Basic Air Sealing

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Basic Air Sealing
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Basic Air Sealing

• DHCR Policy
• Job Set-up
• Blower Door Set-up
• Diagnostics
• Basic Air sealing techniques

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DHCR Policy

• A blower door test must be conducted on all 1-4
  unit buildings and mobile homes during both the
  original inspection and the post inspection.
  Both single point and multi-point testing are
  acceptable methods for measuring air leakage
  rates.
• If a single point test is used as part of the
  initial audit, the test should be conducted three
  consecutive times to ensure reasonable accuracy.
• (PPM Chapter 5, page 114)

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DHCR Policy

• If a multi-point test is used, the test should
  include readings as close to 50 pascals as
  possible (e.g. 60-55-50-45-40) to provide the
  most accurate measurement of CFM 50. The
  correlation coefficient for a multi-point test
  must be at least .9900. Single point tests are
  recommended when windy conditions may result in a
  correlation coefficient less than .9900
• (PPM Chapter 5, page 114)

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DHCR Policy

• For buildings with multiple units One blower
  door test of the whole building is preferred. If
  that is not possible, tests should be performed
  on each isolated portion of the building and the
  results should be added together for the total
  building air leakage measurement.
• (PPM Chapter 5, page 114)

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DHCR Policy

• The AIRG is the site specific minimum airflow
  rate established by blower door testing. It is
  determined by the size and number of rooms in the
  unit, the number of occupants, the number of
  smokers occupying the unit, with a minimum
  airflow rate of 1500cfm _at_50pa.
• (PPM Chapter 5, page 113)

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DHCR Policy

• 1500 cfm _at_50pa is the baseline airflow standard
• Multiply the number of rooms by 170cfm_at_pa. This
  is the rooms air flow standard
• Add the number of bedrooms plus one (1) to
  determine an occupancy number. If the number of
  occupants is actually greater, use the actual
  occupancy rather than the calculated potential
  occupancy number. Add one additional person for
  each smoker living in the unit to determine the
  final occupancy number. Multiply the final
  occupancy number by 340cfm _at_50. This becomes the
  number of occupants airflow standard.
• Compare the three airflow standards. The larger
  of the three standards becomes the final air flow
  standard for the building.
• (PPM Chapter 5, page 113)

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DHCR Policy

• Successful air sealing should reduce air flow to
  the Maximum Allowable at Post (MAP). Failure to
  achieve the MAP must be documented and placed in
  the building file along with the pre and post
  blower door results. Air sealing should not
  reduce that air flow below the AIRG.
• (PPM Chapter 5, page 113)

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DHCR Policy

• The MAP is determined by using the formula
• (Pre CFM50-AIRG)x 20 AIRG MAP
• (PPM Chapter 5, page 113)

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DHCR Policy

• If a vented space heater which take combustion
  air from the living space (wood, coal or pellet
  stove, vented gas or oil space heater, etc) is
  present then the AIRG may be increased by 1000
  CFM50 for every 100,000 BTU/hr (input rating) to
  allow make up air for combustion.
• (PPM Chapter 5, page 113)

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DHCR Policy

• Where the air flow of a building is below 1500
  cfm50 an evaluation of existing conditions that
  may affect the indoor air quality (carbon
  monoxide sources, moisture sources, CAZ pressure,
  chimney draft, etc.) is required
• (PPM Chapter 5, page 113)

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DHCR Policy

• Blower door testing should be suspended if it is
  determined that harmful pollutants will be
  introduced into the living space by the operation
  of the blower door.
• (PPM Chapter 5, page 113)

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DHCR Policy

• Air sealing work must be blower door assisted.
  Documentation of interim blower door testing is
  required. All interim tests are required to be
  recorded and included in the job folder.
• (PPM Chapter 5, page 114)

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DHCR Policy

• A comprehensive health and safety evaluation of
  all CAZs must be completed each day following
  air sealing work.
• Negative Pressure Test in CAZ
• Backdraft Pressure Test
• Ambient Air CO Test
• (PPM Chapter 5, page 114)

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Job Set-up
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Diagnostics
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Blower Door Set-up
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Perform an Evaluation of Current Airflow Rates

• Properly configure building
• Combustion appliances disabled
• winter mode
• conditioned areas open for testing
• ductwork registers opened
• Conduct Blower Door Test
• select best location for 1 family and
  multi-family (out of wind and away from heavily
  trafficked areas)
• Interpret Results
• CFM 50

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Provide Airsealing Measures

• Repair obvious holes in the bldg. envelope
• missing or broken windows, doors,
• below grade entries,
• fallen plaster from walls and ceilings
• door and window weatherstripping

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This Could Be the Single Largest Air Reduction
Measure you will perform

• Install high density cellulose at the envelope
  (at least 3.5 pounds per
  cubic foot)
• sidewalls, wherever possible
• attics with floor decks
• band joist areas between floors

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• Seal interstitial frame with durable materials (
  high density cellulose, flashing, mastic)
• enclosed stairwells
• attached roof cavities
• interior wall cavities
• chimney and soil vent penetrations

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Distribution System
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No Duct Tape Please

• Seal ductwork with durable materials (latex
  based mastic/butyl backed metal tape)
• fan cabinet and plenum attachments
• that big hole where the air filter goes
• as many return air leaks as is humanly possible
• boot connections to the floor or wall

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Attic By-Passes
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Whats Not Worth Doing

• Installing fluffy cellulose in sidewalls/attics
• Caulking/sealing dusty,dirty surfaces
• Exterior caulking (except to correct drainage
  plane)
• Using duct tape as a building repair material
• Purchasing new storm windows
• Obsessive caulking of trim and moldings

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When To Stop

• When Youve reached the AIRG
• When you dont know what to do next.
• When reducing the number further may cause a
  Health Safety problem
• Negative pressure in CAZ
• Pets/Smokers
• Add Direct Ventilation when Testing shows
  necessary

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Basic Air SealingWhat We Covered

• DHCR Policy
• Job Set-up
• Blower Door Set-up
• Diagnostics
• Basic Air sealing techniques

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Thats All Folks