Experimental exploration on airtightness performance of residential buildings in the hot summer and cold winter zone in China

Abstract

The partial space heating/cooling mode and window opening for natural ventilation are significant characteristics of residential buildings' usage patterns in the Hot Summer and Cold Winter (HSCW) zone. At present, less attention has been paid to the partial space airtightness performance of residential buildings in this zone. In this study, the airtightness measurements of 4 spaces (whole space–Space 1, living room–Space 2, living room & bedroom–Space 3, living room & study–Space 4) in 11 newly–built and 3 existing high–rise apartments in Chengdu were carried out by the Blower Door Test method (BDT). Under the initial condition, the space with the best airtightness performance is Space 1, and the space with the worst airtightness performance is Space 2. The general disregard for the structural gaps of inner doors during the construction and installation is pointed as the most probable cause for such a significant difference in the airtightness performance under the initial condition of the 4 tested spaces. Although the implementation of stricter building design regulation is advantageous for upgrading whole–suite airtightness performance, the airtightness of the partial space has not been given enough attention, which is quite important in partial heating/cooling apartments. It may be necessary to emphasize the requirements for partial space airtightness in the building performance standards of HSCW zone.