Building airtightness

The current trend in most Western countries regarding building ventilation is to follow the “build tight, ventilate right” strategy. New energy efficient buildings are indeed getting more and more airtight to avoid energy losses through uncontrolled air leakages. Instead of relying on natural infiltration, ventilation systems are installed to ensure a good indoor air quality (IAQ) with controlled ventilative air flowrates.

AIVC's Ventilation Information Paper #45.12 summarizes current knowledge on trends in building and ductwork airtightness in USA.

AIVC's Ventilation Information Paper #45.11 summarizes current knowledge on trends in building and ductwork airtightness in New Zealand.

AIVC's Ventilation Information Paper #45.10 summarizes current knowledge on trends in building and ductwork airtightness in the Republic of Korea.

The AIVC is preparing a series of VIP on national regulations and trends in airtightness for various countries (numbered VIP 45.XX), detailing for both building and ductwork airtightness:

The AIVC is preparing a series of VIP on national regulations and trends in airtightness for various countries (numbered VIP 45.XX), detailing for both building and ductwork airtightness:

(numbered VIP 45.XX), detailing for both building and ductwork airtightness:

• the national requirements and drivers (regulations, incentives, justifications and sanctions)
• whether it is taken into account in the energy performance calculations and how;
• the test protocol (testers qualifications, national guidelines, requirements on measuring devices);
• the tests already performed and whether there is a results database;
• key documents.

This presentation focuses on the airtightness trends in the Netherlands.

The AIVC is preparing a series of VIP on national regulations and trends in airtightness for various countries (numbered VIP 45.XX), detailing for both building and ductwork airtightness: