Balanced fan depressurization method for measuring component and overall air leakage in single- and multifamily dwellings

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Balanced fan depressurization method for measuring component and

overall air leakage in single- and multifamily dwellings

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National Research

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Balanced Fan Depressurization Method for

Measuring Component and Overall Air

Leakage in Single- and Multifamily

Dwellings

by

J.T.

Reardon, A.K. Kim and C.Y. Shaw

Reprinted from

ASHRAE Transactions 1987

Volume 93, Pt. 2,

p. 137-152

(I RC Paper No. 1596)

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NRCC 30421

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No.

3062

BALANCED FAN DEPRESSURIZATION

METHOD FOR MEASURING COMPONENT

AND OVERALL AIR LEAKAGE IN SINGLE-

AND MULTIFAMILY DWELLINGS

J.T.

Reardon, Ph.D.

A.K. Kim, P.E., Ph.D.

C.Y. Shaw, P.E., Ph.D.

ASHRAE Member

ABSTRACT

The b a l a n c e d f a n d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n t e c h n i q u e h a s b e e n a p p l i e d t o m e a s u r e t h e a i r l e a k a g e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of row h o u s e s and i n d i v i d u a l h o u s e s t o r i e s . C o n t r o l l e d f i e l d t e s t s on two d e t a c h e d , t w o - s t o r y h o u s e s w i t h f u l l b a s e m e n t s w e r e c a r r i e d o u t t o v e r i f y t h e c o n s i s t e n c y of t h e method. The t e c h n i q u e was t h e n u s e d t o m e a s u r e t h e a i r l e a k a g e r a t e s of t h r e e row h o u s e u n i t s and t h e s t o r i e s of two o t h e r h o u s e s . The r e s u l t s a r e p r e s e n t e d a n d d i s c u s s e d .

INTRODUCTION

The f a n d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n o r " b l o w e r d o o r " method was d e v e l o p e d t o measure t h e a i r l e a k a g e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of a whole b u i l d i n g ( s e e CGSB 1986 and ASTH 1 9 8 6 ) . F a n d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n c a n n o t be a p p l i e d d i r e c t l y t o s e m i - d e t a c h e d h o u s e s , row h o u s e s , o r a p a r t m e n t s b e c a u s e t h e s e u n i t s a r e n o t i n d e p e n d e n t of t h e i r a d j a c e n t u n i t s f o r a i r l e a k a g e f r o m o u t s i d e . F o r e x a m p l e , i f a s i n g l e u n i t i s d e p r e s s u r i z e d , o u t s i d e a i r w i l l b e drawn i n t o t h a t u n i t as w e l l a s a d j a c e n t u n i t s . T h e r e f o r e , o u t s i d e a i r e n t e r s t h e d e p r e s s u r i z e d u n i t d i r e c t l y t h r o u g h i t s e x t e r i o r e n v e l o p e and i n d i r e c t l y t h r o u g h t h e i n t e r i o r p a r t i t i o n s t h a t t h e u n i t s h a r e s w i t h a d j o i n i n g u n i t s . F u r t h e r m o r e , i f i n d i v i d u a l b u i l d i n g components a r e t e s t e d w i t h t h e f a n d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n t e c h n i q u e , o u t s i d e a i r w i l l be drawn i n t h r o u g h t h e component i t s e l f a n d i n d i r e c t l y t h r o u g h t h e w a l l c a v i t i e s c o n n e c t e d t o i t . T h e s e a p p l i c a t i o n s of t h e s i m p l e f a n d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n method c a n g i v e m i s l e a d i n g r e s u l t s . The b a l a n c e d f a n d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n t e c h n i q u e was d e v e l o p e d t o a v o i d p r o b l e m s w i t h i n d i r e c t a i r l e a k a g e (Shaw 1 9 8 0 ) . I t employs b a l a n c i n g f a n s , i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e p r i m a r y d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n f a n , t h a t a r e u s e d t o e l i m i n a t e t h e p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e s b e t w e e n t h e t e s t e d component and a d j a c e n t components. A s p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e s a r e e l i m i n a t e d , s o t o o i s a i r l e a k a g e from a d j a c e n t components. A p p l i c a t i o n s of t h e b a l a n c e d f a n d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n t e c h n i q u e t o measure t h e a i r l e a k a g e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of a p a r t m e n t u n i t s and of i n d i v i d u a l components of t h e i r e x t e r i o r e n v e l o p e s , e . g . , windows, d o o r s , a n d f l o o r - w a l l j o i n t s , h a v e been d e s c r i b e d e l s e w h e r e by Shaw ( 1 9 8 0 ) . The b a l a n c e d t e c h n i q u e was v a l i d a t e d by c o m p a r i n g i t s r e s u l t s w i t h t h o s e o b t a i n e d u s i n g t h e I n d i r e c t Xethod (Shaw 1 9 8 0 ) . A s i m i l a r t e c h n i q u e h a s b e e n u s e d t o measure t h e a i r l e a k a g e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of i n d i v i d u a l row h o u s e s ( L a g u s and King 1 9 8 4 ) . The b a l a n c e d f a n d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n t e c h n i q u e h a s n o t b e e n a p p l i e d t o m e a s u r e t h e a i r l e a k a g e r a t e s f o r i n d i v i d u a l s t o r i e s of a h o u s e . T h i s p a p e r d e s c r i b e s t h e a p p l i c a t i o n of t h e t e c h n i q u e t o measure t h e a i r t i g h t n e s s of t h e e x t e r i o r w a l l s of i n d i v i d u a l h o u s e s t o r i e s a n d of s i n g l e - a n d m u l t i l e v e l row h o u s e s . J . T . R e a r d o n , A . K . K i m , and C . Y . Shax; a r e R e s e a r c h O f f i c e r s , I n s t i t u t e f o r R e s e a r c h i n C o n s t r u c t i o n , N a t i o n a l R e s e a r c h C o u n c i l of C a n a d a , O t t a w a , O n t a r i o , C a n a d a , K l A 0 R 6 .

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THE BALANCED FAN DEPRESSURIZATIOS TECHSIQUE

The b a l a n c e d f a n d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n t e c h n i q u e u s e s a t l e a s t two f a n s , a main f a n t o d e p r e s s u r i z e t h e t e s t component and a n o t h e r f a n t o b a l a n c e t h e p r e s s u r e s b e t x e e n c h e t e s t component and i t s a d j a c e n t s u r r o u n d i n g s . A l t h o u g h t h i s p a p e r d e s c r i b e s t h e a e t h o d ' s a p p l i c a t i o n t o h o u s e

s t o r i e s and row h o u s e u n i t s , i n t h i s s e c t i o n , t h e t e r s " c o n ? o n e n t " c a n mean any p a r t of a b u i l d i n g e n v e l o p e , r a n g i n g f r o m t h e e n t i r e e x t e r i o r of a n a p a r t w n t , row h o u s e , o r h o u s e s t o r y , t o i n d i v i d u a l d o o r s , windows, and j o i n t s s u c h a s a v a l l - c e i l i r g j o i n t . S p e c i f i c

examples f o r house s t o r i e s a n d row h o u s e s w i l l be u s e d f o r i l l u s t r a t i v e p u r p o s e s . A s c h e m a t i c d i a g r a m of t h e s i m p l e s t s e t u p f o r a b a l a n c e d f a n d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n t e s : i s shown i n F i g u r e 1.

