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THE FACTS - AIR TIGHTNESS TESTING
Part L of the new Building Regulations will help with the implementation into the UK law of the European Performance of Building Directive, as well as playing an important role with the reduction of carbon emissions of dwellings to help meet Kyoto targets.
The regulations require that every new dwelling is tested for air leakage. The frequency of testing is laid out in the Building Regulations Part L1a and is dependant on design and construction methodology. The test must be carried out under the BINDT scheme.
The route to compliance with the regulation is to present Building Control a Certificate following a leakage test carried out by a registered testing authority, under the BINDT scheme, which will conform to standards laid out in procedures detailed in CIBSE Technical Memorandum 23 Chartered Institute of Building Service Engineers ATTM TSI. This then forms part of the building completion certificate issued by the Building Control Officer and passed on to the eventual home owner.
The requirements of ATTMA for the measurement of air permeability of buildings are generally based on BSEN Standard 138:2001 Thermal Performance of Buildings – Determination of air permeability of buildings – Fan pressurisation method with enhanced recommended by ATTMA Technical Standard 1 measuring air permeability of building envelopes.
Home energy use is responsible for 28 per cent of UK carbon dioxide emissions which contribute to climate change. By following the Energy Saving Trust’s best practice standards, new build and existing housing will reduce these emissions, saving energy, money and the environment. Air leakage from buildings, both new build and existing, is a major cause of energy loss and increasing emissions.
Improving airtightness in dwellings will reduce air leakage – the uncontrolled flow of air through gaps.
Air leakage is quantified as air permeability. This is the rate of leakage (m3/h/m2) in or out of the dwelling. It is measured at a reference pressure difference of 50 Pascals a between the inside and outside of the dwelling. In the UK the good and best practice standards for air permeability in dwellings are shown in Table 1. of the Building Regulations Part L1A.
Air tightness needs to be a priority throughout the construction process
– before, during and after. |
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