Retrotec Residential Pressure & Air Leakage - Manual (Page 4)

Page 4 of 75
©Retrotec Inc. 2014
Notes on Standards ..................................................................................................................... 25
4. Use the Blower Door System to do other tests ..................................................... 28
4.1 Measure Pressure Difference/Air flow between Areas ...................................................... 28
4.2 Test how much Ducts Leak to Outdoors ............................................................................ 29
4.2.1. Measure Duct Leakage to Outdoors by Subtraction for tight houses .............................. 29
4.2.2. Test Duct Leakage to Outdoors by measuring air flow with a Flow Hood ....................... 31
4.2.3. Check the pressures in unconditioned spaces to avoid errors in Leakage to Outdoors
measurement .................................................................................................................................... 31
4.2.4. Create a leakage map of the duct system with a Pressure Pan test on each register ..... 32
4.2.5. In a pressurized house, smoke will be pulled quickly into the duct near the leaks ......... 33
4.3 Closed bedroom door test to check pressure balance ....................................................... 33
4.4 Apartment air leakage ...................................................................................................... 34
4.5 Closed door leakage ......................................................................................................... 34
4.6 Measure air handler flow using a blower door or duct tester as a powered flow hood ...... 34
4.6.1. Supply plenum pressure matching method ...................................................................... 35
4.6.2. Set pressure in front of return register to zero method – could be referred to as a
powered flow hood ........................................................................................................................... 36
4.6.3. Measure large exhaust and intake flow rates .................................................................. 36
5. Some Tests Require Pressure Gauge Only! ........................................................... 38
5.1 Combustion and Safety Tests ............................................................................................ 38
5.1.1. CAZ Pressure Measurement ............................................................................................. 38
5.1.2. Flue Draft Measurement................................................................................................... 39
5.2 Pressure Balancing and Performance Testing .................................................................... 43
5.2.1. Pressure Imbalances can be Due to Forced Air Systems .................................................. 43
5.2.2. Run a Dominant Duct Leakage Test .................................................................................. 43
5.2.3. See if rooms with Closed Doors get pressurized by air handler running ......................... 43
5.2.4. See if the house or any room gets pressurized when all Interior Doors are closed ......... 44
5.2.5. See how much air is flowing out through the household Exhaust Fan ............................ 44
5.2.6. Use a pre-built Exhaust Fan Flow Meter instead of building your own box .................... 45
5.2.7. Measure air handler flow with a Flow Grid ...................................................................... 46
Appendix A: Air Tightness Requirements Tables ........................................................ 54
Residential Air Tightness Requirements ....................................................................................... 55
Large Building Air Tightness Requirements .................................................................................. 58