The p r i m a r y d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n a p p a r a t u s c o n s i s t s of a f a n , a mear-s f o r c o n t r o l l i n g t h e flow r a t e t h r o u g h t h e f a n , and a means f o r m e a s u r i n g t h a t f l o w r a t e (CGSB 1986; ASP1 1 9 8 6 ) . It i s s e t up t o d e p r e s s u r i z e t h e b u i l d i n g component t o be t e s t e d . T r e s p a c e b e t w e e n t h e component b e i n g t e s t e d and t h e f a n ' s i n t a k e i s c a l l e d t h e = i n o r p r i n a r y t e s t chamber. The o u t l e t of t h e a p p a r a t u s i s u s u a l l y d u c t e d t o t h e o u t s i d e t h r o u g h a plywood p a n e l , which i s u s e d t o r e p l a c e a d o o r o r a window, and t i g h t l y s e a l e d i n o r d e r t h a t t h e t e s t method n o t i n t r o d u c e e x t r a l e a k a g e a r e a . F o r t h e c a s e of t e s t i n g a n e n t i r e h o u s e s t o r y o r d w e l l i n g u n i t , t h e e n t i r e i n d o o r s p a c e of t h e s t o r y o r t h e d w e l l i n g u n i t c o m p r i s e s :he main t e s t chamber.

The t e s t e d component must be i s o l a t e d a s much a s p o s s i b l e f r o m i t s n e i g h b o r i n g b u i l d i n g components u s i n g e x i s t i n g and t e m p o r a r y p a r t i t i o n s ( i f n e c e s s a r y ) t o e s t a b l i s h t h e b o u n d a r i e s of t h e p r i m a r y t e s t chamber. Temporary p a r t i t i o n s s h o u l d be a s r i g i d a s p o s s i b l e t o p e r m i t r e a s o n a b l y q u i c k p r e s s u r e a d j u s t n e n t s . I n t h e c a s e of m e a s u r i n g t h e a i r l e a k a g e f o r

i n d i v i d u a l s t o r i e s i n a h o u s e , t h e basement d o o r is c l o s e d a n d s e a l e d w i t h t a p e t o form a p a r t i t i o n between t h e basement and f i r s t s t o r y . o p e n s t a i r w e l l b e t w e e n a f i r s t and s e c o n d s t o r y n o r m a l l y r e q u i r e s a t e m p o r a r y p a r t i t i o n of plywood p a n e l s s e a l e d w i t h t a p e t o i s o l a t e t h e second s t o r y from t h e f i r s t s t o r y . A d j a c e n t row h o u s e s a r e n a t u r a l l y s e p a r a t e d by t h e i r p a r t y w a l l .

The b a l a n c i n g f a n s , which a l s o r e q u i r e f l o w r a t e c o n t r o l s b u t n o t f l o w r a g e measurement c a p a b i l i t i e s , a r e s e t up t o d e p r e s s u r i z e b u i l d i n g components a d j a c e n t t o t h e t e s t e d component, t h u s e s t a b l i s h i n g s e c o n d a r y t e s t c h a m b e r s . T h i s w i l l a l l o w t h e p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e s b e t w e e n t h e main and t h e s e c o n d a r y t e s t chambers t o be r e d u c e d t o z e r o . S i n c e a i r f l o w r e q u i r e s a d r i v i n g p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e , t h e s e b a l a n c i n g f a n s a r e u s e d t o p r e v e n t a n y a i r l e a k a g e ( o t h e r t h a n t h a t t h r o u g h t h e t e s t e d component d i r e c t l y f r o m o u t s i d e ) i n t o t h e t e s t chamber.

I f t h e b a l a n c i n g f a n s a r e e q u i p p e d w i t h t h e c a p a b i l i t y t o m e a s u r e f l o w r a t e s , i . e . , i f d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n a p p a r a t u s e s a r e u s e d a s b a l a n c i n g f a n s and a r e i n s t a l l e d i n a manner s i m i l a r t o t h e p r i m a r y d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n a p p a r a t u s , t h e a i r l e a k a g e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of more t h a n o n e component c a n be measured s i m u l t a n e o u s l y . Very l a r g e l e a k s i n t h e e x t e r i o r e n v e l o p e s of t h e a d j a c e n t b u i l d i n g components may make i t d i f f i c u l t f o r t h e b a l a n c i n g f a n s t o d o t h e i r j o b , i f t h e f a n c a p a c i t y i s m a r g i n a l f o r t h e t a s k . T h e r e f o r e , r e a s o n a b l e e f f o r t s s h o u l d be made t o s e a l l e a k a g e o p e n i n g s ; t h e more t i g h t l y s e a l e d t h e a d j a c e n t b u i l d i n g components, t h e less f l o w c a p a c i t y i s r e q u i r e d of t h e b a l a n c i n g f a n s .

Manometers a r e c o n n e c t e d t o m e a s u r e p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e s a c r o s s t h e t e s t e d component ( s ) and between t h e main t e s t chamber and e a c h s e c o n d a r y chamber. To c h e c k a c c u r a c y and t o c o n f i r m t h e p r e s s u r e b a l a n c e , manometers may a l s o be u s e d t o m e a s u r e t h e p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e s between t h e s e c o n d a r y chambers and t h e o u t s i d e . ( A t t h e b a l a n c e d c o n d i t i o n , t h e p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e s between t h e s e c o n d a r y chambers a n d t h e o u t s i d e s h o u l d e q u a l t h e p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e ( s 1 between t h e p r i m a r y c h a m b e r ( s ) a n d t h e o u t s i d e . ) F i n a l l y , a l l d o o r s and windows s h o u l d be c l o s e d t i g h t l y . A 1 1 i n t e n t i o n a l l e a k a g e o p e n i n g s n o t t o be i n c l u d e d i n t h e e n v e l o p e l e a k a g e measurement s h o u l d be w e l l s e a l e d . Examples of s u c h i n t e n t i o n a l o p e n i n g s a r e c l o t h e s d r y e r e x h a u s t v e n t s , b a t h r o o m a n d k i t c h e n f a n e x h a u s t v e n t s , and f l u e s (CGSB 1 9 8 6 ) . With t h e s e t u p a s d e s c r i b e d p r e v i o u s l y , t h e a i r l e a k a g e m e a s u r e m e n t s c a n p r o c e e d a s d e s c r i b e d below.

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1. The p r i m a r y d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n f a n i s powered on and t h e f l o w r a t e t h r o u g h i t i s a d j u s t e d

u n t i l t h e d e s i r e d p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e a c r o s s t h e t e s t e d componenz i s o b t a i n e d . The rnaximum p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e t o be u s e d i n t h e t e s t i s u s u a l l y t h e f i r s t p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e s e t ; t h i s c o n f i r m s t h e a b i l i t i e s of t h e f a n s t o g e n e r a t e a l l t h e p r e s s u r e d r o p s o r b a l a n c e d c o n d i t i o n s .

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2. The f l o w r a t e t h r o u g h e a c h b a l a n c i n g f a n i s a d j u s t e d u n t i l t h e p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e between t h e main and t h e s e c o n d a r y t e s t chambers i s r e d u c e d t o z e r o .

3. The f l o w r a t e s t h r o u g h t h e d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n f a n s , t h e p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e s a c r o s s t h e t e s t e d c o m p o n e n t ( s ) , and t h e p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e s bet^-ern t h e t e s t e d component and i t s i n t e r i o r s u r r o u n d i n g s a r e measured and r e c o r d e d . 4. S t e p s 1 t h r o u g h 3 a r e r e p e a t e d f o r o t h e r p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e s a c r o s s t h e t e s t e d c o m p o n e n t ( s ) t o o b t a i n f i v e o r s i x f l o w r a t e / p r e s s u r e 8 r o p 6 a r a p a i r s f o r t h e t e s t e d c o m p o n e n t ( s )

.

G e n e r a l l y , t h e p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e s a r e r e d u c i d f r o m t h e maximum a t t h e s t a r t t o t h e minimum a t t h e end of t h e t e s t . 5 . The r e s u l t i n g d a t a can t h e n be c u r v e f i t t e d e i t h e r g r a 2 h i c s l l p , o r a n a l y t i c a l l y , a n d r e p o r t e d a s where Q = t h e v o l u m e t r i c f l o w r a t e , i n L/s AP = t h e p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e d r i v i n g t h e f l o w r a t e , Pa n = t h e f l o w e x p o n e n t , a n e m p i r i c a l v a l u e i n t h e r a n g e 0 . 5 t o 1.0 C = t h e f l o w c o e f f i c i e n t , a n e e p i r i c a l d i m e n s i o n a l v a l u e t h a t i n c l u d e s t h e a r e a of t h e l e a k a g e o p e n i n g ( s )

,

L / s - p a n .

