instrumentation

Decribes the "collector chamber" method, where a room or whole building is pressurised and the air leaking through the target areas is collected with apressure compensated chamber to a measurement device.

Illustrates some practical aspects of the use of one IR camera and associated equipment discusses some of the problems in interpretation of some pictures representing temperatures of the inside and outside surfaces of buildings particularly problems due to residual effects of the sun on external surfaces, reflection of sunlight into the IR camera, storage of heat from the sun in walls, and cold spots inside a building caused by heat loss by thermal bridges or cold-air infiltration.

Uses "Track Etch" detectors to measure nearly 40000 time-averaged radon concentrations in Canadian, Swedish and US homes. In some areas indoor exposure rates exceed 20 pci/l in as many as 15% of homes surveyed. Such levels may lead to an increased lung cancer risk. The "Track Etch" detectors are based upon a plastic nuclear track detector which undergoes permanent radiation damage when struck by an alpha particle. These small detectors are very convenient to use in occupied homes and buildings.

Describes method and equipment for measuring air leakage from windows.

Presents the first of two sections of report 34020, detailing measurements carried out over the winter period of 1975/76 in Swiss dwellings with mainly hot water heating and some extract ventilation in kitchens and bathrooms. The aim of the research was to obtain a general picture of air change conditions in typical Swiss dwellings and to determine the effect of influencing parameters. The overall aim was to take a step towards the establishment of more surely founded rules of calculating ventilation heat loss as a function of influencing parameters.

Gives a brief survey of aspects of research into air infiltration. Discusses methods of measurement of ventilation rates and of building leakiness, covering the infrasonic and pressurisation methods of leakage testing, and thermography and tracer gas methods of measuring ventilation rates. Describes the available techniques for predicting leakiness and infiltration rates, and discusses their ease of application and accuracy. Concludes that the achievements of research to date are sound methods of measuring leakiness and infiltration rates.

Gives a summary of the existing types of air infiltration measurement techniques and instrumentation using tracer gases. Describes automated air infiltration instrumentation used by researchers in the US, Canada, the UK, Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland. The equipment can operate in the decay mode, constant flow mode and the constant concentration mode.

Shows the development of a procedure at Princeton University which involves an instrumented energy audit combined with a partial retrofit, and especially applicable to post-war single-family housing. This procedure is known as the `house-doctor' approach and is being tested in a 168 house experiment. Preliminary results show a 10-15% reduction in total use of natural gas following partial retrofit measures. Further retrofits based on house doctor observations led to a 20-25% reduction.

Surveys instrumentation for measuring pressures from about 0.001 to 50mm. of mercury (0.13 to 6650 N/sq.m.) described in publications during the years 1960-1968. U-tube micromanometers and diaphragm - capacitance gages are treated in considerable detail. Also describes gas column manometers; elastic element micromanometer with optical, inductance, resistance wire, strain gage, and vacuum tube transducers; piston gages; vane gages and centrifugal micromanometers. Discusses measurement of dynamic pressure, atmospheric pressure oscillations, low vapour pressure, and calibration techniques.

The heat transfer characteristics of a window system are generally specified by three static measurements; winter U-value, shading coefficient and air infiltration. Outlines methods for measuring these three values. Describes the mobile window test facility, designed to test windows under real weather conditions. The facility consists of a portable test building which can rotate about a central point.The building contains four test rooms with a guard room on each end. Describes the instrumentation and test methods. Construction of the MoWiTT facility is planned for late 1980.