Testing building for air leakage

Pressure testing techniques have long been used in the laboratory on building components such as windows, for example, to ensure that rain will not penetrate them under windy conditions. Market leaders in low-energy buildings have been using pressure testing techniques for several years on the whole completed building to ensure a good build quality in terms of the provision of a well-sealed building in relation to air leakage. Although the emphasis was initially on domestic buildings, there has been increasing interest in non-domestic buildings, and in particular in industrial buildings and retail stores. In addition, research on buildings in the UK has resulted in an improved understanding of air leakage in relation to building design. It has provided a database on the range of air leakage rates that are currently generally achieved in practice - and on what improvements might be achieved with better-quality design. Britain has now accepted the European test standard (prEN 13829) for pressure testing of buildings. This Technical Memorandum sets out to describe how users can comply with the standard, and provides some guidance on levels of airtightness to aim for and how these might be achieved.