Air Tightness Checklist 2 - Peak Acoustics Ltd · Section 1: Site Readiness Checklist Section 2:...

Section 1: Site Readiness Checklist

Section 2: Further Information

Section 3: Useful tips

SITE READINESSCHECKLIST

Email: [email protected] | Office: 0330 043 1764 | Web: www.acousticsurveys.co.uk Peak Acoustics Ltd. Fernbank House, Springwood Way, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 2XA

AIRTIGHTNESS

TEST

S1

Please tape up all designed ventilation on-site. This includes intermittentextractors, mechanical extracts, air bricks, fire vents, chimney openings, tricklevents and inlet/outlet ductwork. Any mechanical extraction systems and combustion appliances should beswitched off. We require mains 240V power in each dwelling to be tested. All light fixtures and sockets should be fitted. All penetrations through the building envelope should be carefully sealed. Any service or waste pipes passing through walls, floors or ceilings should besealed. Plumbing should be installed and water traps filled. Skirting boards should be fitted and sealed top and bottom. Integral garages joined to the main dwelling by a door should have a draughtseal fitted. Exposed beams should be sealed at the joint where they meet boards. Parking should be available close to site due to the large quantity and weight ofthe testing equipment. Specific parking arrangements can be noted in ourbooking confirmation form which will then be passed on to our technician.Please note that parking charges and fines due to inadequate parkingarrangements will be chargeable. PLEASE NOTE: Where a consultant is unable to carry out all or part of servicesagreed during an arranged site visit due to site unreadiness, such asunarranged or restricted access or lack of power, the client shall be liable to pay100% of the agreed price of the services.

SITE READINESSCHECKLIST


FURTHERINFORMATION


S2

Since 2006, Air permeability testing is alegal requirement for new build dwellingsin accordance with Approved DocumentPart L1A. They were revised further in 2010.Scottish building standards 2010 requiremandatory testing, as does Part F 2006 inNorthern Ireland. A more airtight dwelling will cost less tokeep warm and helps to achieve betterenergy efficiency. Airtightness must bebalanced with suitable ventilation toensure adequate air movement tomaintain air quality and moisture control.”

"Why do I need an AirTightness Test?"

General Information on,

Air Tightness Testing.Air permeability testing is amethod of quantifying theamount of air leakage in a

building.

The technician installs a fanin a temporary frame in an

external door rebate. All other windows and doorsare kept shut throughout thetest and designed ventilation

is sealed.

Our accredited engineers aretesting to the current

standards. We use only UKAScalibrated equipment, as

stated by buildingregulations.

Under approved document part L, new builds that are not tested face a penalty of +2.0 m3/(h.m2) in the as-built SAP, so a target of 8 m3/(h.m2) or better is needed in England and Wales.

S3

Building Envelope The entire building envelope must be impermeable to air. Internal airbarriers must be continuous, robust and air tight; external air barriersshould also be wind-tight. Membranes Laps in membranes should be meticulously sealed. This can beachieved by using a strip of double sided tape between the layers atthe overlap and running a strip of tape over the edge of the outermembrane sheet. External Doors and Windows All external door and window frames should be carefully sealed. Smalljoint gaps can be gunned with a compatible sealant; larger openingsshould be sealed using flexible expanding strips. Ensure that any airtight membrane overlaps the seal to maintain a continuous air barrier. Draught Strips and Seals All windows and doors should be fitted with suitable draught strips orseals. It is also important to ensure that loft hatches are thoroughlysealed when closed. Any door from the main dwelling tounconditioned space such as the garage should be treated with thesame consideration as any other external door when it comes to airtightness.

USEFUL TIPS


• Wall mounted heaters • Extractor fans/cooker hood • Eaves, cracks, holes in the inner walls/lining • Dryer vents • Ceiling roses/fused spurs/sockets/switches • Room stats/heating controls • Ends of floor joists/hangers - especially joists that penetrate walls • Chimneys, particularly where flue dampers are not fitted • Recessed ceiling spots

• Windows and hollow frames • Beneath inner window sills • Pipes to hot and cold water tanks • Top of soil stack • Letter boxes, key holes • Under and around door frames - especially double doors • Through sub floor air supplies to solid fuel heaters • Behind coving along wall roof joints • Top and bottom of skirting boards

Common Air Leakage Areas

Air Tightness Checklist 2 - Peak Acoustics Ltd · Section 1: Site Readiness Checklist Section 2:...

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