Single-family homes according to the German Energy Savings Regulation (EnEV)

This is the most typical and well-known application. The BlowerDoor test according to German Industrial and European Standard DIN EN 13829 is conducted while the building is in use. As part of the quality assurance process, it is recommended to carry out an additional early one-point measurement in order to detect and locate any leaks. The air change rate should be n₅₀ ≤ 3.0 h^-1. With the installation of ventilation systems, the limit for the air change rate is n₅₀ ≤ 1.5 h^-1.

Single-family houses with Passive-House construction

Passive Houses require 90% less heating energy than common existing buildings and about 75% less heating energy than the average new house. Highly efficient insulation of the building envelope and windows, in addition to the use of interior sources of energy like body or solar heat, make an active heating system like central heating obsolete. The heating requirement is less than 15 kWh per square meter per year (excluding hot water, electricity, etc.). Consequently, the requirements for the air tightness of the building envelope are high: the required air change rate is n₅₀ ≤ 0.6 h^-1.

Apartment buildings according to the German Energy Savings Regulation (EnEV) or with Passive-House construction

The same air-tightness requirements apply here as for single-family homes or Passive Houses. Buildings with up to 10 units are usually tested with one BlowerDoor fan. Depending on the degree of air tightness, two or more BlowerDoor fans are needed for testing larger buildings. In accordance with the German Industrial and European Standard DIN EN 13829, the measurement is conducted while the building is in use, but still unoccupied. For quality-assurance purposes, it is recommended to carry out an additional air-tightness measurement early on in order to eliminate any leakages.

Attic conversion in apartment buildings

This measurement is easiest if the newly converted unit has its own specific air-tightness requirement. In order to avoid any leaks within the building, the ceiling of the unit below needs to be made air-tight.

Industrial facilities and office buildings according to the German Energy Savings Regulation (EnEV) and with Passive-House construction

Since low air-tightness limits reduce time and effort in the measuring process, and therefore also cost, the limits should already be determined during the planning phase. The BlowerDoor test is usually carried out with several fans. It is recommended to use a limit of q50 ≤3 m³/(h ∙ m²), based on the envelope surface area, in accordance with German Industrial Standard DIN 4108-7 as a minimum EnEV-requirement. In traditional buildings, limits of q50 ≤1.5 m³/(h ∙ m²) can usually be attained. The Passive-House standard requires a higher degree of air tightness, but usually less measuring equipment.

Halls and high-bay warehouses

For halls and high-bay warehouses, it is also recommended to determine the envelope-based air-tightness limit early on in the planning phase (e.g. q50 ≤ 3.0 m³/(h∙ m²) or q50 ≤ 1.5 m³/(h ∙ m²)). To conduct point-by-point leakage tests at the roof rims, scaffolding or jack lifts are required. In high-bay warehouses, the built-in racks frequently make leakage testing at the roof connections difficult. In such cases, the use of thermography for leakage detection is particularly helpful.

Clean rooms

Production and development processes in the electrical industry (microchips), high-precision technology, medical research, and food technology, as well as in operating theatres, all require rooms with particularly “clean” air. Unwanted, excessive concentrations of particulate matter and fine dust in the air must be prevented. Experience shows that the quality of the room envelope frequently does not meet requirements. Air-tightness measurements are highly suitable for optimizing the quality of the room envelope and significantly reducing undesired air pollution.

Food or tobacco odours from adjacent units

Odours can drift into other apartments through leaks within the building. By using fogging during the BlowerDoor test, such leaks can be detected, the leakage paths can be traced, and the causes eliminated.

Joint permeability by windows (a-value)

According to German Industrial and European Standard DIN EN 12207, window joints may show a certain degree of air-permeability. In order to measure the degree of joint permeability of windows and doors installed at the construction site, the a-value measuring system was developed.

Calibrating exhaust air valves in ventilation systems

The DG-700 allows you to test the operability of exhaust air systems and to conduct rapid functional tests of ventilation systems with heat recovery. In combination with the Exhaust Fan Flow Meter, you can measure the volume flow for exhaust air valves.

Determining extinction gas holding times

In order for extinction gases to work, they must remain in the room to be closed during their use. The room envelope must consequently be airtight.  A BlowerDoor measurement is conducted in the respective room. The software "Extinction Gas Holding Times" allows you to determine the holding times of different extinction gases according to the VdS Guideline (accredited certifier in the field of fire prevention).