This paper addresses the effective leakage area (ELA) reduction in single-section HUD-code manufactured homes due to the application of an air-infiltration barrier (AIB). The data used for the analysis were generated over a period of three seasons, through hourly measurements of air infiltration, temperature, and wind speed, at a site with two HUD-code homes, one sheathed with an AIB and the other one caulked (Wilhelm 1979). The effective leakage areas are calculated using a model (Sherman and Grimsrud 1980) that correlates the air infiltration rate in residences to (1) weather variables, (2) the effective leakage area of the house, and (3) coefficients that are determined by construction and terrain characteristics. Two sets of ELA calculations are performed for both AIB and caulked homes. In the first one, the model has the site-built housing coefficients presented in the ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals (ASHRAE 1989). In the second one, the construction coefficients in the model are modified to account for the particular construction characteristics of single-section HUD-code manufactured homes. The magnitude of the ELAs is discussed and recommendations are made for the value of the ELA reduction attributable to an AIB.

KEYWORDS: housing, calculating, leaking, air infiltration, testing, models, comparing, caulking, prefabricated construction, insulated housing.