Industry News
Seeing More Green
Uptime Magazine, June-July 2008
Author: Lee Durston, BCRA
Architects, contractors, engineers and owner-developers are beginning to see a push to include air barriers into their structures. This trend has brought about numerous questions and very little in the way of answers. For one, the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and several state energy codes— Massachusetts, Wisconsin and Michigan, with more expected to follow—now require the use of air barriers. More importantly, energy efficiency and occupant comfort, two key ingredients of sustainable design, are driving the use of air barriers across market sectors.
Building Air Tightness Requirements
Engineering and Construction Bulletin (ECB), October 30, 2009 US Army Corps of EngineersThis ECB directs compliance with the following sections outlining Army requirements for building air tightness and building air leakage testing for new and renovation construction projects. The air barrier requirements outlined in the bulletin will be included in all new Army construction projects in or after Fiscal Year 2010. These apply to all renovation Army construction projects in or after Fiscal Year 2010 when the renovation costs are greater than or equal to 25 percent of the replacement cost of the building. In these cases, the entire building will need to be brought into compliance.
A Huff and a Puff
Eco-Structure, May-June 2009 Author: Lee DurstonWith today’s high cost of energy and concerns about indoor environmental quality, air barriers are one of several building systems with a critical role to play. Recent studies, such as “Investigation of the Impact of Commercial Building Envelope Airtightness on HVAC Energy Use” by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, show air barrier systems in commercial and industrial buildings are estimated to reduce air leakage by up to 83 percent, save on gas bills by more than 40 percent and cut down on electrical consumption by as much as 25 percent. However, to achieve these sizeable energy savings, the air barrier must be designed, constructed, and tested with diligence.
Controlling Air Leakage in Tall Buildings
ASHRAE Journal, April 2009 Author: Colin GengeFor years, people have talked about setting a standard for air leakage in high-rise buildings, but no one has done anything about it – until now. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has mandated that all of its buildings have less than 0.25 cfm/ft2 @ 75 Pa. (cfm of air leakage per square foot based on a test pressure of 75 Pa). This article outlines how this test is to be conducted and why the detailed testing protocol was established the way it was. This could be the start of a widespread adoption of an air leakage control standard to achieve higher levels of energy conservation, comfort, and safety.
Efficient Building Enclosures
The Military Engineer, September-October, 2009 Author: Eric Amhaus, Brian Erickson, Matt HeronWhile energy requirements – such as air barrier inclusion – in building codes theoretically reduce energy consumption, there is no way to verify performance unless buildings constructed under those standards are quantitatively tested. The USACE has recognized this fact and thus implemented its requirements for whole-building air leakage testing to verify the design and construction of air barriers in new and remodel construction. This article discusses the reasons for adding testing requirements to contracts, benefits of air-tight construction, and the process for designing, constructing, and testing a building.
USACE Air Leakage Test Protocol for Measuring Air Leakage in Buildings
Engineer Research and Development Center US Army Corps of EngineersThis document contains the protocol for testing a building for air-tightness. All steps are outlined in detail including setup, testing, and data analysis.