The minimum m e a s u r a b l e p r e s s u r e d r o p d e p e n d s upon i n s t r u m e n t c a p a b i l i t i e s a n d wind c o n d i t i o n s . The f i r s t l i m i t a t i o n i s a c o n s e q u e n c e of t h e c a l i b r a t i o n a c c u r a c y and r e s o l u t i o n of t h e manometer. Any wind can d i s t u r b t h e d i f f e r e n t i a l p r e s s u r e measurements between i n s i d e and o u t s i d e i n b o t h a s t e a d y a n d a t i m e - v a r y i n g manner. % e n a w h o l e d w e l l i n g u n i t i s b e i n g t e s t e d , m a n i f o l d i n g t h e o u t s i d e p r e s s u r e t a p s c a n m i n i m i z e t h e s t e a d y e f f e c t s of low t o m o d e r a t e wind s p e e d s ( < 15 km/h o r 10 mph). However, l i t t l e m n be d o n e t o s a l v a g e l e a k a g e d a t a measured d u r i n g a p e r i o d of e x c e s s i v e wind v e l o c i t i e s o r g u s t i n e s s ; t e s t s s h o u l d n o t be performed u n d e r s u c h c o n d i t i o n s . I t may n o t be p o s s i b l e t o d i r e c t l y a p p l y t h e b a l a n c e d f a n d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n t e c h n i q u e t o measure t h e l e a k a g e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of a s p e c i f i c b u i l d i n g component of i n t e r e s t , s u c h as a n i n d i v i d u a l s t o r y of a house. T h i s may be d u e t o a l a c k of e q u i p m e n t , i n which case t h e l e a k a g e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of i n t e r e s t must be c a l c u l a t e d f r o m s e v e r a l measurements o f combined l e a k a g e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . For e x a m p l e , t h e l e a k a g e r a t e s f o r e a c h of t h r e e s t o r i e s i n a h o u s e ( t h e basement and t h e f i r s t and s e c o n d f l o o r s ) c a n be m e a s u r e d u s i n g o n l y o n e d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n a p p a r a t u s and one b a l a n c i n g f a n . The d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n a p p a r a t u s i s i n s t a l l e d i n t h e m i d d l e s t o r y and f i r s t u s e d t o m e a s u r e t h e l e a k a g e r a t e f o r t h e e n t i r e h o u s e , QT. A f t e r i n s t a l l i n g t h e b a l a n c i n g f a n i n t h e l o w e s t s t o r y a n d i s o l a t i n g i t f r o m t h e two u p p e r s t o r i e s , a s e t o f of measurements is made t o o b t a i n t h e l e a k a g e t h r o u g h t h e two u p p e r s t o r i e s combined, Q1+2.

F i n a l l y , t h e b a l a n c i n g f a n is moved t o t h e t o p s t o r y which i s t h e n i s o l a t e d f r o m t h e two lower s t o r i e s , a f t e r which a s e t of measurements i s made t o o b t a i n t h e l e a k a g e t h r o u g h t h e two lower s t o r i e s combined, Qb+l. T h e s e t h r e e s e t s of m e a s u r e m e n t s c a n t h e n be u s e d t o c a l c u l a t e t h e l e a k a g e r a t e s f o r t h e i n d i v i d u a l s t o r i e s u s i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g e q u a t i o n s ( i l l u s t r a t e d i n F i g u r e 2 ) :

I n a d d i t i o n t o m e a s u r i n g l e a k a g a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of components of t h e house e n v e l o p e , t h i s t e c h n i q u e can a l s o be u s e d t o measure t h e a i r l e a k a g e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of t h e p a r t i t i o n s between t h e v a r i o u s b u i l d i n g components t e s t e d . l 3 i S i s done by s e l e c t i v e l y u n b a l a n c i n g c e r t a i n p r e s s u r e s , one a t a t i m e , w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e " t e s t e d " component. The d i f f E r e n c e between t h e a i r l e a k a g e measured w i t h p r e s s u r e s b a l a n c e d a c r o s s a l l i n t e r i o r p a r t i t i o n s a n d t h a t w i t h t h e p r e s s u r e b a l a n c e d a c r o s s a l l b u t t h e p a r t i t i o n of i n t , r e s t y i e l d s t h e a i r l e a k a g e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of t h a t p a r t i t i o n . ? h i s p r o c e d u r e i s p a r t i c u l a r l y a p p r o p r i a t e f o r

(7)

m e a s u r i n g t h e l e a k a g e t h r o u g h t h e p a r t y w a l l s e p a r a t i n g t%-o row K o u s e s . I n t h e c a s e of a row h o u s e , t h e a i r l e a k a g e r a t e of t h e u n i t , 0,-, i s f i r s t m a s u r e d vf.en p r e s s u r e s i n s i d e t h e u n i t a r e b a l a n c e d w i t h t h o s e i n a d j a c e n t

unit^.^

The x e a s u r e z e z t s a r e r e p ~ z t e d v i r h t h e p r e s s u r e s

b a l a n c e d i n a l l but t h e a d j a c e n t u n i t t h a t s h a r e s t h e party v a l i of i 2 t e r e s t t o o b t a i n Qu+pW. The l e a k a g e r a t e t h r o u g h t h e p a r t y w a l l , Q,x, c a n t h e n be d e t e r - i n e d f r o m :

CONTROLLED FIELD TESTS

C o n t r o l l e d f i e l d t e s t s were c a r r i e d o u t on two t i g h t l y b u i l t , e l c c t r i : a l l y h e a t e d h o u s e s (H2 and H3) of t h e HUDAC/NRC % X I p r o j e c t ( Q u i r o u e t t e 1978; S c h e u c e z a n 1 3 8 2 ) t o v e r i f y t h e c o n s i s t e n c y of t h e b a l a n c e d f a n d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n t e c h n i q u s . T h e s e h c , u s e s a r e d e s c r i b e d i n T a b l e 1. Four t e s t s , as s h o w i n F i g u r e 3 , w e r e p e r f o r m e 2 on e z z h h o u s e . f o r t h e s e t e s t s , d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n a p p a r a t u s e s w e r e u s e d i n p l a c e of b a l a n c i n g l a z s t o ? e r m i t c o n p a r i s o n s between t h e d i r e c t l y measured and c a l c u l a t e d a i r f l o w s . T h s , r:?c o r c e r i n L-hich t h e s e t e s t s were c a r r i e d o u t d o e s n o t c o r r e s p o n d t o t h e p r o c e d u r a l o r 2 e r f o r nor-1 f i e l d t e s t s .

I n t h e f i r s t t e s t f o r e a c h of t h e s e t w o s t o r y h o u s e s ( F i g u z e 3 a ) , o n e f a n a p p a r a t u s was i n s t a l l e d i n t h e basement of t h e h o u s e and a n o t h e r i n t h e f i r s t s t o r y . The e x i t s of t h e f a n u n i t s were d u c t e d t o t h e o u t s i d e t h r o u g h c a r e f u l l y s e a l e d p a n e l s r e p i a c i n g a b a s e m e n t window and a d o o r , r e s p e c t i v e l y . The b a s e m e n t d o o r was c l o s e d and c a r e f u l l y s e a l e d t o i s o l a t e t h e basement from t h e two u p p e r s t o r i e s of t h e h o u s e . A l l t h e r e g i s r e r s a n d g r i l l s i n t h e f o r c e d - a i r h e a t i n g s y s t e m w e r e s e a l e d w i t h t a p e . The s t a i m e l i % t w e e n t h e f i r s t and s e c o n d s t o r i e s was u n o b s t r u c t e d , and a l l o u t s i d e d o o r s and windo;-s w e r e tightly c l o s e d . h b a l a n c e d f a n d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n t e s t was c a r r i e d o u t u s i n g t h e two f a n s t o % l a n c e t h e p r e s s u r e s between t h e basement and t h e u p p e r s t o r i e s . The f l o w r a t e s t h r o u g h b o t h f a n s w e r e m a s u r e d , a s w e l l as t h e t h r e e p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e s : t h a t b e t w e e n t h e u p p e r s t o r y 2nd c h e o u t s i d e , b e t w e e n t h e basement and t h e o u t s i d e , a n d b e t w e e n t h e b a s e m e n t a n d t h e u p p e r s t o r i e s .

