A new airtightness test procedure has been proposed that can be used to separate exterior envelope air leakage from interior partition air leakage when testing a single zone within a multi-zone building. The new technique does not eliminate partition leakage but permits it to be measured and then subtracted from the overall leakage of the zone, thus permitting the exterior envelope leakage to be quantified. Exact equalization of pressure differentials across interior partitions is not required, only modification of the pressure differentials. Further development is ongoing.

Authors: Gary Proskiw, P.Eng.; Anil Parekh, P.Eng.

Citation: Thermal Performance of the Exterior Envelopes of Buildings VIII

Keywords: December, Florida, 2001