DEVELOPMENT OF A SIMPLIFIED DWELLINGAIRTIGHTNESS MEASURING DEVICE : IMPEC

摘要

Studies on buildings’ airtightness have shown that several issues can arise from uncontrolled airflow leakages inrnbuildings (e.g., higher energy cost, thermal comfort and health of occupants, building components andrnequipment preservation). Indeed, the new French thermal regulation, RT2000, applicable since June 2001, hasrnset airtightness performance levels for new buildings. Application of RT2000 should lead to an increase ofrnairtightness on site controls, since nowadays the building airtightness performance knowledge is only possiblernby means of measurements. Yet, recent studies have shown that technical and economical limitations of on siternairtightness measurement devices prevent controls from widening. The objectives of our work are to develop arnsimplified airtightness measuring device (IMPEC), in order to reduce both the duration and the number ofrntechnicians involved in the measurement controls. We present the characteristics of our automated instrumentrnand the measurement protocol, based on dwellings’ depressurization by means of a portable fan connected to thernair distribution systems, through the kitchen ventilation exhausts. We compare the results of the IMPECrnprototype with a commercially available device, taken as a reference, through a 20 dwelling field measurementrncampaign. Finally, we discuss the performances of IMPEC in terms of results accuracy, ergonomics and possiblernadaptation to RT2000 requirements.