory experiments have also been carried out concerning natural convection in closed and semi-open cavities filled with fibrous insulating material. Three different flow systems in building structures have been studied: natural/forced convection in open/semi-open (permeable cold surface) 2-dimensional insulation structures, heating of infiltrating air in cracks and diffusive infiltration.

A method to analyze thermal and moisture physical behaviour of building components under transient conditions is introduced. The method is supported by the procedure TRATMO (Transient Analysis of Thermal and Moisture Physical Behaviour of Constr

A method has been introduced for the analysis of the hygrothermal behaviour of building materials and construction. The model equations for coupled heat and mass transfer used in the computer code TRATMO and in the determination of hygrotherm

A transient simulation method TRATMO with applications to the analysis of the hygrothermal behaviour of timber frame constructions with additional thermal insulation is discussed. This method makes it possible to evaluate the hygrothermal behaviour with respect to risks of mouldering since it gives simultaneous information on moisture content and temperature at certain sections of the construction. Based on the computer simulations and experiments a number of practical aspects to be considered in additional thermal insulation of timber frame constructions are introduced.

This paper discusses the thermal effects of air flows, and some aspects of the influence of moisture and moisture transfer on the thermal performance of a structure. Mathematical and physical modelling of simultaneous coupled heat and mass transfer in porous materials based on the volume averaging technique has been used to analyze these phenomena.

A pilot test series has been performed to study the possibility of using carbon dioxide produced by the burners of a test furnace as a tracer gas to measure the fire gas leakage of door assemblies. The experiments show that a test method based on tracer gas techniques can be developed avoiding thedrawbacks of the proposed ISO test method DP 5925 Part 3 based on the use of an enclosure. The investigated method works well for leakage measurements in ambient and medium temperature ranges. A special test door suitable for theoretical estimation of leakage rates was used in the test.

Suggests draughtproofing and installation of controllable ventilation when retrofitting older residential buildings in the UK. Use of extract fans to remove moisture at source is recommended. The energy savings obtained in four case studies are presented.