An Air tightness test consists of a computerised fan being fitted to a main entrance or suitable doorway. The fan extracts large amounts of air from the building on domestic builds and blows air into the building on commercial builds. Gauges are used to measure pressure temperature and air flow within the building. This will calculate for us the amount of building leakage.
Part L1A and Part L2A of England & Wales building regulations have a requirement that all new buildings be subject to an air tightness/air leakage test.
Air testing is an important phase of your build. If air leakage is not controlled through the fabric of a building, this will significantly affect the energy performance.
An air tightness test measures the number of cubic meters of air that is lost through each square meter of envelope area per hour, at a pressure difference of 50 Pascal’s (m³/m².hr) @50pa). Every new build must achieve a score of 10m³/(m².hr) @50pa or less. With the increasing stringent regulations, you will probably see the air test required to be under 5m³/(m².hr) @50pa.
For all developments, air testing must be carried out on 3 of each dwelling type or 50%. Whichever be the lesser. However, any untested dwellings at as built stage would be assigned the average test result of the site + 2m³/(m².hr) @50pa.
Our testers are competent technicians who adhere to the methodology of ATTMA TSL1 and TSL2. They all carry ATTMA membership cards and are audited annually to ensure that they are complying fully with current regulations.
For further information or to book your air test please contact us.
A SAP Calculation is The Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) for energy ratings of dwellings. It is a Calculation of a buildings energy efficiency.
An SBEM or Simplified Building Energy Model, is a Government Defined process in accordance with Building Regulations Part L.
An Energy Performance Certificate shows the official energy rating of a property and its environmental impact on a scale from A to G.
Simulation modelling enables us to assess every aspect of thermal performance, from annual energy consumption and carbon emissions down to individual surface temperatures.
An Air tightness test consists of a computerised fan being fitted to a main entrance or suitable doorway.
There are two types of sound test - airborne and impact. Airborne tests are carried out on walls and floors separating dwellings, impact tests are carried out on floors separating dwellings.
Under Approved Document E, all residential properties must provide a good level of acoustic insulation between dwellings.
BREEAM is the world's foremost environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings