Overview
Unnecessary air leakage of buildings leads to occupant discomfort and higher energy consumption. A key factor in providing energy efficient, comfortable buildings is specification of an acceptable rate of air leakage and subsequent air tightness testing to ensure compliance.
The air leakage of standard UK buildings is generally poor, leaving considerable scope for improvement. On the basis of extensive whole building pressurisation tests, this publication presents the maximum air leakage rates that should be specified for buildings and enclosures, under the following headings:
- Offices - naturally ventilated and air conditioned/low energy
- Factories/warehouses
- Superstores
- Museums and archival stores
- Cold stores
- Dwellings
This publication defines relevant terminology, discusses performance specifications, describes the test procedure and explains the data processing technique applied.
To find out more visit our Airtightness pages.