F o r t h e s e c o n d t e s t i n e a c h h o u s e ( F i g u r e 3 b ) , a t h i r d f a n a p p e r a t u s -das i n s t a l l e d i n t h e second s t o r y and d u c t e d t o t h e o u t s i d e t h r o u g h a w e l l - s e a l e d p a n e l r e p l a c i n g a window. The s e c o n d s t o r y was i s o l a t e d f r o m t h e f i r s t u s i n g plywood p a n e l s a n d t a p e t o s e a l t h e s t a i r w e l l . The s e t u p f r o m t h e f i r s t test was n o t d i s t u r b e d . A d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n t e s t was c a r r i e d o u t w i t h t h e p r e s s u r e s o n a l l t h r e e s t o r i e s b a l a n c e d u s i n g t h e t h r e e f a n u n i t s . The f l o w r a t e s t h r o u g h a l l t h r e e f a n u n i t s were m e a s u r e d , a s w e l l a s t h e f i v e p r e s s u r e

d i f f e r e n c e s : t h a t between e a c h s t o r y a n d t h e o u t s i d e ( 3 ) a n d be:-~een e a c h s t o r y a n d i t s a d j a c e n t s t o r y o r s t o r i e s ( 2 ) .

For t h e t h i r d t e s t ( F i g u r e 3 c ) , t h e b a s e m e n t f a n a p p a r a t u s was removed, a n d i t s e x i t p a n e l was r e p l a c e d w i t h a window t h a t was c l o s e d t i g h t l y . The c o o r j e t w e e n t h e basement and t h e f i r s t s t o r y was u n s e a l e d a n d l e f t open. A d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n t e s t was p e r f o r m e d u s i n g b o t h f a n s t o b a l a n c e t h e p r e s s u r e s b e t w e e n t h e s e c o n d s t o r y and t h e l o w e r s t o r i e s . The f l o w r a t e s t h r o u g h t h e r e m a i n i n g two f a n u n i t s w e r e m e a s u r e d , a s w e l l a s t h e t h r e e p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e s : t h a t between t h e s e c o n d s t o r y and t h e o u t s i d e , between t h e f i r s t s t o r y and t h e o u t s i d e , and between t h e f i r s t a n d s e c o n d s t o r i e s .

F o r t h e f o u r t h t e s t ( F i g u r e 3 d ) , t h e d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n f a n i n t h e s e c o n d s t o r y was

removed, and i t s e x i t p a n e l was r e p l a c e d w i t h a window t h a t was c l o s e d t i g h t l y . The t e m p o r a r y p a r t i t i o n s e p a r a t i n g t h e f i r s t a n d s e c o n d s t o r i e s was r e n o v e d . .A d e ? r e s s u r i z a t i o n t e s t of t h e whole h o u s e was c a r r i e d o u t u s i n g t h e f a n u n i t r e m a i n i n g on t h e i i r s r s t o r y . The f l o w r a t e t h r o u g h t h e f a n and t h e p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e i n s i d e ~ n d t i e o u t s i d e were measured.

The r e s u l t s of t h e f i r s t t e s t o n e a c h h o u s e p r o v i d e t h e l e a k a s s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of t h e b a s e m e n t , Q b , l , and of t h e f i r s t and s e c o n d s t o r i e s c o m b i n e d , Q 1 + 2 , 1. The s e c o n d t e s t s p r o v i d e t h e l e a k a g e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of e a c h i n d i v i d u a l s t o r y , Q b , 2 , Q1,2, 2nd Q

2 , 2 ' which a r e u s e d a s t h e b a s i s f o r c o m p a r i s o n s w i t h o t h e r measured and c ~ l c u l a t e d r e s u l t s . The t h i r d

- . t e s t s p r o v i d e t h e l e a k a g e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of t h e b a s e m n t a n d f i r s t s t o r y combined, Q b + 1 , 3 , and t h e s e c o n d s t o r y , Q 2 , 3 . The f o u r t h t e s t s p r o v i d e t h e l e g c a g e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of t h e whole h o u s e , Q T , & .

(8)

T e s t s 1 a n d 2 p r o v i d e c o m p a r i s o n s of d i r e c t i n d e p e n d e n t m a s u r e r e n t s of t h e a i r l e a k a g e of t h e b a s e m e n t , Q b , l and Q b , 2 ' of e a c h h o u s e . T e s t s 2 a n d 3 p r o v i d e s i m i l a r c o m p a r i s o n s f o r t h e second s t o r y , Q 2 , 2 and Q 2 , 3 , of e a c h h o u s e . A l l f o u r t e s t s p r o v i d e t h e d a t a r e q u i r e d t o compare t h e i n d e p e n d e n t l y m e a s u r e d a i r l e a k a g e of t h e e n t i r e h o u s e , Q ~ , w i t h t h a t ~ , c a l c u l a t e d from t h e o t h e r n e a s u r e z e n t s

,

-

b , Q 1 + 2 , 1 '

Q,,,

+

Q

1 , 2

-

4 2 , 2 ' a n d Q b + 1 , 3 + '2,3* T e s t 2 and i n d e p e n d e n t c o m b i n a t i g ~ s of t h e r e s u l t s of t e s t s 1 e n d 3 2 r o v i d e c o m p a r i s o n measurements of t h e f i r s t s t o r y ' s a i r l e a k a g e , t h a t i s , c 1 , 2 ' ?1+2,1

-

Q2,3' a n d Qb+1,3 - Q b , l ' These c o n s i s t e n c y v e r i f i c a t i o n s of t h e e e a s u r e n e n t s of t h e a i r l e a k a g e f o r i n d i v i d u a l s t o r i e s i n t h e two HUDAC t e s t h o u s e s e r e show^ i n F i g u r e s 1. a n d 5. n e a g r e e m e n t between i n d e p e n d e n t m e a s u r e m e n t s of t h e s a n e q u a n t i t i e s a r e w i t h i 3 1 5 2 i n a l l c a s e s , a n d much b e t t e r i n most. V e r i f i c a t i o n s of t h e m e t h o d ' s c o n s i s t e n c y i n m a s u r e r e n t s of t h e w h o l e h o u s e a i r l e a k a g e f o r t h e two t e s t h o u s e s a r e sho:-n i n F i g u r e s 6 a n d 7. The E g r e e m e n t , i n d i c a t i n g c o n s i s t e n c y , i s a g a i n w i t h i n 15X. T h e s e c o n s i s t e n c y agreem-eentts a r e t h e sme a s t h e a c c u r a c y a g r e e m e n t s measured i n t h e v a l i d a t i o n t e s t s of t h e z e t h o d r i i t h t h e I 2 d i r e c t Yethod c a r r i e d o u t on windows and w a l l - f l o o r j o i n t s i n a p a r t m e n t s (Shaw 1 9 8 0 ) .

