Measuring Airtightness in a Tall MultiFamily Passive House

Measuring Airtightness in a Tall Multi-Family Passive House when Exposed to Wind and Stack Effect Stefanie Rolfsmeier, Paul Simons Blower. Door Gmb. H, rolfsmeier@blowerdoor. de

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Passive House SOURCE: Passivhaus Institut Darmstadt Download full paper at www. cesb. cz/19/8888 1148

Agenda § Airtightness test § Test standard for airtightness tests § Deviations from test standard for tall buildings § Two field tests at a tall building under different weather conditions § Results § Conclusions Download full paper at www. cesb. cz/19/8888 1148

Airtightness Measurement Test Equipment create a building pressure between inside and outside Airflow through Leaks Measure Airflow q. E 50 n 50, q. E 50 Download full paper at www. cesb. cz/19/8888 1148

Test Standard: ISO 9972 Download full paper at www. cesb. cz/19/8888 1148

Multipoint Test according ISO 9972 Problems during multipoint test § Absolute value of average (pos. or neg. ) zero-flow / natural pressure difference before and after the test must be < 5 Pa § Positive or Negative INDUCED or GENERATED (Fan on) pressure difference in the entire building during the multipoint test. § Uniform pressure distribution inside of the building during the fan on periods (pressure drop < 10%). Not in included in the standard any more! ! Download full paper at www. cesb. cz/19/8888 1148

Why? Download full paper at www. cesb. cz/19/8888 1148

Weather Conditions (Wintertime CE) Difference in Temperature Wind Download full paper at www. cesb. cz/19/8888 1148

Examples: Two Field Tests in a Tall Building § Location: Freiburg, South Germany) § Refurbishment to Passive House Standard airtightness: n 50 ≤ 0, 6 h-1 § Multi Family Building : 16 floors § Height: ca. 60 m § Volume: ca. 22. 000 m³ § Location of the test equipment: ground floor § Flow device: Minneapolis Blower. Door Download full paper at www. cesb. cz/19/8888 1148

Weather Conditions at test days Test 1 Test 2 strong wind „large“ temp. difference 4 Beaufort Wind 1 Beaufort 19 °C inside temperature 17 °C 10 °C outside temperature 3 °C 9 °C temperature difference 14 °C Download full paper at www. cesb. cz/19/8888 1148

Measuring Pressure Differences Top Floor 2 check points pressure difference Ground Floor 3 test points for reference pressure Dp 4 Dp 1 Dp 5 Dp 3 Dp 4 Dp 5 Dp 1 Dp 3 Dp 2 Download full paper at www. cesb. cz/19/8888 1148

Wind creates Pressure Differences SOURCE: Zürcher, Frank: Bauphysik, Bau und Energie, Teubner 1998 Download full paper at www. cesb. cz/19/8888 1148

Test 1 – Strong Wind (4 Beaufort) Top Floor Ground Floor Download full paper at www. cesb. cz/19/8888 1148

Press. Difference caused by Stack Effect Example 1 single family house Example 2 tall building - 2 Pa + 10 Pa h = 50 m + 2 Pa h = 10 m stack effect DT = 10 K - 10 Pa Download full paper at www. cesb. cz/19/8888 1148

Test 2 – 14 °C Temperatur Difference Top Floor Difference: 14 °C Ground Floor Download full paper at www. cesb. cz/19/8888 1148

Test Result: Airflow @50 Pa Test 1 strong wind Test 2 Deviation q 50 [m³/h] „large“ difference in temperature q 50 [m³/h] Depressurization 5. 567 4. 833 -13% Pressurization 4. 219 4. 859 +15% Average 4. 893 4. 846 -1% Dq in % n 50 = 0, 2 h-1 < 0, 6 h-1 Download full paper at www. cesb. cz/19/8888 1148

Conclusion § Possible to test-high rise building … if § Avoid wind and large differences in temperature § Add check points to take into account the impact of wind and temperatures § During the test ensure § that the building pressure is positive during overpressure test § that the building pressure is negative during the underpressure test § a uniform pressure distribution inside the building § take more than one reference pressure for the multipoint test if there is wind § Need § more tests - more experiences § guideline for airtightness tests of large and / or tall buildings Download full paper at www. cesb. cz/19/8888 1148

Further Information § From the Passive House Institute in Darmstadt – more or less finished § Airtightness Measurement of High-Rise Buildings Guidelines ENGLISH_1. 4. pdf Download full paper at www. cesb. cz/19/8888 1148

Thank you for your attention! Stefanie Rolfsmeier rolfsmeier@blowerdoor. de Scan QR or download full paper at www. cesb. cz/19/ 1148