Air Tightness Testing Equipment

Air leaks are often small, hidden and easy to miss, but they can cause real problems. A few gaps around windows, doors, walls, ceilings, service penetrations or an external opening can lead to heat loss, energy waste, poor comfort and failed compliance checks.

Coltraco Ultrasonics provides specialist air tightness testing equipment for teams that need to find and quantify air leaks with greater accuracy. Our ultrasonic technology helps contractors, air testers, facilities managers, engineers and building owners detect leaks without relying only on traditional air pressure testing.

Instead of simply confirming that a building has air leakage, Coltraco’s equipment helps show where the leak is, how significant it is and where remedial work should be focused.

View Portascanner® AIRTIGHT or speak to Coltraco Ultrasonics about the right testing equipment for your project.

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The Portascanner® is an ultrasonic room integrity testing tool, allowing you to locate even minor leak sites quickly, easily, and…

  Portascanner® AIRTIGHT is our most advanced ultrasonic room integrity testing tool, contributing to optimal airtightness. Portascanner® AIRTIGHT locates and…

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Portascanner® AIRTIGHT: Ultrasonic Air Tightness Testing Equipment

Portascanner® AIRTIGHT is Coltraco’s advanced ultrasonic air tightness testing equipment for finding and quantifying air leaks in buildings, rooms, compartments and controlled spaces.

It uses ultrasound to locate leak paths through gaps, cracks and poorly sealed areas. The system can detect very small leaks and helps teams check the airtightness of spaces before, during or after a blower door, door fan or pulse testing process.

This makes it useful for:

  • Construction and the built environment
  • Passive House and energy efficient building projects
  • Data centres and computer rooms
  • Laboratories and clean rooms
  • Healthcare and isolation areas
  • Component testing for windows, doors and panels
  • Facilities where air movement, pressure or temperature changes matter

For clients who need repeat testing across a range of sites, Portascanner® AIRTIGHT gives teams a practical way to find issues early, record findings and support better building performance.

What Is Air Tightness Testing?

Air tightness testing measures how much uncontrolled air passes through the fabric of a building. This is usually referred to as air leakage, air permeability or airtightness testing.

Air leaks can occur through:

  • Gaps around windows and doors
  • Cracks in walls, ceilings or floors
  • Poorly sealed pipework and cable entries
  • Service risers and ductwork
  • Roof spaces, loft hatches and access panels
  • Joints between building materials

A building may look complete, but still lose warm air through small faults in the envelope area. This can reduce energy efficiency, increase energy loss and make the property harder to heat or cool.

Good air tightness helps create a more energy efficient building, supports better comfort and can help ensure compliance with building control requirements. Airtightness testing is key in improving thermal performance and reducing air leakage per hour per square metre of envelope area for both new dwellings and non-dwellings.

How Do You Test for Air Tightness?

Air tightness is commonly tested by creating a pressure difference between the inside and outside of a building, often using a blower door or air pressure testing equipment. This measures overall air leakage through the building envelope.

Ultrasonic air tightness testing works differently. It uses ultrasound to find the exact leak path through gaps, cracks, doors, windows or walls. This helps teams locate the problem quickly, so repairs can be made before formal air testing or compliance checks.

Why Air Leakage Matters for Energy Efficiency

Air leakage is one of the biggest causes of energy inefficiency. If warm air escapes or cold air enters through unsealed gaps, your heating or cooling systems work harder, resulting in higher energy bills and increased carbon output.

By completing a proper air leakage test, you’ll:

  • Improve your building’s energy efficiency
  • Prevent long-term issues related to damp, mould or rot
  • Increase occupant comfort by reducing draughts
  • Reduce overall cooling costs in larger or commercial spaces
  • Support your application for building control sign-off

If you need an air-tightness certificate to ensure compliance, our qualified air testers will deliver accurate results that align with UK regulations.

Where Are Air Leaks Commonly Found?

Most air leaks appear where materials meet or where services pass through the building fabric.

Common areas include:

  • Window and door frames
  • Floor-to-wall junctions
  • Ceiling-to-wall junctions
  • Service penetrations
  • Pipe and cable routes
  • Ductwork joints
  • Access panels
  • Roof voids
  • Cladding and panel joints
  • Cracks in walls or around fittings

A visual check is not always enough. Some gaps are too small to see but still allow air movement. Ultrasonic air tightness testing helps identify these hidden paths, so the team can take precise remedial action.

When Do You Need Air Tightness Testing?

You need to undergo air-tightness testing at the right stage of construction, usually once the building envelope is complete but before final finishes.

Whether you’re working on smaller buildings or large commercial structures, testing provides the data you need to avoid delays, demonstrate compliance, and identify areas of air leakage before handover.

How We Help You Ensure Compliance

Building regulations in the UK require new buildings to meet strict air permeability standards. Air leakage testing helps demonstrate your project meets or exceeds these requirements.

Reducing air leakage can significantly lower a building’s energy consumption, supporting both compliance and sustainability goals.

Whether your goal is regulatory sign-off, improved sustainability, or energy cost reduction, our testing services deliver precise, actionable data.

We understand the needs of modern construction and provide ongoing support throughout your compliance journey, from pre-test preparation to final test reports.

Why Choose Coltraco Ultrasonics?

Coltraco Ultrasonics is a UK manufacturer specialising in ultrasonic and acoustic instrumentation. Our Portascanner® range is built for teams that need accurate, non-destructive testing in real working environments.

With Coltraco, you get:

  • Specialist ultrasonic testing knowledge
  • Portable equipment for practical site use
  • Leak location and quantification capability
  • Support from a technical team
  • Solutions for buildings, compartments and controlled spaces
  • Product guidance based on your application
  • Equipment designed to support reliable results

You can learn more about the company on the Coltraco Ultrasonics About page.

Speak to Coltraco About Air Tightness Testing

Air leakage can cause failed tests, energy waste, comfort issues and avoidable project delays. Finding those leaks early makes them easier to fix.

Coltraco Ultrasonics supplies air tightness testing equipment for teams that need fast, accurate and non-invasive leak detection. Whether you are working on a new building, a house, a larger building, a clean room, a data centre or another controlled environment, Portascanner® AIRTIGHT can help you find the source of unwanted air movement.

Contact Coltraco Ultrasonics to discuss your project, request a quote or speak to our team about the right air tightness testing equipment for your application.

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