Air Testing in New-Build Houses
If you are completing a housing development, then you will probably need have to have an air leakage test carried out, as these are mandatory for almost all new properties in England.
As specialists in carrying out air tests on new build houses in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire, here CPS Leakage look at why the testing procedure is essential, the regulations which apply, and how our services can meet all your needs.
Why Air Testing is Important
Air leakage testing measures how much air is escaping from a building in an uncontrolled manner; that is, not through specially designed features of the property like air vents.
Air can get out through a variety of leakage paths created where penetrations to the airtight barrier have been made but then not sealed adequately. Many of these may not be easily visible.
The less air is escaping, the more energy-efficient the building will be, so reducing the CO2 emissions and its carbon footprint. This should mean lower heating bills for the owner and effectively acts as a good indicator of build quality for the buyer.
The Regulations
Developers are required by law to make their homes sufficiently airtight, whether they are detached, semi-detached, mid-terrace, end-terrace, a bungalow or a flat.
The relevant Building Regulations were first drawn up in England in 2006, and these were updated in 2010. Part L1A of the 2010 regulations requires an air tightness of maximum 10 m3/hr/m2 air loss at a pressure of 50 Pa in new-build properties.
How CPS Leakage Can Help
We can get involved at the design stage, helping you avoid the potential inconvenience of a retest in the event of a failure. We can meet you on site two to three weeks before the actual test to identify any potential areas of concern.
If there is a failure, our staff will work with the customer to identify the potential air leakage paths. Once these are sealed or resealed we will carry out another test on the same day.
We will provide full reports if required, and can advise you on a proportional or test all test regime.
CPS Leakage have carried out thousands of air tests on new build houses in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. We are members of the Air Tightness Testing and Measurement Association and our air testing procedure is UKAS accredited. Follow the link above if you would like to know more about our air leakage testing services.