A Review of European Research into Airtightness and Air Infiltration Measurement Techniques

Abstract

An important function of the Air Infiltration Centre, Bracknell, Berkshire, Great Britain, is to keep research organizations informed of on-going research into air infiltration in buildings. To fulfill this need, the Centre regularly undertakes a worldwide survey of current research. In this report, the results of the Centre's most recent survey, completed in 1983, are used to provide a background to present European airtightness and air infiltration measurement practices. A wide range of research activities are summarized involving the use of both pressurization and tracer gas techniques. In addition, the increasing effort being devoted to the measurement of air infiltration in nondomestic buildings is emphasized. Other topics covered include ventilation efficiency measurements and multitracer air movement studies.