FIELD APPLICATIONS OF

THE

TECHSIQLY

F i e l d a p p l i c a t i o n s of t h e b a l a n c e d f a 3 d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n t e c h x i c u e ha\-e b e e n u n d e r t a k e n t o measure component a i r l e a k a g e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s i n s e v e r a l r e s i z e n t i a l b u i l d i n g s . T e s t s w e r e p e r f o r m e d on a r e l a t i v e l y l e a k y c-JO-story r e s e a r c h h o u s e (-41) :o d e t e r m i n e t h e m t h o d ' s a p p l i c a b i l i t y f o r a v e r y l e a k y h o u s e . ? l e a s u r e a e n t s of t h e a i r l e a k a g e of i n d i v i d u t l s t o r i e s i n a t h i r d h o u s e (H4) of t h e HLIDXC/hXC Yk X I p r o j e c t w e r e made u s i n g o n l y o n e d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n a p p a r a t u s and one b a l a n c i n g f a n t o i l l u s t r a t e t h e u s e f u l n e s s of t h e t e c h n i q u e w i t h minimum e q u i p m e n t . The method was a l s o u s e d t o m e a s u r e t h e a i r l e a k a g e of a n e n d u n i t of a t w o s t o r y row h o u s e ( R l ) a n d of t h e l o w e r a n d u p p e r end u n i t s of a f o u r - s t o r y m l t i l e v e l , m u l t i - u n i t row h o u s e (R2 a n d R3) t o d e t e r m i n e b o t h t h e m e t h o d ' s a p p l i c a b i l i t y t o s u c h b u i l d i n g s a n d t h e a i r t i g h t n e s s of some p a r t y w a l l c o n s t r u c t i o n s t y p i c a l i n row h o u s e s . A l l t h e s e b u i l d i n g s are

d e s c r i b e d b r i e f l y i n T a b l e 1.

Case 1: Two-Story R e s e a r c h House ( A l )

Two f a n d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n a p p a r a t u s e s = e r e i n s t a l l e d i n t h e h o u s e , o n e o n t h e f i r s t f l o o r and one on t h e s e c o n d f l o o r . F o r t e s t p u r p o s e s , t h e c r a w l s p a c e was t r e a t e d a s p a r t of t h e f i r s t s t o r y . The i n d i v i d u a l a i r l e a k a g e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of t h e two s t o r i e s w e r e m e a s u r e d d i r e c t l y u s i n g t h e b a l a n c e d f a n d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n t e c h n i q u e . XrLter t h i s , a r o u t i n e f a n d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n t e s t w a s c a r r i e d o u t o n t h e w h o l e h o u s e a f t e r t h e o b s t r u c t i o n of t h e s t a i r w e l l c o n n e c t i n g t h e two s t o r i e s had b e e n removed. F i g u r e 8 shows t h e r e s u l t s of t h e s e t e s t s ; t h e sum of t h e two s t o r i e s

'

i n d i v i d u a l a i r l e a k a g e r a t e s c o m p a r e s v e r y f a v o r a b l y

( w i t h i n 5 % ) w i t h t h e a i r l e a k a g e r a t e of t h e w h o l e h o u s e , w h i c h was n e a s u r e d d i r e c t l y .

Case 2: Two-Story House (H4)

The c a l i b r a t e d d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n f a n u n i t was i n s t a l l e d i n t h e f i r s t s t o r y of t h e h o u s e , a s i t would n o r m a l l y be f o r a r o u t i n e whole h o u s e d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n t e s t . F o r t h e f i r s t t e s t , t h e b a l a n c i n g f a n was i n s t a l l e d i n t h e b a s e m e n t , t h e b a s e m e n t was s e a l e d o f f f r o m t h e rest of t h e h o u s e , and t h e a i r l e a k a g e r a t e t h r o u g h t h e f i r s t and s e c o n d s t o r i e s ' e x t e r i o r was

measured w i t h t h e basement p r e s s u r e b a l a n c e d w i t h t h a t of t h e u p p e r f l o o r s . F o r t h e s e c o n d t e s t , t h e b a l a n c i n g f a n was moved t o t h e s e c o n d s t o r y , t h e s e c o n d s t o r y was s e a l e d o f f f r o m t h e rest of t h e h o u s e , and t h e a i r l e a k a g e r a t e t h r o u g h t h e e x t e r i o r of t h e b a s e m e n t a n d f i r s t s t o r y combined was measured w i t h t h e p r e s s u r e i n t h e s e c o n d s t o r y b a l a n c e d w i t h t h a t of t h e l o w e r f l o o r s . For t h e t h i r d t e s t , t h e b a l a n c i n g f a n was removed a n d t h e t o t a l a i r l e a k a g e r a t e f o r t h e whole h o u s e was m e a s u r e d . - . T h e s e t e s t s p r o v i d e d d i r e c t w a s i l r e m e n t s (?1+2' Q b + l ' and Q T , which a r e p l o t t e d i n F i g u r e 9. A l s o p l o t t e d i n F i g u r e 9 a r e t h e a i r l e a k a g e c h a r z c t e r i s t i c s f o r t h e t h r e e s t o r i e s , Q b , Q 1 , and Q?, c a l c u l z ~ e d u s i n g t h e s c h s a e d e s c r i b e d p r e v i o u s l y i n E q u a t i o n s 2-4.

(9)

T h i s house t u r n e d o u t t o be t h e most a i r t i g h t of t h e c h r e e RC3XC h o u s e s t e s r e d (OT = 2.58 a c h a t 50 Pa (0.2 i n w a t e r ) , compared t o 2.9h a c h f o r H2 and 3.22 a c t f o r H3). I t a l s o e x h i b i t e d a v e r t i c a l d i s t r i b u t i o n of l e a k a g e a r e a s i l i l a r t o t h e o t ; ? e r r x o

HUD.;;

h o u s e s w i t h t h e

basement being t h e l e a k i e s t s t o r y (up t o h 5 Z of t h e t o t a l a i r l e z k a g e ) and t h e f i r s t s t o r y t h e most a i r t i g h t ( a s l i t t l e a s 22Z of t h e t o t a l a i r l e a k a g e ) .

Case 3: Two-Story Row House ( ~ 1 )

The end u n i t ( R l ) of t h e t w o s t o r y row h o u s e =as t e s c e d

-i-ir?

z Z e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n a p p a r a t u s i n s t a l l e d i n i t and a b a l a n c i n g f a n i n s t a l l e d i n t h e a - j a c s z t u n i t w i t h which i t s h a r e s a common i n t e r i o r w a l l . A l l t h e d o o r s and w i n t o u s of j o t 5 t h e end u 2 i t and t h e

a d j a c e n t u n i t were c l o s e d t i g h t l y , and a d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n t e s : of t h e end u n i t =as c a r r i e d o u t u s i n g t h e b a l a n c i n g f a n t o b a l a n c e t h e p r e s s u r e s b e t ~ e e n t h e :YO uni:s. S e x t , t h e d o o r of t h e

a d j a c e n t u n i t was opened and a s e c o n d d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n t e s t YES z a d e 3n t h e end u n i t w i t h no p r e s s u r e b a l a n c i n g . F i n a l l y , t h e b a l a n c i n g f a n u a s r e a o v e d , i t s ope:.ing s e a l e d , and t h e d o o r of t h e a d j a c e n t u n i t c l o s e d t i g h t l y . 3 f i n a l d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o ? t e s t of t h e end u n i t was

performed w i t h no p r e s s u r e b a l a n c i n g . The r e s u l t s of t h e s e t 3 r e e s e r i e s of measurements a r e shown i n F i g u r e 10. They i n d i c a t e t h a t a i r l e a k a g e a c r o s s t h e p a r t y v a l l , c a l c u l a t e d u s i n g t h e scheme d e s c r i b e d p r e v i o u s l y i n E q u a t i o n 5, a c c o u n t e d f o r a p p r o x i - ~ t e l y 1 7 % of t h e t o t a l a i r l e a k a g e r a t e ( t h r o u g h t h e e x t e r i o r w a l l s and t h e p a r t v w a l l c o n 5 l n e d ) a s measured i n t e s t s 2 and 3. No measurable d i f f e r e n c e was o b s e r v e d between t h e r e s u l t s of t e s t s 2 and 3,

i n d i c a t i n g t h a t opening o r c l o s i n g of t h e a d j a c e n t u n i t ' s d o o r had n o e f f e c t on t h e measurement of t h e t o t a l a i r l e a k a g e r a t e i n t h e end u n i t .

