These tests help to identify areas of a building that are leaking air and heat, which can then be addressed to improve energy efficiency and reduce heating costs.
However, while both tests are designed to identify energy efficiency issues, they are different in nature and provide different types of information. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the differences between these two tests and their advantages and disadvantages.
Airtightness Testing
Airtightness testing, also known as air testing, air leakage testing, air permeability test or blower door testing, is a process that measures the amount of air that leaks through the building envelope. This test is typically performed on a completed building, using a blower door to create a pressure difference between the interior and exterior of the building.
The test measures the airflow through the building envelope at a specific pressure difference and provides a measure of the building’s overall airtightness.
Advantages of Air Testing:
- It can quickly identify areas of significant air leakage, which can be prioritised for remediation.
- It provides a quantitative measure of the building’s overall airtightness, which can be used to compare the building to standards or benchmarks.
- It can be used to demonstrate compliance with building codes or energy efficiency standards.
Disadvantages of Air Testing:
- It does not provide information about where the air leaks are occurring or how they can be remediated.
- It does not provide information about the thermal performance or insulation issues.
Thermal Imaging & Heat Loss Survey
Thermal imaging, also known as thermography, is a process that uses an infrared camera to measure the temperature of surfaces in a building. This test can help to identify areas where heat is escaping from the building, or where insulation is inadequate.
Thermal imaging can be performed on a completed building or during construction and can provide valuable information about the building’s thermal performance.
Advantages of Thermal Imaging:
- It can identify areas where heat is escaping from the building, which can be addressed to improve energy efficiency and reduce heating costs.
- It can identify areas of inadequate insulation, which can be remediated to improve energy efficiency.
- It can provide a visual representation of the building’s thermal performance, which can help to communicate the issues to building owners or occupants.
Disadvantages of Thermal Imaging:
It requires specific weather conditions to be effective, as temperature differences between the interior and exterior of the building are necessary for thermal imaging to work effectively.
- It can be affected by factors such as solar radiation, which can distort the results.
- It does not provide a quantitative measure of the building’s overall airtightness.
Overall, both airtightness testing and thermal imaging have important roles to play in identifying energy efficiency issues in buildings. Airtightness testing provides a measure of the building’s overall airtightness, while thermal imaging can identify specific areas where heat is escaping from the building or insulation is inadequate.
However, both tests have their limitations, and it is often necessary to use both tests in combination to get a complete picture of a building’s energy efficiency.
By using both tests, building owners and occupants can identify and address energy efficiency issues, improving the comfort of the building and reducing heating costs over the long term.
