Blower door tests for residential homes and commercial buildings

Whether in a residential home or a commercial building, controlling air leakage is the most important retrofit strategy when addressing energy efficiency. Controlling air leakage is an essential element in managing air movement and moisture throughout a building envelope. While focus is placed on air sealing and energy efficiency in high-rise buildings, these are equally important in a residential home environment.

The idea behind air leakage control is to systematically identify leakage points, and comprehensively seal as many of those leakage paths as possible. Industry wide, professionals are endlessly pushing the concept of effective air sealing. While cursory weather-stripping and weatherization techniques might be helpful, a blower door test (also known as an airtightness test) is the most effective way to properly identify air leakage pathways.

Barrier Sciences Group employes trained energy advisors to conduct blower door tests throughout Ontario. They perform a professional blower door test to isolate the source and full scope of air leakage in order to maximize the energy efficiency of a home. By utilizing air sealing measures to fix the air leakage pathways identified in a blower door tests, homeowners can increase overall home comfort, reduce the energy consumption of the building, and extend the life expectancy and increase the effectiveness of the HVAC (heating and cooling) systems.

Air Leakage Is Detrimental To Energy Efficiency

While air leakage can account for 25-30% of energy waste when heating and cooling a building, corrective measures can turn the equation around into substantial dollar savings. In a residential home, it means effectively sealing air leakage pathways in the attic, basement, and any other identified problematic areas. Similarly, in a commercial building, comprehensive air sealing will create dramatic improvement in energy efficiencies. Regardless of whether a building is commercial or residential, a blower door test for airtightness testing followed by air sealing retrofits represent the best return-on-investment.

There are substantial heating and cooling savings that derive from a well-sealed building. Season after season, the savings mount up, and in many scenarios the cost of retrofitting can be “paid down” by the substantial annual savings. Home or building, it makes economic sense.

Airtightness Tests From Barrier Sciences Group

As accredited energy auditors, Barrier Sciences Group use blower door tests to determine a building’s airtightness. The airtightness test measures “Air Changes Per Hour”, which represents the number of times per hour that the indoor air is replaced by outdoor, external air. It may not be noticeable, but indoor air moves quite a bit – and constantly. Measuring this air movement (ACH) will reveal how much air infiltration or exfiltration is happening throughout the building envelope.

The team at Barrier Sciences Group provides comprehensive air tightness testing, with objective reporting, and viable retrofit proposals. Whether it’s residential, commercial, or institutional, BSG tests for air leakage with some of the most advanced diagnostic tools available. This equips homeowners and building owners with the information needed to make astute decisions on repairs, retrofits, and renovations going forward. The bottom line, of course, is to improve energy efficiency.

For more information about airtightness testing, call for a personal consultation at 1-866-333-3920.