Mechanical ventilation system requirements and measured results for homes constructed under the R-2000 super energy-efficient home program.

The R-2000 Super Energy-Efficient Home Program is a cooperative industry/government initiative sponsored by Energy, Mines and Resources Canada (EMR) and delivered by the Canadian Home Builders Association. The program supports building industry development, training of builders and the construction of energy-efficient houses incorporating high levels of insulation, a well sealed air barrier and mechanical ventilati on systems with heat recovery. In 1983, with assistance from the Buildings Energy Conservation Sub-Committee (B.E.C.S. ), EMR embarked on a field monitoring program which included air quality and ventilation system testing of approximately 300 R-2000 super energy-efficient demonstration homes and a sample of control homes that reflect conventional building practice. B.E.C.S. is responsible for general federal funds allocation in the area of energy conservation research and development. This paper reviews the ventilation system requirements for R-2000 Homes and compares these requirements with ASHRAE Standard 62-81, the measured airflow capacities of the instal led heat recovery ventilators and the average air change rates for homes using the Capillary Adsorption Tube Sampling (CATS) procedure. The CATS procedure, developed at the Brookhaven National Laboratory, uses a passive tracer gas source that emits a perfluorocarbon tracer (PFT) gas and a passive air change sampler that collects the emitted tracer gas during a 30 day test period. The paper concludes that the response to the program is favourable; R-2000 Homes are generally performing within the tolerances of the program criteria and air quality in R-2000 Homes compares favourably with conventional homes. Formaldehyde levels in R-2000 and control homes were identical and well below the Health and Welfare Canada guideline of 0.1 ppm. The average air change rates were 42% higher in R-2000 Homes then in control homes. On average, the measured capacity of ventilation systems met program criteria but the systems generally were not balanced. Further refinements to technical criteria and compliance requirements are under development to ensure quality assurance and to provide maximum flexibility to accommodate a variety of ventilation strategies.