Air Tightness Testing

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Air Tightness Testing – The Building Regulations.

The Building Regulations 2006 Approved Documents L1A (Domestic) and L2A (Non-Domestic) came into effect in April 2006, requiring air tightness testing to be carried out in new properties. This was followed in 2013 and 2016 with further revised documents.

Uncontrolled ventilation in dwellings and other buildings through leakage paths around doors and window frames accounts for a significant proportion of heat loss, particularly as the insulation value of walls and glazing has improved. In order to control this energy loss, the Building Regulations will regulate the overall leakage of the building structure by testing, using a pressurising / depressurising fan method.

Air Permeability.

Air leakage is quantified as air permeability, which Is the leakage of air (m³/hour) in or out of the building, per square metre of building envelope at a reference of 50 Pascals (Pa) between the inside and outside of the building.

New dwellings will be required to achieve a minimum standard of 8 m³/h.m² at 50 Pa. However, the target air permeability set out in the SAP calculations (sometimes called Q50 / DAP figure) for a property will frequently be lower than this.

Air Tightness Test.

The air tightness testing of the building would be carried out in accordance with the Air Tightness Testing & Measurement Association (ATTMA), Technical Standard 1 – Measuring Air Permeability of Building Envelopes for domestic testing. Testing would be carried out in accordance with the ATTMA Technical Standard 2 for non-domestic testing.

In the Event of a Fail.

We can advise on areas where the air is leaking whilst we are on site. If it is possible to carry out remedial work easily, then we can stay on site (subject to T&Cs) and then carry out a retest.

Pre-Test Advice

If you wish, we can also carry out visits to your site to provide advice and guide you through what you need to do to your property so that it can get a good result.