Building envelope pressure testing, also often called blower door testing, is a way to determine the overall leakiness of an existing or new construction building. A-AE offers air barrier testing services to determine overall leakiness as well as target locations to further seal. Using advanced blower door pressure testing systems, the building can be depressurized or pressurized to review the air barrier continuity of a particular building. Infrared imaging, also known as thermography, is often then used to pinpoint specific building flaws in the air barrier.
Accurate-Airtight Exteriors provides third party whole building enclosure air tightness testing and various air barrier testing services for commercial, industrial, and multi- family projects. A-AE owns the three largest blower door fans in the United States and regularly uses and rents for commercial buildings throughout the USA and Internationally.
After pinpointing issues in the air barrier, recommendations can be provided so a scope of work can be created to fix the observed issues. These building flaws can affect the building’s integrity, energy, and occupant comfort. Air barrier testing provides an understanding of energy saving and building integrity opportunities while also meeting current, more stringent building codes and standards. Through commercial blower door testing we can provide detailed inspection reporting to convey whether a building will pass or fail the owner’s project requirements. Requirements are often developed by the Architect or Engineer of the project, we can provide solutions if you prefer. This type of commercial energy audit, which includes air barrier testing and in conjunction with infrared thermography, allows A-AE to make valuable recommendations to improve the building envelope for lasting building integrity.
Commercial Air Barrier Testing With Blower Door Equipment
Accurate-Airtight Exteriors air barrier testing services adhere to strict guidelines for testing commercial buildings; including testing to meet the the most stringent 2024 IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) using ASTM and ISO standards. Through the use of our blower doors and infrared cameras we are able to offer you the highest level of service provided by well trained and experienced professionals. With Building Envelope Commissioning Providers on staff ready to meet your needs.
Accurate-Airtight Exteriors has completed air barrier tests to:
ASTM E779, ASTM E1827, ASTM E1186, ASTM E3158, ASTM E783, ISO 6781, CGSB 149.10 – 2019, ISO 9972:2015, USACE (2012) as well as many others.
ASTM E779 or ASTM E3158 are the common standard test methods for determining air leakage rate by fan pressurization, and is one of the most common tests performed. We also can comply with ASTM E1827, a standard test method for determining airtightness of buildings using an orifice blower door, which we see used more often for smaller buildings. For military facilities, we may follow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) air leakage test protocol for testing the effectiveness of the building air barrier.
Why Schedule a Blower Door Test?
Air barrier testing provides an understanding of energy saving and building integrity opportunities while also meeting current more stringent building codes and standards. Through commercial blower door testing we can provide detailed inspection reporting to convey whether a building will pass or fail owner or code requirements. This type of commercial energy audit, which includes air barrier testing and in conjunction with infrared thermography, allows A-AE to make valuable recommendations to improve the building envelope for lasting building integrity.
“Building Enclosure Tightness Testing” is often a requirement of the envelope commissioning process. Organizations such USACE, NASA, NAVFAC, AFCEC, the US Military, and municipal construction projects will regularly require air barrier and tightness testing as part of the final construction verification and quality assurance process. These tests are completed to the various standards available and also required in many states by the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) section C402.5 for new commercial buildings or Section R402.4.1.2 for residential buildings.
How a Commercial Blower Door Test Works
A blower door is used to pressurize and depressurize the building to predetermined pressure settings per the standard being tested to. Testing is completed to various test standards such as common multipoint testing ASTM E779 or ASTM E3158 as well as single or two point testing ASTM E1827.
The gathered pressure points are averaged to determine the collective building hole size. This is calculated by the total cubic air leakage of the entire building. This often is an average of a pressurization and a depressurization test. An assessment can then be made of suitable air leakage improvements that could be completed to improve the building enclosure system. Flaws in the system can then be corrected prior to closing assemblies up or covering with finishes will often have the largest impacts. Staging of testing and final work should be strategic to ensure the ability to correct areas of the building in need of enclosure repair.
Preparing Your Commercial Building for a Blower Door Test
During a blower door test of an entire building or a specific conditioned area such as a clean room, the test area is prepped for the pressure test to measure total air leakage. Pre-test building preparations may include closing exterior doors/windows, temporarily sealing HVAC supply or exhaust by closing off dampers or sealing off grilles with plastic and tapes per a specific testing standard.
While the building is pressurized and depressurized, infrared imaging can be incorporated to meticulously gather and pinpoint exact locations of building air barrier flaws.
Some common failings are roof to wall junctures, parapets, vestibules, and service penetrations. Often when unique features are designed into a building, these design features provide unique challenges in a continuous air barrier.
