Are you looking for ways to improve energy efficiency in your home or building projects?
Then you won’t want to miss this demonstration by Mr. John Knapp of Source 2050. In this video, Mr. John showcases the use of the Portascanner® AIRTIGHT at a Passive House Fire House project in Manhattan, USA.
The Portascanner® AIRTIGHT detects air leaks to ensure energy-efficient building construction, reducing energy waste and saving costs
In this demonstration, Mr. John walks us through the process of using the Portascanner® AIRTIGHT to detect air leaks in the Passive House Fire House project. He highlights the importance of airtight construction and explains how the Portascanner® AIRTIGHT can help to ensure that buildings are airtight and energy-efficient.
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What is Passive House?
Passive House is a building standard that aims to achieve exceptional energy efficiency and occupant comfort while minimising energy consumption for heating and cooling. Originating in Germany in the late 1980s, Passive House has gained global recognition and popularity as a sustainable construction approach.
Passive House standards prioritise energy efficiency, thermal performance, and occupant comfort. Airtightness plays a vital role in meeting these standards and ensuring the building performs as intended.
To meet Passive House standards, the following key principles and strategies are implemented during the design and construction phases:
- Super Insulation: The building envelope is heavily insulated using high-quality materials to minimise heat transfer and maintain comfortable internal temperatures.
- Airtight Construction: Construction techniques focus on achieving a high level of airtightness to prevent uncontrolled air leakage, which can lead to poor energy efficiency. Air tightness testing and air leakage testing are conducted to ensure the effectiveness of the building envelope.
- High-Performance Windows: Windows and doors are designed with excellent thermal performance, featuring triple-pane glazing and insulated frames to minimise heat loss or gain through the openings.
- Ventilation with Heat Recovery: Mechanical ventilation systems with heat recovery are utilised to provide fresh air while recovering the heat from outgoing stale air. This helps maintain good indoor air quality and reduce the need for additional heating or cooling.
- Thermal Bridge-Free Design: Thorough design considerations are made to minimise thermal bridging, which can create areas where heat easily transfers through the building envelope. Detailed insulation and construction techniques ensure continuity and minimise energy losses.
- Energy-Efficient Heating and Cooling Systems: Passive House buildings often incorporate energy-efficient systems such as heat pumps or radiant heating/cooling to minimise energy consumption for maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures.
- Renewable Energy Sources: Passive House encourages the use of renewable energy sources like solar panels to fulfil the remaining energy needs of the building, further reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources.
- Quality Assurance and Testing: Rigorous quality assurance measures, including air tightness testing, air pressure testing, and ventilation system commissioning, are essential to ensure that the building meets the stringent requirements of Passive House.
Why is Airtight construction important?
Air tightness testing is an essential aspect of building design and construction, as it helps to determine the quality of a building’s airtight envelope. The airtight envelope of a building refers to its outer layer, which includes walls, roofs, and floors, and it is responsible for separating the indoor environment from the outdoor environment.
- Energy Efficiency: A building with a well-sealed envelope will have lower energy losses, as it will prevent air from escaping or entering the building. This results in a more efficient heating and cooling system and lower energy costs.
- Indoor Air Quality: An airtight building also helps to improve indoor air quality by preventing the infiltration of outdoor pollutants. This is important for the health and comfort of building occupants.
- Comfort: An airtight building helps to maintain a consistent indoor temperature, reducing the risk of drafts and improving overall comfort.
- Building Durability: A well-sealed building envelope helps to protect the building from moisture damage, which can result in rot, mould, and other problems.
- Compliance with Building Codes: Air tightness testing is often required by building codes and regulations. This ensures that new buildings meet minimum energy efficiency and indoor air quality standards.
We would like to thank Mr. John Knapp and Source 2050 for demonstrating the utility of the Portascanner® AIRTIGHT in achieving Passive House standards.