Overview
This guide replaces BG 12/2010 Floor Void Airtightness – Air Leakage Specification, which was withdrawn due to errors.
A floor plenum is a void between a building’s floor structure and a raised access floor, used for distributing conditioned air to the spaces above. It is important that conditioned air in a floor plenum flows into the occupied zone and does not leak into cavities, risers, stairwells, heating trenches or other adjacent zones. A properly sealed floor plenum will allow the diffusers and grilles to fulfil their primary role of delivering air at the correct flow rate. The airtightness of floor plenums can be a serious energy efficiency issue.
This BSRIA guide addresses these issues and places upper limits on the air leakage of floor plenums. There are two components to this leakage: plenum leakage and raised access floor leakage. A testing methodology for both plenum leakage and raised access floor leakage is given, and guidance on achieving both is provided.