An exhaust fan apparatus for assessing the air leakage characteristics of houses

2019/07/29 by Orr, H. W., Figley, D. A.
#Air and vapour barriers #Air flow/Wind pressure #Pare-vapeur et pare-air #Surcharges dues au vent/écoulement d'air #air flow #air infiltration #exhaust fans #pressure differentials #testing equipment

paper · doi:10.4224/40000553

Abstract

The air tightness of a building enclosure can be assessed by exhausting air from the structure and measuring the air flow rate and corresponding pressure difference across the enclosure. An exhaust fan apparatus was developed by researchers at the Prairie Regional Station of the Division of Building Research in Saskatoon for air leakage testing of small buildings. It was designed to be easily portable and simple to operate, allowing a two-man crew to pressure test a house in about 45 minutes.

Related

• Balanced fan depressurization method for measuring component and overall air leakage in single- and multifamily dwellings
• Mark XI Energy Research Project: air-tightness and air-infiltration measurements
• The need for improved airtightness in buildings
• The effect of mechanical ventilation on the air leakage characteristic of a two-storey detached house
• Effect of a gas furnace chimney on the air leakage characteristics of a two-storey detached house