PROMEVENT: Improvement of protocols measurements used to characterize ventilation systems performance

For the coming energy-efficient buildings, the guarantee of energy performance becomes a major challenge. It is therefore crucial to implement accurate and reliable measurements, in order to ensure this performance. The in-force French EP-regulation RT2012 already imposes compulsory justification of envelope airtightness. Moreover, the Effinergie+ label requires ventilation systems control and ductwork airleakage performance. These requirements, ventilation controls for IAQ concern and regulatory compulsory controls of buildings need reliable diagnostic protocols.

In 2014, several French partners, led by the Cerema, proposed a new project, PROMEVENT, which main objective is to improve ventilation systems measurements protocols. It aims to deal with different phases of a diagnostic:

1. Visual control
2. Airflow measurements and pressure differences measurements at air vents
3. Ventilation ductwork airleakage measurements.

Several points will be tested through repeatability and reproducibility assessments. Then measurements will be performed on laboratory benches, and on ventilation systems of single-family and multi-family dwellings. By the end of the PROMEVENT project, recommendations and a first version of a protocol for the measurement of residential buildings ventilation systems will be proposed. Moreover, one of the main objective is to produce a more reliable and optimised protocol which will be written as a proposed draft standard. 

This paper presents the context in which the PROMEVENT project has been defined, and describes its different steps.