The ASHRAE 1478-RP Measuring Air-Tightness of Mid and High-Rise Non-Residential Buildings project is intended to fill a knowledge gap in the airtightness database for recently constructed midrise buildings. The project measured the air-tightness of non-residential buildings(except for two that were mixed use residential and commercial) four-stories or greater built since 2000. Tested buildings were located in climate zones 2 through 7 of the IECCi Climate Zone Map. Data were collected from 16 buildings up to fourteen stories high. The dataset includes buildings with no particular attention to making the building air-tight, buildings where some attention was given to air-tightness, and buildings where extensive attention was paid to air-tightness. A subset of the buildings (10) were designed to be LEED Silver and higher. Major air leakage sites were identified in the course of testing. A fan pressure testing protocol for large buildings based on ASTM E779 was developed by the project team. A number of issues in using E779 to test large buildings were identified, discussed, and addressed. Building air-tightness was reported in cfm per square foot of above grade enclosure at a 75 Pascal induced enclosure pressure difference, and cfm per square foot of complete enclosure (including slab and below grade conditioned space walls). The results range from 0.057 cfm/ft2@ 75 Pa to 0.80 cfm/ft2@75 Pa of complete enclosure. Factors that are associated with the most air-tight enclosures include air-barrier continuity detailed in construction documents, buildings where the enclosure was commissioned by a consultant, and precast concrete panel construction. Air leakage through HVAC related penetrations was measured in a subset of the buildings. Damper air leakage turned out to be a significant portion of the total enclosure air leakage in some of the buildings. The significance of air leakage of HVAC systems is reviewed in relation to building air tightness.
Product Details
- Published:
- 2013
- Number of Pages:
- 13
- File Size:
- 1 file , 2.2 MB
- Product Code(s):
- D-DE-13-C011
- Note:
- This product is unavailable in Russia, Belarus