Case 4: Four-Story Multi-Unit Row House U n i t s

(R2

and R3)

For t h e measurements i n t h e l o w e r and u p p e r end u n i t s ( 3 2 and 3 3 ) of t h e f o u r s t o r y row house, a d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n a p p a r a t u s was i n s t a l l e d i n e a c h end u n i t a2d a b a l a n c i n g f a n was i n s t a l l e d i n t h e lower a d j a c e n t u n i t . Access was n o t a v a i l a b l e t o i z s t a l l a b a l a n c i n g f a n i n t h e upper a d j a c e n t u n i t . T h i s b u i l d i n g h a s a v a r i e t y of c o n s t r u c t i o n t y p e s f o r t h e e x t e r i o r w a l l s and t h e p a r t y w a l l s and f l o o r s , and t h e s e t e s t s p r o v i d e d a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o measure t h e i r a i r l e a k a g e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s .

A s e r i e s of f i v e t e s t s , summarized i n T a b l e 2, w e r e c a r r i e d o u t on t h e s e d w e l l i n g u n i t s . I n t h e f i r s t t e s t , t h e a i r l e a k a g e t h r o u g h t h e e x t e r i o r of t h e l o w e r end u n i t (QV2) was

measured w i t h t h e p r e s s u r e s i n t h e lower a d j a c e n t u n i t and t h e u p p e r end u n i t b a l a n c e d w i t h i t . The second t e s t measured t h e a i r l e a k a g e t h r o u g h t h e e x t e r i o r ~211s and t h e p a r t y w a l l

(QL)

of t h e lower end u n i t w i t h t h e p r e s s u r e i n o n l y t h e u p p e r end u ~ i t b a l a n c e d w i t h i t . The t h i r d t e s t measured t h e a i r l e a k a g e t h r o u g h t h e e x t e r i o r w a l l s , t h e p a r t y w a l l , and t h e p a r t y f l o o r (QF) of t h e lower end u n i t , i . e . , i t s t o t a l a i r l e a k a g e , w i t h no b a l a n c i n g

used. I n t h e f o u r t h t e s t , t h e a i r l e a k a g e t h r o u g h t h e e x t e r i o r w a l l s (QV3) and t h e p a r t y w a l l (Q,,) of t h e upper end u n i t was measured w i t h t h e p r e s s u r e s i n t h e laxer end u n i t and t h e lower a d j a c e n t u n i t balanced w i t h i t . The f i f t h t e s t measured t h e t o t a l a i r l e a k a g e i n t h e upper end u n i t , i . e . , t h r o u g h i t s e x t e r i o r and p a r t y w a l l s and t h e p a r t y f l o o r , w i t h no b a l a n c i n g used. These t e s t s p r o v i d e d d i r e c t measurements of Q V 2 , QV2+ QL, QV2- QL+ QF, QV3 + Q U , and QV3+ QU+ QF, r e s p e c t i v e l y , which a r e p l o t t e d i n F i g u r e 11. A l s o shown i n F i g u r e 11 a r e t h e a i r l e a k a g e c u r v e s f o r Q and Q c a l c u l a t e d from t h e d i r e c t a e a s u r e m e n t s , and t h e curve

L F

f o r QV3 c a l c u l a t e d by assuming Q = Q ( d u e t o t h e s i m i l a r c o n s t r u c t i o n used i n t h e two p a r t y

u

L

w a l l s ) .

The r e s u l t s p l o t t e d i n F i g u r e 11 i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e e x t e r i o r ec.:elope of t h e u p p e r end u n i t h a s a p p r o x i m a t e l y t w i c e a s much l e a k a g e a r e a a s t h e lower u n i t ' s e x t e r i o r e n v e l o p e . The a i r l e a k a g e t h r o u g h t h e lower p a r t y w a l l a c c o u n t s f o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y 18% of t h e lower end u n i t ' s t o t a l a i r l e a k a g e , w h i l e l e a k a g e t h r o u g h t h e p a r t y f l o o r a c c o u n t s f o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y 4 % of t h a t t o t a l l e a k a g e . I f t h e a s s u m p t i o n i s v a l i d t h a t t h e a i r l e a k a g e t h r o u g h the-upper p a r t y w a l l i s t h e same a s t h a t t h r o u g h t h e l o v e r p a r t y w a l l , hen t h e u p p e r p a r t y w a l l and t h e p a r t y f l o o r c o n t r i b u t e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 9 % and

LZ,

r e s p e c t i v e l y , of t h e t o t a l a i r l e a k a g e i n t h e upper end u n i t .

(10)

These t r e n d s w e r e e x p e c t e d due t o t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n t y ? e s of t h e s e v a r i o u s p a r t s of t h e b u i l d i n g . The m a j o r i t y of t h e l o w e r end u n i t ' s ~ x t e r i q r e z V 2 e l o p e i s c a s t - i n - p l a c e c o n c r e t e , which s h o u l d be v e r y a i r t i g h t . T w o - t h i r d s of t h e r e - ~ i n i n g e x t e r i o r of t h e l o w e r end u n i t i s masonry c o n s t r u c t i o n and o n l y t h e back f a c a d e , a5ove g r a d e , i s xo3d f r a m e c o n s t r u c t i o n . On t h e o t h e r h a n d , a l l t h e e x t e r i o r of t h e u p p e r e n 2 u n i r i s vood f r a 3 e c o n s t r u c t i o n . The f l o o r s e p a r a t i n g t h e two end u n i t s i s a c a s t c o n c r e t e s l a b , --jic?. a l s o s h o u l d b e v e r y a i r t i g h t . The masonry p a r t y w a l l , f i n i s h e d w i t h d r y w a l l on b o t h s i l e s , i s l e a k i e r :?an t h e c a s t c o n c r e t e p a r t y f l o o r , a l t h o u g h i t i s more a i r t i a h t t h a n t?.e x o o ? f r z x e x z e r i o r w a l l s . C o n s e q u e n t l y , t h e a i r l e a k a g e of t h e l o w e r e n d u n i t -22s e x p e c t e d t o 5e l e s s tha: t h a t of t h e u p p e r e n d u n i t f o r two r e a s o n s : ( 1 ) much of t h e l o w e r u n i t ' s en-:elo?e i s c z ~ n c r e t e a z d below g r a d e , and hence v e r y a i r t i g h t , and ( 2 ) t h e l o w e r u n i t h a s n o e x p q s e d c e i l i n g / r o o f . T2e wood f r a m e e x t e r i o r of t h e u p p e r end u n i t p r o v i d e s a g e n e r a l l y l e a k i e r e - n v e l o ? e , a n d i t s e x p o s e d r o o f i s p r o b a b l y i t s major l e a k a g e s i t e . I n t h e o t h e r h o u s e s n e a s u r e l i n t h i s s t u d y , = h e s t o r i e s v i t h e x p o s e d r o o f s were l e a k i e r t h a n s t o r i e s w i t h o u r e x p o s e d r o o f s . E x c e p c i o r s w e r e b a s e a e n t s and c r a w l s p a c e s .

