The overall objectives of the tests were two-fold:Ī) To measure the airtightness of the office building built with Artspan SIP panels both during and post-construction.ī) To expand the general knowledge base on the airtightness characteristics of commercial-style buildings in Manitoba.Īir leakage in a building can never be eliminated. The project also included a whole building air leakage test and energy modelling of the Artspan office building, located in Winkler, MB. Air Tightness Testing and Energy Modelling Resistance to air and water infiltration at these points is critical in cold and mixed climate zones, with regards to the building envelopes’ durability and its energy efficiency.Įxperimental testing took place in the RRC Centre for Applied Research in Sustainable Infrastructure (CARSI), using the Air-Water-Structural (AWS) Test Chamber, to conduct air leakage and water penetration testing on three test walls. Air Leakage and Water Penetration TestingĪs mentioned, Artspan had previously conducted tests on its structurally insulated panels However, testing of the panel joints (wall-to-floor, panel-to-panel, and floor-to-ceiling) and the window-wall interfaces had been limited. Testing was broken down into three parts: air leakage and water penetration, air tightness and energy modelling, and thermal performance assessment. The Engage Grant project with Artspan took place between 20, with the objective of conducting a performance assessment of the company’s panelized system and window installation details. The Building Efficiency Technology Access Centre (BETAC) at Red River College performed further testing through an Engage Grant project, with financial support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). The company had previously conducted airtightness testing on completed houses, thermal testing on its insulation foam, and a variety of fire and structural testing. Artspan provides a one-step building envelope solution for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. (Artspan) is a company based out of Winkler, MB, that designs, manufactures, and distributes structurally insulated panels (SIP). Simply put, blower door testing is the best way to ensure your new or existing building can reach its intended potential.Artspan Inc. We believe the blower door has become one of the most powerful tools available when it comes to validating construction quality. A tight building envelope has a direct effect on lowering energy costs, providing better comfort for occupants, minimizing runtime on HVAC equipment, and limiting many other issues associated with a leaky building. This “weak link” in the building envelope chain means equipment runs longer, occupants are less comfortable, and buildings are much more vulnerable during extreme weather conditions.īuilding Envelope Testing offers a way for building scientists to identify, document, and quantify the level of tightness a building has achieved. However, even today many design and construction techniques lack the critical air and vapor barriers. For years, buildings have been designed with adequate conduction barriers.
The building envelope is typically described as having three main components:Īll three of these components play in critical role in constructing a tight building.
#Building envelope testing full#
To take full advantage of these systems, they need to be installed into a well-constructed, “tight” building. High efficiency HVAC Systems are becoming the “norm” when designing a constructing a new building. Building Envelope Testing, Blower Door Testing, and Envelope Commissioning are all terms used to describe this process.
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