Buidling Fabric 05 Airtightness

BUILDING FABRIC 5 -
AIR TIGHTNESS
From FIRST IN ARCHITECTURE
Why is air tightness important?

Air leakage results in increased space heating demand of a building. Achieving a good level of
airtightness will improve the energy efficiency of the building and the comfort of the occupants
by reducing drafts and maintaining a more constant temperature.
It is said that uncontrolled ventilation (air leakage) through cracks and gaps in the construction
can cause up to 40% of heat loss.
This leakage occurs in two ways.
Wind
When wind blows against a building it creates pressure differences between the inside and
outside of the structure. On the windward face of the building air is drawn into the construction
by way of infiltration, through any gaps in the building fabric. On the leeward side of the
building, the external air pressure is low and therefore the warmer air is drawn out of the
building through exfiltration through any gaps or cracks in the envelope. This causes an
uncontrolled background air leakage.
Air buoyancy
As warm air heats up in a building it is more buoyant than colder air outside. The warm air
becomes less dense and rises upwards leaking out of any gaps at higher level. Cold air is then
drawn into the building at lower level through any gaps in the envelope. Occupants would
experience this effect as cold draughts. This effect is made worse when the air is particularly
cold outside and particularly warm inside.
firstinarchitecture.co.uk 1 of 5
Current Buildings Regulations in England allow for a hole or crack the area of one side of a 20p
piece per m2of fabric. As a comparison, a Passivhaus standard allows a hole of the equivalent
of a 5p piece per 5m2of fabric.
Building Regulation Requirements for

Airtightness
Air leakage is defined as the amount of air exchanged through 1m2of thermal envelope. The
standard UK convention of expressing airtightness is given as m3per hour, divided by the
internal area (in m2) of the building fabric at 50 Pa (pressure).
So, air permeability is:
m3/h.m2 at 50 Pa
Currently, the Building Regulations specify a limit of 10 m3/h.m2at 50 Pa. A lower value
demonstrates better airtightness. As a comparison, the Passivhaus standard for air
permeability is <1 m3/h.m2 at 50 Pa.
As airtightness increases, the need for heating and cooling reduces, but the need for controlled
ventilation increases. If a value of 3m3/h.m2 at 50 Pa or less is achieved it is important that
mechanical ventilation is included in the design to ensure best air quality for the occupants.
Common Air Leakage Paths
Methods for
achieving
airtightness
The most important factor for achieving

airtightness is to create a continuous
robust single airtight layer or air barrier.
The airtightness zone can be achieved:

•with monolithic construction of airtight
materials
•with an airtightness membrane over
materials that are permeable
•taping all joints and junctions and
lapping and taping all membranes
This barrier will surround the heated volume of the building and generally should be located on
the warm side of the insulation.
An air barrier must be impermeable or virtually impermeable, meaning that air will not be able
to pass through at 50 Pa. Air barrier materials include:
• Vapour control layer membranes
• Concrete
• OSB (used for SIPS panels and sheathing in timber frame construction)
• Cross laminated timber
• Parging coat – applied to masonry
It is important to select materials that are robust, and suitable to form the air barrier.
The role of air barrier is to separate the heated spaces from the unheated spaces. Generally, in
dwellings, the barrier will be within the external walls, the ground floor and line of the roof or
the upper most ceiling depending on the roof construction. The most vulnerable areas are
joints between constructions, wall to floor, floor to ceiling or roof etc.
It is important that the line of the air barrier is clearly identified on drawings, and that it is
continuous. Where possible, avoid complex detailing which will prove difficult to achieve on
site.
Floors
With a ground bearing slab a damp proof membrane provides suitable protection and must be
lapped to achieve good seals and joints. Any penetrations through the membrane must be
sealed.
A suspended beam and block floor would provide a good standard of airtightness if a
membrane is laid over the block floor. The membrane must be lapped and sealed at joints. Any
service penetrations through the barrier must also be sealed.
Masonry Walls
Air leakage has a tendency to occur in cavity walls, this can be remedied by sealing the internal
blockwork wall be ensuring the mortar joints are suitably filled. Any penetrations into the
blockwork must be sealed appropriately. A parging layer can be used to cover the blockwork
(which can then be dry lined afterward).
Cavities must be closed at window and door openings using cavity closers and sealed
appropriately.
Joists built into the wall must be sealed as these are considered to be problem areas. They can
be sealed with flexible sealant or a joist sealing box.
All service penetrations into the wall must be sealed, using either flexible sealant, or spray
applied foams. Application must be according to manufacturing instructions.
Timber Frame Walls

The sole plate and floor slab junction must be sealed using gun applied flexible sealant or
foam tape to ensure air tightness.
A vapour control membrane is a suitable material to achieve a good level of airtightness. All
joins must be lapped and well sealed.
Any gaps or penetrations into the membrane must be taped or sealed, with any damages
being repaired.
Roof and Ceiling
Seal between ceiling boards and the external wall. Any recessed lighting that penetrates the air
tight layer can be treated with airtight backing caps to ensure a good seal.
Other considerations
Ensure all windows and doors specified provide a suitable airtight seal when closed. Draught
excluders can be fitted around external doors to avoid air leakage.
Loft hatches can suffer with air leakage, which can be remedied by using a suitable draught
seal.
Although careful design and detailing are of utmost importance in creating a good airtightness
level, much of the work is to be carried out on site. It is recommended that an ‘airtightness
champion’ is appointed for the project who can ensure all site operatives are aware of the
importance of the airtight barrier throughout the build. The ‘airtightness champion’ will often
have a checklist of duties that will assist in achieving this goal, including communications,
supervising, site testing and readings, checking materials, preparing for testing, and many other
duties. This person would be site based to ensure good communication with all sub contractors
and trades visiting the site.
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BUILDING FABRIC 5 -

Why is air tightness important?

This leakage occurs in two ways.

Building Regulation Requirements for

So, air permeability is:

The most important factor for achieving

The airtightness zone can be achieved:

Timber Frame Walls

Read the original post here:

You might also be interested in:

Building Fabric 01 - Thermal Performance

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