DISCUSSION

The o r d e r i n which t h e f i e l d t e s t s w e r s p e r f o r m e d was d e l i b e r a t e l y c h o s e n . By e m p l o y i n g a l l t h e d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n and b a l a n c i n g f a n s f o r t h e f i r s t t e s t on e a c h u ~ i t , t h e c a p a b i l i t y of t h e t e s t s e t u p t o c a r r y o u t t h e c o m p l e t e s e r i e s of r e a s u r e a e n t s was c o n f i r m e d a t t h e s t a r t of t h e p r o c e d u r e . I f t h e s i m p l e s t m e a s u r e m e n t s w e r e m d e a t :he s t a r t , a p e r t i a l s e r i e s of t e s t r e s u l t s might be o b t a i n e d b e f o r e any i n a d e q u a c i e s i n t h e f a n e q u i p m e n t c o u l d be d i s c o v e r e d . Such a n a p p r o a c h c o u l d r e s u l t i n a w a s t e of e x p e 2 s i v e r i m e i n t h e f i e l d . The a i r l e a k a g e r a t e s a t 10 Pa a n d 5 0 Pa (0.0L i 3 w a t e r a n c 0 . 2 i n w a t e r ) f o r a l l t h e b u i l d i n g s and b u i l d i n g components m e a s u r e d d u r i n g t h i s s t u d y a r e l i s t e d i n T a b l e 3 . As m e n t i o n e d e a r l i e r , t h e v e r t i c a l d i s t r i b u t i o n s of l e z k a g e is t h e t h r e e HUDAC h o u s e s a g r e e q u i t e w e l l w i t h e a c h o t h e r . T h i s i n d i c a t e s t h a t one of t h e o b j e z t i v e s of t h e f i e l d t e s t on h o u s e H 4 was m e t , namely t o d e m o n s t r a t e t h e u s e of t h e t e c h n i ~ u e w i t h n i n i ~ u r n e q u i p m e n t . The m a j o r s i t e f o r l e a k a g e i n t h e HUDAC h o u s e s seems t o be i n t h e b a s e m e n t and i s p r o b a b l y t h e s i l l j o i n t . The d i s t r i b u t i o n of l e a k a g e b e t w e e n t h e f i r s t a n d s e c o n d s t o r i e s s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e s e c o n d most i m p o r t a n t l e a k a g e s i t e i n modern h o u s e s o c c u r s i n t h e u p p e r e n v e l o p e ( a n d i s o f t e n assumed t o b e a l o n g t h e e a v e s , t h r o u g h t h e e x p o s e d c e i l i n g j r o o f ). T h e d i s t r i b u t i o n of l e a k a g e i n h o u s e A 1 s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e e x p o s e d c e i l i n g / r o o f i s i t s m a j o r l e a k a g e s i t e . The r e l a t i v e l e a k a g e r a t e s f o r row h o u s e s R 2 a n d

R 3

s u g g e s t t h a t t h e e x p o s e d c e i l i n g / r o o f may b e t h e major l e a k a g e s i t e f o r t h a t t y p e of b u i l d i n g a s w e l l .

T h i s s t u d y h a s d e s c r i b e d t h e a p p l i c a t i o n of t h e b a l a n c e d f a n d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n t e c h n i q u e t o measure t h e v e r t i c a l d i s t r i b u t i o n of l e a k a g e a r e a i n d e t a c h e d h o u s e s and

row

h o u s e s . It s h o u l d be n o t e d t h a t t h e method i s n o t r e s t r i c t e d t o m e a s u r i n g v e r t i c a l l e a k a g e d i s t r i b u t i o n s . I t c a n be a p p l i e d e q u a l l y w e l l t o m e a s u r e t h e h o r i z o n t a l d i s t r i b u t i o n of l e a k a g e i n a

b u i l d i n g ' s e n v e l o p e . I n s u c h a p p l i c a t i o n s , t h e v a r i o u s h o r i z o n t a l z o n e s of i n t e r e s t i n t h e h o u s e would be i s o l a t e d f r o m e a c h o t h e r by p a r t i t i o n s , and t h e i r p r e s s u r e s would be b a l a n c e d w i t h b a l a n c i n g f a n s . The p r o c e d u r e i s a s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d e x t e n s i o n of t h o s e d e s c r i b e d h e r e .

CONCLUSIONS

1. The b a l a n c e d f a n d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n method may be u s e d t o m e a s u r e a i r l e a k a g e r a t e s t h r o u g h v a r i o u s s e c t i o n s of b o t h d e t a c h e d h o u s e s and row h o u s e s . 2. I n t h e HUDAC Plk X I h o u s e s , t h e basement c o n t r i b u t e d a p p r o x i m a r e l y 4 5 % , t h e f i r s t s t o r y a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 5 % , and t h e s e c o n d s t o r y a p p r o x i a a t e l y 302 of t h e t o t a l a i r l e a k a g e . 3 . I n t h e l e a k y t e s t h o u s e , t h e basement c o n t r i b u t e d a p p r o x i m a t e l y L 5 % of t h e t o t a l a i r l e a k a g e .

-

4. The r e s u l t s s t l g g e s t t h a t a n e s p o s e d c e i l i n g , ' r o o f c a n be a m a j o r l e a k a g e s i t e f o r h o u s e s and row h o u s e s . T h i s c o n c l u s i o n i s b a s e d on a l i m i t e d n u e 5 e r of m e a s u r e m e n t s however, a n d , f o r i t s g e n e r a l a p p l i c a t i o n , a more e s t e n s i v e s c u d ? i s r e q u i r e d .

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5.

The p a r t y w a l l s between a d j a c e n t rob- 5 o u s e s c a x c o n : r i S u r e z?>r~:<l:~?:ely i T - i b S of t h e u n i t ' s t o t a l a i r l e a k a g e .

. - . .

ASTM. 1986. ASTM S t a n d a r d E779-86, " S t a n d a r c t e s z a e c x c ? r o r Cerer-~:-:ng a i r l e a k a g e r a t e by

- -

f a n p r e s s u r i z a t i o n . " P h i l a d e l p h i a : h ~ r i c a x Society : o r -es=i:g ? ! a ~ e r i a l s .

CGSB. 1986. N a t i o n a l S t a n d a r d o f C t n a l e CAY!CGSB-lL9.1%-!-!S5, " > ~ r e r - L z a t i o n of t h e a i r t i g h t n e s s of b u i l d i n g e n v e l o p e s by r:?e f a x d e p r e s s u r i z z c i s : - r z h o c . " O t z a z a : C a n a d i a n G e n e r a l S t a n d a r d s Board.

Lagus, P.L., and K i n g , J . C . 1984. ".iii l e a k s g e a 2 3 f a r . ? r - . s s , L r l z . - t l o z e a s u r e l e n t s i r :

s e l e c t e d n a v a l h o u s i n g . " ASTY S p e c i a l l e c h n i c a l P u b l i c a t i o n 51'-30L. 5 d s .

E.X.

T r e c h s e l and P.L. Lagus. pp. 5-16.

Q u i r o u e t t e , R.L. 1978. "The !-lark

XI

e n s r g y r e s e a r c h ? r o j e s c

-

;=si,--

-

and c o n s i r u c t i o n . " -

-

N a t i o n a l R e s e a r c h C o u n c i l of C a n a d a , D i 7 . - i s i o - of 3 u i l d i n g ?.eseercx, 31lildin;: R e s e a r c h S o t e

131.

-

Scheuneman, E.C. 1982. "Yark X I e n e r g y r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t

-

su2rr21-y of r e s u l t s 1978-1981." N a t i o n a l R e s e a r c h C o u n c i l of C a n a d a , D i v i s i o n of 3 u i l d i n g X e s e z r c h , 5 ~ i l d i n g P r a c t i c e S o t e 27.

-

Shaw, C.Y. 1980. "Methods f o r c o n d u c t i x g s y a l l - s c a l e p r e s s u r i z z z i o n x e s t s 2nd a i r l e a k a g e d a t a of m u l t i - s t o r e y a p a r t m e n t b u i l d i n g s " . ASHRAE T r a n s a c t i o n s , V o l . 8 6 , P r r t 1 , pp. 24 1-250. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The a u t h o r s w i s h t o t h a n k R.G. E v a n s f o r c o n d u c t i n g t h e f i e l d t e s t s , a n d M.Z. R o u s s e a u f o r h e r c o n t r i b u t i o n s d u r i n g t h e l a t e r t e s t s . T h i s p a p e r i s a c o n t r i b u t i o n f r o m t h e I n s t i t u t e f o r R e s e a r c h i n C o n s t r u c t i o n , N a t i o n a l X e s e a r c h C o u n c i l of Canada, a 2 d i s p u b l i s h e d u i t h t h e a p p r o v a l of t h e D i r e c t o r of t h e I n s t i t u r e .

