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Blower door tests help determine a home’s airtightness. A home’s air-tightness is important because of proper building tightness:
· Reduces energy consumption due to air leakage
· Avoids moisture condensation problems
· Avoids cold air leaking in from the outdoors, causing uncomfortable drafts
· Helps provide acceptable indoor air quality by determining how much mechanical ventilation might be needed.
Blower door equipment includes a frame and flexible panel that fit inside of a doorway, as well as a variable-speed fan, an airflow manometer and hoses for measuring airflow, and a pressure gauge to measure indoor vs outdoor air pressure differences. During a blower door test, a technician will mount a powerful fan into the frame of an exterior door and seal vents. The fan pulls air out of the house, which lowers the air pressure inside of the house. As a result, higher outside air pressure flows in through unsealed cracks and openings and it is easier to measure and locate air leaks.
Blower door tests are required by code in many states including Florida, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, Georgia, Illinois, and Washington. These requirements often apply to multifamily projects.
Why Perform Blower Door Testing
- To Avoid State Code Violation. Certain states, including Florida, have guidelines that require builders to complete a blower door testing process on each project.
- To ascertain if contractors and builders have sealed a home efficiently. If there are any gaps or cracks in the structure, they can lead to all sorts of issues with air quality, energy efficiency, and even mold growth. By performing these tests promptly, you can avoid unnecessary problems such as these by identifying issues and fixing them early.
- To part Earn a HERS Rating or to earn a HERS rating, or a Home Energy Rating System rating. This includes tests on duct leakage, as well as a building energy model and a blower door test. It can also help you to earn incentives such as certain tax credits that could be worth up to 2,000 dollars per home. A HERS rating can also give builders an advantage by allowing them to market their projects and homes as being more energy efficient and higher quality.
Remember that the Blower Door Test is required to determine if your home meets the criteria for energy efficiency of many building certification programs. The test might help you reduce utility bills, and your heating and cooling systems will not have to work as hard to maintain a comfortable indoor air temperature, and the utility bill will generally be lower than it would be if the home presents some leaks.
A blower Door
A blower door is a machine which is used for several purposes; it can measure the airtightness of buildings and the airflow between building zones, it also tests ductwork airtightness and helps physically locate air leakage sites in the building envelope.
This machine has three main components:
- A calibrated, variable-speed fan. To inducing a sufficient a range of airflows to pressurize and depressurize a variety of building sizes,
- A manometer (pressure measurement instrument). To measure the pressure differential induced across the face of the fan and across the building envelope at the same time.
- A mounting system. To mount the fan in a building opening, such as a door or a window.
Requirements for Testing in Residences
There are specific regulations for residences to pass the Blower Door test that should be taken into consideration beforehand.
In many US states like Florida, a Blower Door Test must be performed on all homes. All residential constructions in Florida permitted as of July 1st, 2017 must have this vital testing process done successfully.
Those homes permitted after July 1st, 2017 need to do the blower door testing, according to the 5th edition of Florida Building Codes Air Change Per Hour (ACH) which requires less than seven air change per hour, and the tester must be approved by a third-party agency.
It is important to mention that the Blower door test mustn’t be done by a party who was involved in the construction or design process of the home.
The residential units included in the code are single homes, townhomes, and duplexes. But for multifamily buildings under three stories, testing is required for each individual unit.
To complete the test, the Blower Door Test Form must be filled out as well. After that, a passed and completed BTDF copy will be left on the wall adjacent to the electrical panel for the inspector to look over at the final building inspection. Other copy will be sent to the construction manager via email.
If the ACH (air changes per hour) is less then three, then mechanical ventilation must be installed. This adjustment must have approved plans on how the ventilation will be provided and confirmed by the third party that has performed the blower door testing.