Analyzing air-tightness measurements using fan pressurization method on forty residential houses in Athens, Greece

Regular air tightness and infiltration measurements were performed in forty houses, in the area of Attica, Greece. Two measurement methods were used, the tracer gas decay method and the Blower Door tests method. BlowerDoor measurements were done in accordance with EN ISO 13829 [1]. Ambient conditions and temperature fluctuations inside the houses were measured as well.A classification of houses examined, based on experimentsresults was acted out in accordance with EN ISO 13790 [2]. The houses were classified into three air tightness categories, in regard to their air tightness in natural conditions and at a pressure difference of 50 Pa.Furthermore, the total frame length was estimated for the whole housing stock, and a correlation between the air tightness measurements at a pressure difference of 50Pa and the total frame length was examined, for the sample of buildings and for each air tightness category.A correlation between the airflow values, as they resultedfrom the fan pressurization method and the average infiltration rates, calculated by the tracer gas experimentresults, has been extracted. Moreover, the effect of climate data including temperature and windiness and construction quality on the houses infiltration characteristicshas been investigated.