certification

Purpose of the work

To review the impact of air tightness testing in construction in Ireland since the introduction of mandatory testing under the National Building Regulations in 2008 and the subsequent enforcement of a National Certification Scheme.

Method of approach

Review of National Building Regulations in 2008 & 2011 and implications on buildings being constructed and the industry's acceptance.

Content of the presentation

Purpose of the work

Since the introduction of the Blower Door test to the building code in Denmark back in 2006, there has been a move toward encouraging the sector to raise the quality level of tests performed around the country. The building code requirements in Denmark are:

Throughout the certification process of air filters, the major technical characteristics are evaluating. Both theoretical models and experimental methods, proves some relationships between the parameters and the performance of product. In this article we present the statistical analysis of certified products according to EN ISO16890:2016. A sample of 1800 certified products by Eurovent Certita Certification is analysed to highlight products characteristics based on quantitative approach.

Since 2006, the French Energy Performance regulation, named RT, has been allowing two ways to justify building airtightness: either with a measurement or with the application of a quality management approach. The quality management approach certification is managed by the French Ministry in charge of construction, for which it set up a specific expert committee to assess quality management approaches. Since 2012, the justification has been compulsory for residential buildings. This obligation led to a more systematic use of certified quality management approaches.

Envelope airtightness is incorporated in the French Energy Performance (EP) Regulation (named “RT”) and is a key factor in the reduction of energy consumption. From 2006 until 2012, the French 2005 Energy Performance Regulation (RT, 2005) did not require justification of envelope airtightness. However, constructors could get certification for airtightness through a quality management (QM) approach, in order to build better-than-regulatory buildings.

Since January 1st 2013, the French energy performance (EP) regulation requires building airtightness level to be justified to a lower-than-required value. These requirements represent an important change in the airtightness market. As a consequence, it is the State’s responsibility to accompany this market evolution and to supervise the implementation of the quality in building airtightness. French regulation allows two ways to justify the airtightness value for the building envelope.

From 2006 till 2012, the 2005 energy performance (EP) regulation (RT 2005) did not entail any obligation to justify the envelope airtightness level. As a consequence, asking for the certification of airtightness quality management approaches was a voluntary request from constructors. Thus, they might be allowed to take into account a better-than-default value into the thermal calculation. Since 2012, French 2012 EP regulation (RT 2012) requires building airtightness level to be justified, with two ways of justification.

In 2002 the Association for Air Tightness in Buildings (FLiB e. V.) established a certification procedure for airtightness testers in Germany. As airtightness tests are part of national implementation of EPBD but no qualification requirements for testers are defined FLiB e. V. took the lead and defined a procedure.

This presentation will make the audience aware of the importance of ISO-recognized certificationprograms in the testing adjusting and balancing and commissioning of HVAC systems. ImportantISO 17024 standards will be covered as well as their importance. Many faults have been found inexisting testing adjusting and balancing and commissioning certification programs ranging fromconflicting issues within the organization and their testing procedures; political control over theprocess; inconstant certification methods; geographical differences.