Retrotec DucTester 200 Series Residential Applications User Manual
Page 21
Page 21 of 91
©Retrotec Inc. 2015
3.4 How much duct leakage is acceptable under existing Codes?
How much duct leakage is acceptable? The table primarily shows standards for new buildings; only
California has a listing for existing buildings. Changes occur as states adopt the new codes. Check at the
website for up to date details on energy code
adoption. ENERGY STAR programs are listed even though they are voluntary programs rather than
Codes.
Table 1: Duct Leakage Compliance Values (Residential) according to existing Codes
Program/Region
Units/Test
Pressure
Leakage requirement
Abu Dhabi
Building Code
CFM
25
/100 sq ft at
+ 25 Pa
Total Duct Leakage: <=12 CFM
25
/100 sq ft
Duct Leakage to Outdoors: <=8 CFM
25
/100 sq ft
CA: USA
Title 24 –new building
(residential)
CFM
25
at
+ 25 Pa
Total Duct Leakage: <=6% of system air handler flow
(actual measured airflow or airflow can be calculated by using the maximum of
400 CFM
25
per Ton and 21.7 CFM
25
per 1000 BTUh).
Maximum nominal duct leakage is 24CFM
25
/Ton or 1.302 CFM
25
/1000 BTUh for
design purposes.
CA: USA
Title 24–new building
(residential)
CFM
25
at
+ 25 Pa
If testing at Rough-in without AHU
Total Duct Leakage: <= 4% of system air handler flow
(actual measured airflow or airflow can be calculated by using the maximum of
400 CFM
25
per Ton and 21.7 CFM
25
per 1000 BTUh).
CA: USA
Title 24–existing
building (residential)
CFM
25
at
+ 25 Pa
Total Duct Leakage: <= 15% of system air handler flow
(use actual measured airflow or airflow can be calculated by using the maximum
of 400 CFM
25
per Ton and 21.7 CFM
25
per 1000 BTUh).
OR
Duct Leakage to Outdoors <= 10% of system air handler flow
(use actual measured airflow or airflow can be calculated by using the maximum
of 400 CFM
25
per Ton and 21.7 CFM
25
per 1000 BTUh).
OR
if fail both, show a 60% reduction in leakage
CA: USA
Title 24–Ducts in
conditioned space
(residential)
CFM
25
at
+ 25 Pa
If Ducts are in conditioned space
Duct Leakage to Outdoors: <= 25 CFM
25
ENERGY STAR Homes
USA
Version 3 (Rev 05)
CFM
25
/100 sq ft at
+ or - 25 Pa
Total Duct Leakage: <= 8.0 CFM
25
/100 sq ft
of conditioned floor area
AND
Duct Leakage to Outdoors: <= 4.0 CFM
25
/100 sq ft
of conditioned floor area.
Florida State Energy
Code
FL: USA
2009 IECC International
Energy Conservation
Code
Global
CFM
25
/100 sq ft
at
+ or - 25 Pa
Post Construction Test:
Total Duct Leakage: <= 12 CFM
25
/100 sq ft
conditioned floor area.
OR
Duct Leakage to Outdoors: <= 8 CFM
25
/100 sq ft
conditioned floor area.
OR
Rough-in Test with air handler
Total Duct Leakage: <= 6 CFM
25
/100 sq ft
OR
Rough-in Test with no air handler:
Total Duct Leakage: <= 4 CFM
25
/100 sq ft
Required:
-Where ducts are located outside the conditioned space
-In existing houses where more than 50% of the ducts are replaced
Not Required:
- If all ducts are located in the conditioned space