ASTM E1827-96(2002)

Standard Test Methods for Determining Airtightness of Buildings Using an Orifice Blower Door

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 E 741.  
1.5 The text of these 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

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Sep-1996
• ICS: 91.010.30 - Technical aspects
• Technical Committee: E06 - Performance of Buildings
• Drafting Committee: E06.41 - Air Leakage and Ventilation Performance

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E1827-96 - Standard Test Methods for Determining Airtightness of Buildings Using an Orifice Blower Door
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-1996
• Replaced By: ASTM E1827-96(2007) - Standard Test Methods for Determining Airtightness of Buildings Using an Orifice Blower Door
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2007
• Referred By: ASTM E631-15 - Standard Terminology of Building Constructions
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-1996
• Referred By: ASTM E3158-18 - Standard Test Method for Measuring the Air Leakage Rate of a Large or Multizone Building
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-1996
• Referred By: ASTM E2813-18 - Standard Practice for Building Enclosure Commissioning
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-1996
• Referred By: ASTM D7297-21 - Standard Practice for Evaluating Residential Indoor Air Quality Concerns
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-1996
• Referred By: ASTM E1258-23 - Standard Test Method for Airflow Calibration of Fan Pressurization Devices
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-1996

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: E 1827 – 96 (Reapproved 2002)
Standard Test Methods for
Determining Airtightness of Buildings Using an Orifice
1
Blower Door
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1827; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope E 779 Test Method for Determining Air Leakage Rate by
3
Fan Pressurization
1.1 These test methods describe two techniques for measur-
E 1186 Practice for Air Leakage Site Detection in Building
ing air leakage rates through a building envelope in buildings
3
Envelopes
thatmaybeconfiguredtoasinglezone.Bothtechniquesusean
E 1258 Test Method forAirflow Calibration of Fan Pressur-
orifice blower door to induce pressure differences across the
3
ization Devices
building envelope and to measure those pressure differences
2.2 ISO International Standard:
and the resulting airflows. The measurements of pressure
ISO 9972 Thermal Insulation—Determination of Building
differences and airflows are used to determine airtightness and
4
Airtightness—Fan Pressurization Method
other leakage characteristics of the envelope.
2.3 Other Standard:
1.2 These test methods allow testing under depressurization
ANSI/ASME PTC 19.1—Part 1, Measurement Uncertainty,
and pressurization.
4
Instruments, and Apparatus
1.3 These test methods are applicable to small indoor-
outdoor temperature differentials and low wind pressure con-
3. Terminology
ditions; the uncertainty in the measured results increases with
3.1 Definitions—Refer toTerminology E 456 for definitions
increasing wind speeds and temperature differentials.
of accuracy, bias, precision, and uncertainty.
1.4 Thesetestmethodsdonotmeasureairchangerateunder
3.1.1 ACH , n—the ratio of the air leakage rate at 50 Pa
50
normal conditions of weather and building operation. To
(0.2 in. H O), corrected for a standard air density, to the
2
measure air change rate directly, use Test Methods E 741.
volume of the test zone (1/h).
1.5 The text of these test methods reference notes and
3.1.2 air leakage rate, Q , n—the total volume of air
env
footnotes that provide explanatory material. These notes and
3
passing through the test zone envelope per unit of time (m /s,
footnotes, excluding those in tables and figures, shall not be
3
ft /min).
considered as requirements of the standard.
3.1.3 airtightness, n—the degree to which a test zone
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
envelope resists the flow of air.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
NOTE 1—ACH , air leakage rate, and effective leakage area are
50
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- examples of measures of building airtightness.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard
3.1.4 blower door, n—a fan pressurization device incorpo-
statements see Section 7.
rating a controllable fan and instruments for airflow measure-
ment and building pressure difference measurement that
2. Referenced Documents
mounts securely in a door or other opening.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.1.5 building pressure difference, P, n—the pressure differ-
2
E 456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
ence across the test zone envelope (Pa, in. H O).
2
3
E 631 Terminology of Building Constructions
3.1.6 fan airflow rate, Q , n—the volume of airflow
fan
E 741 TestMethodsforDeterminingAirChangeinaSingle 3 3
through the blower door per unit of time (m /s, ft /min).
3
Zone by Means of Tracer Gas Dilution
3.1.7 nominal airflow rate, Q , n—the flow rate indicated
nom
by the blower door using the manufacturer’s calibration
3 3
coefficients (m /s, ft /min).
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.
Current edition approved Sept. 10, 1996. Published January 1997.
2 4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02. Available from American National Standards Institute, 11 W. 42nd St., 13th
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.11. Floor, New York, NY 10036.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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E 1827 – 96 (2002)
3.1.8 orifice blower door, n—a blower door in which ¯
Q = average air leakage rate, Q , at the primary
env1 env
3 3
airflow rate is determined by means of the pressure drop across
pressure station, m /s (ft /min),
an orifice or nozzle. ¯
Q = average air leakage rate, Q , at the second-
env2 env
3 3
3.1.9 pr
...