Evaluation of infiltration in residential units constructed to Model Conservation Standards
Year: 1989
Type: report
Abstract: The Model Conservation Standards (MCS) of the Bonneville Power Administration (Bonneville) include air sealing techniques to reduce natural infiltration in residential units well below levels in conventional construction techniques. Methods for measuring or estimating natural infiltration and building leakage are therefore important for code enforcement in jurisdictions that adopt an MCS energy code. This report presents the results of a 1987 field study of four infiltration testing methods in five Early Adopter (EA) jurisdictions in Washington and Idaho. Samples of both single-family and multifamily residential units were tested with blower door depressurization, short-term tracer gas decay, long-term PFT tests, and acoustical leak detection. The performance of air-to-air heat exchangers, installed to provide fresh air in ''tight'' residential units, was also observed with the short-term tracer gas decay method. In addition to a comparison of infiltration rates from the three infiltration testing methods, the results include observations of construction practices that relate to air sealing, the use of blower door results for estimating natural infiltration rates, and the performance of air-to-air heat exchangers relative to MCS design goals. Recommendations are presented for test methods that are most useful for code enforcement purposes. 25 refs., 9 figs., 21 tabs.
DOI: 10.2172/6120021
Authors: J. O. Kolb, D. Baylon
Language: English
Subfield: Building and Construction
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W173455250