Airtightness Testing of Two- and Three-Unit Buildings with a Single Fan
Publication: Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 11, Issue 1
Abstract
This paper presents a method for the field measurement of airtightness for two- and three-unit buildings using only one fan pressurization system, commonly referred to as a blower door. The main advantage of this single-fan method is its lower equipment and labor cost as compared with multiple-fan methods. Results from consecutive tests in the individual units are used to prepare a set of simultaneous equations for airflow, allowing for the calculation of the air leakage characteristics of both the interior partitions and the exterior envelope on a unit-per-unit basis. Tests were performed on four buildings using the single-fan method and were compared with those obtained with a two-fan method. Test results indicate that the single-fan method may be of value as an inexpensive method of estimating the airtightness of two- and three-unit residential buildings.
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Bibliography
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Acknowledgments
The concepts presented in this paper were first developed by the writers as part of the activities of SIRICON Inc. relating to quality control in the weatherization program described in this paper. An earlier version of this paper was reviewed by Dr. Jiwu Rao, Building Envelope Performance Laboratory, Centre for Building Studies, Department of Building, Civil, and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University.
References
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 11 • Issue 1 • March 2005
Pages: 19 - 24
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: May 28, 2003
Accepted: Sep 17, 2004
Published online: Mar 1, 2005
Published in print: Mar 2005
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