A Protocol Advanced Air Sealing
Efficiency Vermont is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems (AIA/CES). Credit(s) earned on completion of this program will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-aia members are available upon request. This program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.
Learning Objectives By the end of this program, participants will be able to: Learn strategies for more effective targeted air-sealing. Learn role of thermal imaging and diagnostic smoke in air leakage investigation. Learn methods to strategically reduce air leakage. Learn how to find and address air leakage in elusive places like interior wall partitions.
Course Evaluations In order to maintain high-quality learning experiences, please access the evaluation for this course by logging into CES Discovery and clicking on the Course Evaluation link on the left side of the page.
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What is a Protocol? A series of defined and ordered steps Performed in accordance with industry standards To obtain specific information or best results
Why Air Sealing? Tight buildings have been an elusive goal Valuable time is spent determining an approach (trial and error) Air leakage reduction has big cost/benefit Lost opportunities WRT low hanging fruit The 21 st Century has arrived for Home Performance
Economics of Air Sealing CFM x Btu capacity of air x min x hours x HDD = Btu per season = Btu per season 1CFM x.018btu x 60 min x 24 hours x 7500 HDD = 194,400 Btu per season 57 kwh electric 2 Therm natural gas 1.4 gal #2 fuel oil
Dale s Spreadsheet Show 1 yr savings of 1 house air sealed by 5000 3000 CFM 50 5000 1500 CFM 50 Show 10 year savings for each house Show 50 homes per year savings for 10 yr
Consider This If Gold is $1600 an ounce or $25,600 lb... Then 160 lb. of gold is worth $4,096,000 If the average air sealer weighs 160 lb... A good air sealer may be worth their weight in gold to their employer, to their customers, to the economy, to the planet!
Steps of the Protocol
Determine if Building is Good Candidate for Air Sealing Bulk moisture management - Inspect the exterior grade and roof runoff Wet foundations Inspect the interior water and vapor management mold, dry rot, ventilation Combustion appliance vented/unvented air requirements Chemical pollution sources & controls Soil gases Radon, moisture Existing envelope leakage rate & # of occupants
Remediation Required Before Air Sealing
Air Sealing considerations
Building Preparation Identify building construction type framing, construction materials and intended pressure boundaries Identify zones outside conditioned space attics, kneewall areas, crawl space areas, garages, porch roof systems Configure building for diagnostics Thermal imaging Envelope & Blower door testing CAZ & Combustion analysis
Thermal Imaging #1 Infrared imaging from inside the building (static) - exterior & interior walls - ceilings on all levels - rim and band joist areas identify performance/existence of insulation Establish benchmark for air leakage
Occasional Visual Clues
Before Depressurization
Blower Door Diagnostics Measure leakage rate of envelope and compare to a calculated BAS (vol, occupancy, & pollutant sources ) Pressure pan testing of ducts running outside of the conditioned space Identify leakage pathways pressures & smoke Quantify air leakage from attached unconditioned zones series leakage
What is Series Leakage Testing? Method to Quantify the air leakage from each of the attached unconditioned zones Calculate the effective sq inches of leakage pathway between conditioned and unconditioned zone Calculate the leakage and effective hole size from attached zone to outdoors
Open Frame
When to Conduct Series Leakage Testing In tandem with blower door testing adds just a couple minutes to required blower door testing Prior to entering zones to inspect for leakage pathways Prior to insulating the air sealed attic When air sealing has failed to reduce leakage to targeted levels When measuring make-up air to CAZ - NFPA
Use Diagnostic Smoke With home depressurized From zones with high series leakage rates From attached garages From unconditioned duct zones From within pressurized home Registers, ductwork and air handler cabinets Windows & door framing, casings Ceilings & floors to verify band joist leakage
Chemical Smoke Highly Responsive to Subtle Pressures
Thermal Imaging #2 Compare images from depressurized building to benchmark established in Thermal Imaging #1 Capture images for further analysis and reporting using IR imaging software Identify major interstitial pathways and specify in proposed work scope
Wall Cavity By-Pass
Dew Point at Band Joist
Interior wall Partition
Before Depressurization
After Depressurization
Band Joist By-Pass
Air Leakage at band joist
Targeted Air Sealing High density insulation in band joist between conditioned floor areas High density insulation in wall cavities exterior and interior walls (balloon framed) Spray foam all wall top plates located in attic exterior and interior walls High density insulation in all attached garage surfaces walls and ceilings
Targeted Air Sealing High density insulation below kneewalls Ductwork and air handler cabinets Mastic Bulkheads and interior dropped soffits The usual suspects penetrations through pressure boundary canned lights, plumbing chases, doorways
Sealed Rim Joist
Sealing Band Joist with Low Density Spray Foam
Rigid and Foam Insulation seal Monster By-Pass
Are We There Yet? Reduce air leakage to target by 80% Conduct combustion safety testing Worse Case CAZ testing Appliance spillage, draft & carbon monoxide Ambient carbon monoxide testing Evaluate mechanical ventilation needs Provide occupant with maintenance requirements & schedules
Remaining infiltration must come from clean, dry, fresh outdoor sources The actual airflow for a tight, efficient home could be coming from an unwanted source
Ventilate to ASHRAE 62.2.01 X Sq ft of conditioned space + 7.5 X # of occupants or # bedrooms + 1 2000 sq ft home with 4 bedrooms.01 X 2000 = 20 CFM + 4 X 7.5 = 30 CFM 50 CFM Continuous Mechanical Ventilation
A Training Model for Advanced Air Sealing How buildings are constructed Airflow as a function of hole & pressure Diagnostic tools & Investigative techniques Air sealing material properties & handling Strategic installs Personal and worksite safety Evaluation of safety & performance
2 Days Classroom & Laboratory A little theory and a lot of hand on practice with diagnostics & material handling
Followed With 1 Day Field Diagnostics
and Strategic Installations
Evaluation Measure air leakage reduction QC with series leakage testing Test Out with BPI Worst Case CAZ Spillage Draft & CO Testing
The 30-30 - 30 Rule 30% of participants will embrace new and better approach 30% of participants will follow once an approach has been proven 30% of participants will comply, but not without fighting and screaming all along the way