Airtightness testing is also known as air permeability test (APT) or air pressure test. Identifying heat loss in your existing home or new build commercial property has many benefits for you and the environment. Not only do you want to eliminate draughts and save money on your winter heating bill, but you also want to be able to measure the amount of air leakage loss in your new build. An airtightness test is one of the building regulatory requirements for new buildings. If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of air tightness testing for your home and the environment, keep reading.
Why is air tightness testing required?
Airtightness testing is also known as air permeability test (APT) or air pressure test. Identifying heat loss in your existing home or new build commercial property has many benefits for you and the environment. Not only do you want to eliminate draughts and save money on your winter heating bill, but you also want to be able to measure the amount of air leakage loss in your new build.
An airtightness test is one of the building regulatory requirements for new builds. If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of air tightness testing for your home and the environment, keep reading.
How does air tightness testing benefit my home?
Inadequate or inadequate airtightness in a building or home can lead to serious damage to the internal structure and the living environment. Heat and humidity are produced by daily activities in a building (e.g. cooking). When these sources of heat and humidity leak through gaps, cracks or holes in a building, they can escape and damage the building envelope.
When air leaks and heat escapes from an airtight structure, it carries with it heat and moisture. This ultimately results in condensation. The moisture and condensation can cause serious structural damage to building materials. For example, it can lead to a variety of issues such as: moulding, mud, and rot.
How does air tightness benefit the planet?
The environment has been a major topic of discussion for many years and is becoming more and more of a global issue. The UK government has set a target of reducing CO2 emissions by 50% by 2025 and 100% by 2050. This has led to increased efforts to reduce emissions across the board, including in the property and construction sectors.
In the building industry, airtightness is an essential part of making buildings as energy efficient as possible. When a building is airtight, it reduces the amount of CO2 used in heating it. The more efficient the building is in terms of ventilation, the less CO2 it produces. Burning fossil fuels to heat a building produces more CO2 emissions, which in turn contributes to global warming. The lower the CO2 emissions, the better for the environment and sustainability.
How does air tightness benefit me?
An airtight home will also benefit its owners. A home that is not airtight will have less comfort and higher energy bills. The reason for this is that the house loses heat quickly. This means that draughts and mould can grow if the home is not properly ventilated.
A poorly ventilated home is harder to heat and requires more hot water to do so. This further exacerbates the problem. An airtight home with limited air leakage will reduce the amount of energy needed to heat the home. Not only will this reduce your carbon footprint, but you will also save money on your energy bills.
