Briefly reviews air leakage around windows. Discusses heat loss through windows, dependence of leakage on pressure difference across windows, effect of leakage on condensation. States that tight windows can save heating and cooling costs but weatherstripping is necessary for tightness.

Suggests methods of conserving energy in new houses. Gives detailed instructions for installing vapour barrier; constructing double stud wall, insulating walls and windows. Also discusses moisture problems and the use of an air-to-air heat exchanger. Outlines other methods of saving energy and waysof refitting an older house.NOTES An updated second edition has been published as "Energy efficient housing - a prairie approach" abstract no.643.

Presents results of measurements of ventilation rate and window air leakage made in blocks of flats in Sweden. Describes measurement of ventilation rate using nitrous oxide as a tracer gas and pressurization tests on windows. Gives graphical results of tests. Finds that the majority of windows do not satisfy 1975swedish building code. Reports measurements of air leakage of windows before and after renewal of draught excluders. Concludes that old windows can be made relatively draught-free and that this is not expensive or time consuming.

This paper is a general survey of work done on natural ventilation of dwellings. Discusses ventilation of houses with both natural and mechanical ventilation. Reviews experimental investigations, quoting air-change-rates found. Discusses ventilation requirements and methods for investigating different factors. Outlines suggested experimental method for investigating air infiltration of mechanically ventilated houses.

The building industry has always had considerable difficulty with joints in outer walls, at windows, doors and between building units. Damage caused by damp has meant considerable economic losses. New building methods and materials and stronger requirements in the indoor climate have accentuated the problem. Discusses use of fibreglass strips as a sealing agent. These can accommodate large movements in the joints, but the hermetic sealing properties are insufficient if there is a heavy damp load on the joint. Glass combined with plastic sheet can increase the hermetic sealing.

Reports tests made on a mobile home to evaluate its thermal performance. Describes home, instrumentation and test procedure. Gives energy consumption as a function of indoor-outdoor temperature difference. Finds that oversized heating plant resulted in low seasonal operating efficiency. Air infiltration was measured using pressurization technique and SF6 as a tracer gas. The latter showed that operation of the heating plant induced higher air infiltration rates. Reports thermographic survey of interior surfaces which showed air paths formed by wrinkles in the surface insulation.

Examines the conditions that develop inside an enclosure subjected to wind pressures, by analogy with a rectangular box held motionless in a stream of water. Finds that internal static pressures may rise by as much as the value of the impinging air velocity pressure. Tight interior partitions result in a series of descending pressure zones from windward to leeward.

Reviews hazards from excess carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide in poorly ventilated spaces. Discusses ventilation rates needed to keep concentrations below safe levels. Reviews toxicity studies of portable fuel-fired appliances and gives simple guidelines for the use of such equipment.

Describes wind tunnel tests on cubical models with roof angles of 0, 15, 30 and 45 and on a wall placed in constant velocity and variable velocity air stream. Discusses the effect of velocity distribution on pressure distribution and wind loads. Presents results in the form of diagrams of pressure coefficients over the models.