Domestic Air Tightness Testing

1. Training Objectives

• Provide detail to persons to fully understand the requirements of the Building Regulations 2007 and to conduct a Pressure test for compliance of the regulations

• Understand the Regulations, why it is a requirement, what is air leakage and how to measure it, who is affected, what is required to comply, regulations for testing and reporting, using the equipment and instrumentation, preparing for and conducting a test, reporting results

• Training does not cover design or construction detail

2. Introduction

• Introduction to the Training Organisation and Course

3. Who is Affected?

• Building owner

• Builders

• Building Control

• Building Designer

4. Principle Objectives of Building Regulations Part L

• Structure of Building Regulations

• Reduction in air Leakage- why?

• Requirements for Air Tightness Testing

5. What is Air Tightness?

• Air Pressure, Air Flow and Air Movement

• Uncontrolled Ventilation and Infiltration

• Why Air Tightness is a Requirement

• Controlled Ventilation

• Design Air Permeability

• Measured Air Permeability

• Testing Accredited Construction Details (ACD) or Dwellings that have not Adopted ACD

• Sample Testing

• Energy Saving- Why Improvement is Necessary

6. Technical Standards

• Preparation

• Test Equipment

• Site Test Procedure

• Test Results

7. Site Health and Safety

• Basic H&S Requirements

• Personal Protective Equipment

• Electrical Supplies

8. Conducting the Test

• Purpose of Testing

• Blower Doors and Accessories

• Associated Equipment- Barometer, Cup Anemometer, Thermometer, Thermometer, micro-manometer

• Equipment Calibration

• Information Required Prior to Site Visit

• Calculating the Required Flow Rate

• Preparing the Dwelling

• Setup and Equipment Installation

• Environmental Measurements

• Verifying/ Measuring Building Envelope
  Conducting the Test

9. Reporting the Test

• Test Results

• Acceptability of Results

• Pressure Uniformity

• Interpreting the Results

• Test report

• Report Submission

10. Common Problems

• Air Leakage Points

• Smoke Tests

• Thermography

Domestic Air Tightness Testing Competency – Practical Training

11. Using a Blower Door System

• Assembly and Installation of a Blower Door System

• Using Software, Inputting Set Points and Data

• Conducting Air Tightness/ Pressure Testing using Blower Door System

• Producing and Analysing Results

• Producing Reports

12. Using Associated Instruments

• Using a Barometer

• Using a Thermometer

• Using a Cup Anemometer

• Using a Micro-Manometer

13. Preparation of the House

• House Preparation and Sealing

Domestic Air Tightness Testing Competency – Examination

14. Theory

The Examination will Cover the Following Topics:

• Principles of Air Leakage

• Requirements of Building Regulations

• Sampling Dwelling Units for Testing

• Calculating Building Envelope Area from Drawings

• Correcting Test Result Values for Air Pressure and Temperature Differences

• Calculating Air Permeability from Test Result Values

15. Practical

• Preparation for Air Tightness / Pressure Test

• Conducting an Air Tightness / Pressure Test

• Producing Results and a Report