(12)

T A B L E 1

D e s c r i p t i o n o f R e s i d e n t i a l B u i l d i n g s T e s t e d

V o l ~ ~ m e ,

m

3 ( i n c l ~ ~ c l i n g

basement)

o l , ~ : ;

i

(lc o n v c l o p c n r c a ,

m 2

o 1 ~ t r ; i d c w a l l a r c a ,

m

Wir~dow a r e a , m

I

O u t s i d e d o o r a r c a ,

in2

i . c n r j t h of :;ash c r a c k ,

Lor wiildow,

m

E x t e r i o r

w a l l f i n i s h

p l a s t e r , a n d

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p l a s t e r b o a r d

P l a s t e r b o a r d

P l a s

t c r b o a r d

Vapor b a r r i e r

A i r t i g t ~ t n e s s

2 . 6

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3 . 2

P

50 Pa ( a c h )

Window

wood f r a m e

H o u s e

R 2

Row h o u s e

l o w e r e n d

u n i t , 2 - s t o r y

8 5 . 5

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R

1 How h o u s e

e n d u n i t

2 - s t o r y

1 0 9

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House

R 3

Row h o u s e

u p p e r e n d

u n i t , ? - s t o r y

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A

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2 - s t o r y

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(13)

Summary o f T e s t s P e r f o r r e - 3 n

? o w

E z ~ s e s

2 2

a n d

23 T e s t

1

2

3

4

5 QV2

=

l e a k a g e f l o w r a t e t h r o u g h e x t e r i o r t n v e l o p e o f

l o w e r e n d u n i t

=

l e a k a g e f l o w r a t e t h r o u g h e x t e r i o r e n v e ? o p e o f

Qv3

u p p e r e n d u n i t

QL =

l e a k a g e f l o w r a t e f r o n l o w e r a Z j a c e n t u n i t t o

l o w e r e n d u n i t t h r o u g h l o w e r p a r t y w a l l

Qu

= l e a k a g e f l o w r a t e f r o m u p p e r a d j a c e n t u n i t t o

u p p e r e n d u n i t t h r o u g h u p p e r p a r t y w a l l

QF

= l e a k a g e f l o w r a t e b e t w e e n u p p e r e n d u n i t a n d

l o w e r e n d u n i t t h r o u g h p a r t y f l c o r .

U n i t T e s t e d

Lower e n d u n i t

U p p e r e n d u n i t

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2v2'2rAQF

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4

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a s : a c e n t

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u n i t

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~ p p e r

t n d u n i t

. -

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Lower e:5 u n i t

L o w e r 25

j a c e n t u n i t

(14)

Component A i r L e a k a q e

? z z e s

a t

1 C z n d 5 0

Pa

1 0 Pa

= 0 . 0 4

i n . w a t e r ,

1

L / s =

2.119 c f n ,

1

m 3 =

35.3

f t

3 1. N o r m a l i z e d w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e t o t a l i n t e r n a l v o l u m e .

2 .

N o r m a l i z e d w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e t o t a l l e a k a g e r a t e

Q

T

'

F r a c t i o n

T o t a l

L e a k a g e

2

0.68

0.57 0 . 4 3

0 . 2 5

0.32

0.66 0 . 5 5

0 . 4 5

0 . 2 2

0 . 3 3

0.70 0 - 5 9

0 . 4 1

0 . 2 9

0.30 0 . 4 3

0.58 0 . 8 3

0.17 0 . 7 8

0 . 1 8

0.04

0.87

0.09 0 . 0 4

sc

P Z

l e a c a g e

= a t e

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3 1 5

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d

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6 2 5

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2C4

1 6 0

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House

H2

(

386m3)

.

H3

(386m3)

H

4 (

386m3

1

A1

3 (520111

) R1

3 (375m

1

R

2 ( 2 0 8 ~ ~ )

R3

(274m3)

1 5

L e a k a 9 e

3 a

t e

( L / s

1 0 9

7 4

6 2

4 7

2 7

3 5

1 1 3

7 5

6 2

5 1

2 5

3 7

9 0

6 3

5 3

3 7

2

6 2 7

3 0 5

1 3 1

1 7 7

2 2 0

1 8 3

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1 0 4

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5

A i r

Change

g a t e

(ac:?)

2.94 2 . 3 1

1 . 6 7

1 . 2 5

0 . 7 2

0 . 9 5

3.22

2.14 1 . 7 8

1 . 4 5

0.70 1 . 0 7

2.58 1 . 8 0

1 - 5 2

1 - 0 6

0.74 0 . 7 8

7 . 4 8

3 . 2 3

4 . 3 3

7.04

5.84 1 . 2 0

3 . 5 3

2.77 0 . 6 2

0.14

5.02

4.36 0 . 4 7

0.20 Component

L e a k a g e

T e s t e d

QT

%+1

Q1+2

Qb

Q1

Q2

Q~

Qb+

1

:;+2

Q1

Q2

QT

Qb+

1

:; +2

1 Q2

Q T

Q b + l

Q2

QT

Qv1

QPW QT

Qv2

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Qv

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pa

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[ac?.:

C.282

C.192

C .

1 6 1

C.122

C.

07C

C.091

C .

2 9 3

C .

1 9 4

C .

1 6 1

2 . 1 3 2

C.065 0 . 0 9 6

2 . 2 3 3

C.163

0.137 3 . 0 9 6

0 . 0 6 7

C. C7C

C.

587

0.252 0 . 3 4 0

0 . 5 8 7

0 . 4 8 8

0 . 0 9 9

0 . 3 1 3

0.245 0 , 0 5 8

0.014

0.434 0 , 3 8 0

0 . 0 4 0

0 . 0 1 8

(15)

F i g u r e 1 . S c h e m a t i c o f t h e s e t u p f c r a ?ic;.re 2 , I 1 l u s z r a t : o n o f = a i = u l a t i o n b a l a n c e d f a n d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n test riethcZ a n 6 t y p i c 2 1 . z e a s u r e m e n t

r e s u l r s fcr i n d i r e c : a p p l i c a t i o n

3f t h e b 2 : a n c e d f a n d e p r e s s u r i z a t i o n i e c h ' y i q u e

(a) TEST W . 1 cb) TEST hY). 2

a

(c) TEST W. 3 $ d l TEST W. 4

F

-

FAN DEPRESSURIZATION A2PAR?\TUS

F i g u r e 3 . 5 z i e . - ~ c i c z e s t Fet:; f s r c r z r r o l l e d

i - c i d = f s , + l

(16)

(17)

(18)

L?. I'xCI! OF i ' l T f F : 0. 3 .

.-

-,.* J. ~3 9.25 0.3: 0.45 F i g u r e 9 . . A i r I e z s a g e r e a s u r e r e n t s 1- t e s t h o c s e H 4 A P , I N C H O F WATER 1200 1 0.1 I 0.2 I 0.3 I 0.4 1 Q 5 P R E S S U R E D I F F E R E N C E . Pa A D J A C E N T U N l T h \ A I N D O O R O P E N A D J A C E N T U N I T h\A I N D O O R C L O S E D P P E S E .RE D I F F E R E N C E . ?a F i g u r e 1 0 . A l r l e a k a g e n e a s u r e a e n t s i n t h e r

-

~ g u r e - : I . A i r l e a k a g e m e a s u r e m e n t s i n t h e t w o - s t o r y r o t , - h o u s e e n d u . ? i t 31 f o u r - s C o r y r w - h o u s e e n d u n i t s R2 a n d R 3

(19)

Discussion

D.H. BURCH,

National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, KD: