ASTM E1827-11
(Test Method)Standard Test Methods for Determining Airtightness of Buildings Using an Orifice Blower Door
Standard Test Methods for Determining Airtightness of Buildings Using an Orifice Blower Door
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Airtightness—Building airtightness is one factor that affects building air change rates under normal conditions of weather and building operation. These air change rates account for a significant portion of the space-conditioning load and affect occupant comfort, indoor air quality, and building durability. These test methods produce results that characterize the airtightness of the building envelope. These results can be used to compare the relative airtightness of similar buildings, determine airtightness improvements from retrofit measures applied to an existing building, and predict air leakage. Use of this standard in conjunction Practice E1186 permits the identification of leakage sources and rates of leakage from different components of the same building envelope. These test methods evolved from Test Method E779 to apply to orifice blower doors.
Applicability to Natural Conditions—Pressures across building envelopes under normal conditions of weather and building operation vary substantially among various locations on the envelope and are generally much lower than the pressures during the test. Therefore, airtightness measurements using these test methods cannot be interpreted as direct measurements of natural infiltration or air change rates that would occur under natural conditions. However, airtightness measurements can be used to provide air leakage parameters for models of natural infiltration. Such models can estimate average annual ventilation rates and the associated energy costs. Test Methods E741 measure natural air exchange rates using tracer gas dilution techniques.
Relation to Test Method E779—These test methods are specific adaptations of Test Method E779 to orifice blower doors. For nonorifice blower doors or for buildings too large to use blower doors, use Test Method E779.
Single-Point Method—Use this method to provide air leakage estimates for assessing improvements in airtightness.
Two-Point Method—Use this method to provide air lea...
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods describe two techniques for measuring air leakage rates through a building envelope in buildings that may be configured to a single zone. Both techniques use an orifice blower door to induce pressure differences across the building envelope and to measure those pressure differences and the resulting airflows. The measurements of pressure differences and airflows are used to determine airtightness and other leakage characteristics of the envelope.
1.2 These test methods allow testing under depressurization and pressurization.
1.3 These test methods are applicable to small indoor-outdoor temperature differentials and low wind pressure conditions; the uncertainty in the measured results increases with increasing wind speeds and temperature differentials.
1.4 These test methods do not measure air change rate under normal conditions of weather and building operation. To measure air change rate directly, use Test Methods E741.
1.5 The text of these test methods reference notes and footnotes that provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes, excluding those in tables and figures, shall not be considered as requirements of the standard.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard statements see Section 7.
General Information
Relations
Buy Standard
Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:E1827 −11
Standard Test Methods for
Determining Airtightness of Buildings Using an Orifice
1
Blower Door
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1827; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope E631Terminology of Building Constructions
E741Test Method for Determining Air Change in a Single
1.1 These test methods describe two techniques for measur-
Zone by Means of a Tracer Gas Dilution
ing air leakage rates through a building envelope in buildings
E779TestMethodforDeterminingAirLeakageRatebyFan
thatmaybeconfiguredtoasinglezone.Bothtechniquesusean
Pressurization
orifice blower door to induce pressure differences across the
E1186Practices for Air Leakage Site Detection in Building
building envelope and to measure those pressure differences
Envelopes and Air Barrier Systems
and the resulting airflows. The measurements of pressure
E1258Test Method for Airflow Calibration of Fan Pressur-
differences and airflows are used to determine airtightness and
ization Devices
other leakage characteristics of the envelope.
3
2.2 ISO International Standards:
1.2 These test methods allow testing under depressurization
ISO 9972Thermal Insulation—Determination of Building
and pressurization.
Airtightness—Fan Pressurization Method
1.3 These test methods are applicable to small indoor-
3
2.3 Other Standards:
outdoor temperature differentials and low wind pressure con-
ANSI/ASME PTC 19.1–1985 Part 1: Measurement
ditions; the uncertainty in the measured results increases with
Uncertainty, Instruments, and Apparatus
increasing wind speeds and temperature differentials.
1.4 Thesetestmethodsdonotmeasureairchangerateunder
3. Terminology
normal conditions of weather and building operation. To
3.1 Definitions:
measure air change rate directly, use Test Methods E741.
