Blower Door Test
Section 402.4.1.2 of the Florida Building Code, 5th Edition 2014 Energy Conservation now Mandates blower door testing for New Residential Construction. A blower door is a powerful fan that mounts into the frame of an exterior door. The fan pulls air out of the house, lowering the air pressure inside. The higher outside air pressure then flows in through all unsealed cracks and openings. The auditors may use a smoke pencil to detect air leaks. These tests determine the air infiltration rate of a building.
Duct Test
A duct leakage performance test involves pressurizing the duct system with a calibrated fan and simultaneously measuring the air flow through the fan and its effect on the pressure within the duct system. You need less air from the fan to create a change in duct system pressure, the tighter the duct system. Testing can be set up to measure leaks connected to the outside or can be set up to measure leaks connected to the outside and the inside of the house.