Residential Air Leakage (Blower Door) Testing for Florida Code Compliance

Report Number

FSEC-CR-2084-18

Keywords

Buildings; Building Codes; Residential; Ventilation; Air Quality; Blower Door; Residential Air Leakage; Blower Door Test; Florida Building Code; Mechanical Ventilation

Abstract

To address the energy and indoor air quality impacts of air leakage in homes, the current Florida Building Code includes a building air leakage testing requirement for new Florida homes and stipulates both a maximum air leakage rate and, at the lower end, an air leakage rate "trigger" at which whole-house mechanical ventilation is required. As discussed in more detail later in this guide, the air leakage test (or "blower door test") uses a calibrated fan and digital pressure gauge to either pressurize or depressurize a home to a standard test pressure of 50 Pascals with respect to the outside and measure the air leakage flow at that pressure. Standardization of the test procedure allows the air leakage of one home to be compared with that of another, and with the Code maximum of seven air changes per hour at 50 Pascals test pressure, or "7 ACH50." If the tested air leakage of a new home is less than three air changes per hour at 50 Pascals test pressure (3 ACH50), current Florida Code requires whole-house mechanical ventilation be provided for it.

Date Published

6-15-2018

Identifiers

53

Subjects

Air quality management; Dwellings--Energy conservation; Air--Pollution; Building laws; Ventilation

Local Subjects

Buildings - Air Quality; Buildings - Blower Door; Buildings - Building Codes; Buildings - Residential; Buildings - Ventilation

Collection

FSEC Energy Research Center® Collection

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