3.1.1 For definitions of general terms related to building
1.5 The text of these test methods reference notes and
construction used in this test methods, refer to Terminology
footnotes that provide explanatory material. These notes and
E631andforgeneraltermsrelatedtoaccuracy,bias,precision,
footnotes, excluding those in tables and figures, shall not be
and uncertainty refer to Terminology E456.
considered as requirements of the standard.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the 3.2.1 ACH ,n—the ratio of the air leakage rate at 50 Pa
50
(0.2 in. H O), corrected for a standard air density, to the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
2
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- volume of the test zone (1/h).
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.2.2 air leakage rate, Q ,n—the total volume of air
env
3
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard
passing through the test zone envelope per unit of time (m /s,
3
statements see Section 7.
ft /min).
3.2.3 airtightness, n—the degree to which a test zone
2. Referenced Documents
envelope resists the flow of air.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E456Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics NOTE 1—ACH , air leakage rate, and effective leakage area are
50
examples of measures of building airtightness.
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on 3.2.4 blower door, n—a fan pressurization device incorpo-
Performance of Buildings and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.41
rating a controllable fan and instruments for airflow measure-
on Air Leakage and Ventilation Performance.
ment and building pressure difference measurement that
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2011. Published October 2011. Originally
mounts securely in a door or other opening.
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as E1827–96(2007).
DOI: 10.1520/E1827-11.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
the ASTM website. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E1827−11
3.2.5 building pressure difference, P, n—the pressure differ-
P = the reference pressure differential across the
ref
ence across the test zone envelope (Pa, in. H O).
2 building envelope, Pa (in. H O),
2
P = station pressure, P
...
This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:E1827–96 (Reapproved 2007) Designation: E1827 – 11
Standard Test Methods for
Determining Airtightness of Buildings Using an Orifice
1
Blower Door
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1827; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 These test methods describe two techniques for measuring air leakage rates through a building envelope in buildings that
may be configured to a single zone. Both techniques use an orifice blower door to induce pressure differences across the building
envelope and to measure those pressure differences and the resulting airflows. The measurements of pressure differences and
airflows are used to determine airtightness and other leakage characteristics of the envelope.
1.2 These test methods allow testing under depressurization and pressurization.
1.3 These test methods are applicable to small indoor-outdoor temperature differentials and low wind pressure conditions; the
uncertainty in the measured results increases with increasing wind speeds and temperature differentials.
1.4 These test methods do not measure air change rate under normal conditions of weather and building operation. To measure
air change rate directly, use Test Methods E741.
1.5 The text of these test methods reference notes and footnotes that provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes,
excluding those in tables and figures, shall not be considered as requirements of the standard.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use. For specific hazard statements see Section 7.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
E631
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
E741 Test Method for Determining Air Change in a Single Zone by Means of a Tracer Gas Dilution
E779 Test Method for Determining Air Leakage Rate by Fan Pressurization
E1186 Practices for Air Leakage Site Detection in Building Envelopes and Air Barrier Systems
E1258 Test Method for Airflow Calibration of Fan Pressurization Devices
3
2.2 ISO International Standard:ISO International Standards:
ISO 9972 Thermal Insulation—Determination of Building Airtightness—Fan Pressurization Method
3 3
2.3 Other Standard: Other Standards:
ANSI/ASME PTC 19.1—Part19.1–19851, Part 1: Measurement Uncertainty, Instruments, and Apparatus
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1Refer to Terminology
3.1.1 For definitions of general terms related to building construction used in this test methods, refer to Terminology E631 and
for general terms related to accuracy, bias, precision, and uncertainty refer to Terminology E456for definitions of accuracy, bias,
precision, and uncertainty.
3.1.2.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Performance of Buildings and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.41 on Air
Leakage and Ventilation Performance.
Current edition approved Aug.Sept. 1, 2007.2011. Published August 2007.October 2011. Originally approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 20022007 as
E1827 – 96 (20027). DOI: 10.1520/E1827-96R07.10.1520/E1827-11.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E1827 – 11
3.2.1 ACH , n—the ratio of the air leakage rate at 50 Pa (0.2 in. H O), corrected for a standard air density, to the volume of
50 2
the test zone (1/h).
3.1.3
3 3
3.2.2 air leakage rate, Q , n—the total volume of air passing through the test zone envelope per unit of time (m /s, ft /min).
env
3.1.4
3.2.3 airtightness, n—the degree to which a test zone envelope resists th
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.