Information Papers
ASIEPI Information Paper P187
Duct system air leakage - How Scandinavia tackled the problem
This Information Paper describes the Scandinavian approach concerning the tightness of air ductwork in buildings. It gives recommendations on how such successful approach can be adopted in other countries.Duct leakage is detrimental to indoor air quality (IAQ), comfort, and energy efficiency. It is often accompanied by other problems, such as inferior commissioning and cleaning. Airtight circular (round) ductwork is known to have many other benefits over rectangular ductwork, including cost. But why do designers, installers, and building owners forego airtight duct systems? It is due to (i) lack of awareness of the benefits,(ii)lack of performance requirements and penalties for noncompliance, and (iii) no one is found accountable, as there is no commissioning.
This paper focuses on metal ductwork, but mentions other materials. </o:p>
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ASIEPI Information Paper P165
Airtightness testing of large and multi-family buildings in an Energy Performance regulation context
In many European countries, the Energy Performance regulations defined or revised with the implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) take into account envelope air tightness in their calculation method. This paper illustrates that the measurement of airtihghtness in possible in practice for large buildings. The paper also discusses subsequent practical issues for large and multi-family buildings, especially regarding the test procedures that must be harmonized to allow a homogenous evaluation of the air tightness value that will be used as input in the energy performance calculation.
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ASIEPI Information Paper P157
Airtightness requirements for high performance building envelopes
Especially for high performance buildings, which go beyond national energy performance requirements, infiltration losses become a significant factor for the energy performance. This information paper presents an overview on the existing building surface airtightness requirements in different European countries and compares them to the requirements for high performance buildings. Airtightness measurement results of realised high performance buildings show what can be achieved in practice.
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ASIEPI Information Paper P147
International comparison of envelope airtightness requirements & success stories that could inspire the EC and other MS
This information paper from the ASIEPI European project discusses international comparison of envelope air-tightness requirements and brings out success stories that could inspire the EC.
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ASIEPI Information Paper P072
Implementation of energy performance regulations: opportunities and challenges related to building airtightness
This information paper from the European project ASIEPI discusses some critical aspects that have to be dealt with to stimulate the market towards better envelope airtightness in the Member States. This includes how airtightness may be taken into account in an energy performance regulation as well as the role of standards, low-energy labels, professional networks, financial incentives, industry, training, and regulatory control in helping the market uptake.
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AIVC Information Paper VIP29
An overview of national trends in envelope and ductwork airtightness
This paper summarises presentations and discussions that took place during the workshop entitled "Trends in national building ventilation markets and drivers for change" held in Ghent, Belgium, in march 2008 with a specific focus on envelope and ductwork airtightness. Before this workshop, experts were asked to provide information regarding the trends in ventilation in their country and the difficulties they felt to improve the situation in terms of market penetration of innovative systems, indoor air quality and energy use requirements, and compliance check schemes. This has resulted in a body of literature published as Information Papers which can be downloaded from the EPBD buildings platform. Based mostly on these papers and on the workshop discussions, this paper starts summarising energy savings estimates and energy regulation measures ; it continues with a number of issues that have been stressed by the experts such as indoor air quality impacts, airflows through insulation layers, airtightness databases and metrics, and finally, ways to explore to achieve good airtightness.
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Last update: 15-01-2010