DEVELOPMENT OF A SIMPLIFIED DWELLING AIRTIGHTNESS MEASURING DEVICE : IMPEC

摘要

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