What are relevant CEN standards related to building airtightness?
TightVent Europe has published a list of applicable standards for building and ductwork airtightness. The detailed list can be found here.
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What is the way to get a good airtightness of the building (from contractor to craftsman)?
Good building airtightness is achieved in 3 steps: Plan – Build – Check. The building airtightness requirement is defined in the design phase of the building. The air barrier is then drawn in design and execution plans, and materials and … Continue reading →
Is the building preparation for airtightness test identical for every country?
In most European countries the building preparation is based on ISO 9972 requirements. However, the interpretation of these requirements may differ from one country to another, and based on different building preparation rules. Building preparation errors are probably the dominant … Continue reading →
What do we know about the durability of building airtightness?
Airtightness durability is a growing issue in Europe and the US. In the long-term, it seems that some specific sealing products have durable performances but on-site studies have shown that many factors can deteriorate the airtightness durability of wall assemblies … Continue reading →
What is TAAC? How can I be involved?
TAAC is the TightVent Airtightness Associations Committee, launched in September 2012 by the TightVent Europe platform, with the primary goal to bring together national associations and experts in order to promote reliable testing/inspection and reporting procedures. The scope of TAAC … Continue reading →
Are there databases of building airtightness?
France, Belgium (Flemish Region) & the United Kingdom have national databases that gather most of measurements performed by qualified testers in their countries. Other initiatives also exist in Spain, Germany, Czech Republic, Estonia, Canada and the US ([1], [2], [3]). Spain … Continue reading →
What is building airtightness?
Building airtightness (also called envelope airtightness) is a general descriptive term expressing the resistance to inward or outward air leakage through unintentional leakage points or areas in the building envelope. This air leakage is driven by differential pressures across the … Continue reading →
What is infiltration/exfiltration?
Infiltration/exfiltration is the uncontrolled inward/outward leakage of outdoor/indoor air through air permeable materials, joints, cracks, interstices and other unintentional openings of a building envelope, caused by the pressure effects of wind, the stack effect or operation of HVAC-systems [1]. Infiltration/exfiltration causes convective … Continue reading →
Is there experimental data showing the energy savings of good building airtightness?
Yes. The Building Research Establishment in the UK has published an experimental study showing energy savings achievable with improved airtightness [1,2]. [1] R. Coxon, “Research into the effect of improving airtightness in a typical UK dwelling,” The REHVA European HVAC … Continue reading →
Is good building airtightness compatible with good indoor air quality?
Yes, provided that the building is equipped with an appropriate ventilation system (whether natural, mechanical or hybrid). A French study mentioned in the AIVC newsletter n°2 shows that better building airtightness converges with better indoor air quality because the ventilation system operates … Continue reading →