pressurization

Outlines factors influencing natural ventilation rates. Discusses techniques for measuring natural ventilation. Gives results of pressure measurements, made by the Building Research Establishment, of the leakage of houses and of tracer gas measurement of room ventilation rates. Discusses variation in air leakage rates with time. Gives results of measurements of the distribution of air leakage between components of the building shell.

The air-tightness of various houses is revealed by testing with the pressurization method, and the equivalent open area of air infiltration per floor area is proposed as the index of air-tightness of a house.< Then the heating system, indoor air quality, indoor temperature and humidity and house planning which affect the ventilation design are discussed in connection with the air-tightness of a house.

Measurements have been made of the air-leakage rates through structural components of conventional metal-panel and concrete buildings which may serve as containment for nuclear reactors. The component measurements included structural penetrations such as doors and louvers as well as materials such as caulking compounds, gaskets, and paints. Specimens were sealed inside of test vessels.

Presents the results of an energy-efficiency survey of 25 homes located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Insulation levels in the walls, ceilings and basements were measured and the economics of adding insulation to these areas were investigated. Air leakage of the houses was measured using a pressure test and compared with infiltration rates measured using tracer gas in fourhouses.< Concludes that a major portion of the heat loss (30-40%) in the average home was due to excessive infiltration.

Reports a series of tests of the air leakage of new homes built and sold in the Ottawa area in 1978. The homes were tested by depressurizing them to apressure difference of 10 Pascals. 80 tests were made involving 63 houses and 9 builders. The relative tightness of a house was defined as the volume rate of infiltration under 10 Pa divided by the area of the building envelope that separates the heated volume from outside conditions. Gives results with relative tightness of each house.

Presents the results from a major airtightness survey carried out in Norwegian dwellings. 61 detached houses and 34 flats were pressure tested. In 14 of the detached houses and 6 of the flats, leakage paths were traced using thermography. Gives tables of results. Lists most common leakage paths located by thermography. Occupants of the dwellings were interviewed about draught problems, but there was no clear correlation between occupant dissatisfaction and leakage rate. Notes a considerable variation in leakage between the houses.

Reports measurements of air infiltration and leakage using tracer gas and the pressurization technique in a three bedroom townhouse having a gas-fired forced-air furnace system. The measurements were made in order to quantify the amount of infiltration due to various mechanisms.

This work deals with different aspects of air movements in building components. The investigation shows to what degree the concept of fluid mechanics can be applied to problems concerning air flows in building componenets. The applicable parts of fluid mechanics are presented as thoroughly as possible. Based on this concept, routines are outlined to make it possible to handle complex flow and pressure distribution problems. Both manual and computer calculation routines are described and the way they can be used is demonstrated in a number of examples.

Describes a method for determining the leakage of an entire building. Each room is pressurized in turn and the leakages of individual rooms are summed to find the total leakage of the building. Derives the equations for calculating total leakage and gives an example of the method applied to a row of three offices.

Describes an automatic measurement system for air infiltration and discusses factors influencing the measurements in single rooms or in a group of connected rooms. The system works on the decay rate method and is controlled by a purpose-designed controller. The test data are evaluated off-line by computer. Discusses in detail the instrumentation and test procedure Gives results of measurements made in a detached house and correlations of the test data with wind and temperature difference data. Gives a comparison with pressurization data.