Floor Plenum Airtightness – Guidance and Testing Methodology (BG 65/2016)

Contact Information Centre

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. The airtightness of floor plenums can be a serious comfort and energy efficiency issue. This BSRIA guide recommends upper limits for both plenum leakage

Download a sample preview

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This guide replaces BG 12/2010 Floor Void Airtightness – Air Leakage Specification, which was withdrawn due to errors.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.

Product details

  • Published: July 2016
  • Publisher: BSRIA
  • Author: Tom Jones
  • IBSN: 978-0-86022-753-3

Common customer questions & answers

QQuestion Is the TSL2-based test method outlined in BG 65 the only acceptable method?
AAnswer No. As stated in BG 65, testing can be carried out to accredited procedures by companies such as:
• Specialist independent laboratories UKAS accredited specifically for testing floor plenums using accredited procedures.
• Building airtightness testers ATTMA registered to Level 2, using ATTMA TSL2 as modified in BG 65