CPS Leakage Services for Construction
CPS can assist from the design stage through to the final air leakage testing. Read below how we can be involved.
Construction Performance Solutions Ltd is a UKAS Accredited laboratory, and are also ATTMA Members, CHAS Compliant, CQMS compliant, Builders Profile registered, Constructionline registered, FORS compliant and COINS listed.
Introduction:
This guide is based on a culture of early involvement in order to manage and minimise the risk in terms of abortive air test work and time delays at the end of a project.
Construction Performance Solutions Ltd Resources:
CPS Ltd are leading UKAS Accredited laboratories, offering residential air leakage testing services in Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex and Norfolk, in conjunction with construction building regulations. We also offer non-residential air testing services in London, Kent and East Sussex, as well as East Anglia.
The Managing Director and five air test engineers, all full time employees, have been involved in the air testing market for up to eleven years. We have air tested in excess of 21,000 buildings, carrying out work in areas including Cambridge, Chelmsford and Norwich and further afield.
The company manufactures its own air test equipment and has quality levels exceeding other pre-manufactured options. Available are five sets of 600TS portable air test fans, four 300SF residential air test fans and four 180SF residential air testing fans.
Air Leakage Consultancy and Air Tightness Testing:
Tender stage quotation:
CPS Ltd would receive drawings and offer an air test quotation based on the size of the building and its complexity when it is a non residential building. The size dictates the equipment required and hence the costs for the test. The complexity of the building will dictate the amount of air leakage consultancy input required. This quotation will be valid, against the design/drawings supplied, if the project proceeds within 3 months of the quotation date. In some cases, once we have viewed the relevant information to produce a quotation, a final air test can be ruled out. (No Charge)
When viewing a residential dwelling project one considers the target air permeability rate from the SAP’s and discusses with the client if they wish to proceed with air testing all the dwellings to the stated figure in the SAP calculations or air test to a proportional regime. Once this is established an air test regime can be suggested and an air testing quote submitted.
Design meeting with the project team:
If ascertained necessary by the client (client’s option), to then arrange a meeting on site with the project team and relevant envelope contractors to review architectural drawings with regard to your air leakage testing. We aim to establish a practical airtight barrier acceptable to all for the final air test. During the visit we also inspect the site from an air test perspective if its current state of construction permits. No report. (Chargeable)
Drawing / Design Review:
If ascertained by the client at the design meeting that it would be beneficial, then to undertake a review of Architectural & Engineering drawings which would produce a report. This will be to identify and propose possible alterations to potentially problematic detail raised at the design meeting which would allow air leakage from the building envelope during an air test and establish the air tight barrier. (Chargeable)
Product / Materials Testing
As an integral part of design reviews, we can perform product air testing for material selection purposes. Using in house designed testing equipment we will air test and analyse materials to determine their air leakage properties. (Chargeable)
Site based construction consultancy:
If ascertained necessary by the client, to undertake construction consultancy site inspections in order to ensure that the course of action, set in the design meeting or the architectural drawing design review, is complied with and to identify leakage path problems / quality shortfalls within the construction. This is targeted at minimising the risk of a final air test fail. We present a full written and photographic report proposing any actions to be undertaken. (Chargeable)
Pre-test Site Visit: No Pressurisation
If ascertained necessary by the client, then to conduct a site visit about 2-3 weeks before the actual final air test. This involves a tour of the site with site staff to identify any visible air leakage paths and hence allow time for site to do remedial work before the final air test. We provide a full photographic report. (Chargeable).
Building Air Leakage Testing:
To undertake the air tight test to ATTMA TSL1 or TSL2 and according to Part L1A, L2A or L2B of the building Regulations. (Chargeable)
Service for air testing single buildings is as follows:
- Envelope area calculation. FOC.
- To perform an initial Whole Building Air Permeability Test.
- In the event of a fail to perform a localised smoke test. FOC.
- After Remedial work by site to perform an additional Whole Building Air Permeability Test.
- Repeat the process as many times as required within the time allocated on site.
- Fail report if required or requested. £xx additional. Within 4-5 working days.
- Using one of CPS’s Test units.
- Declaration of result & Report.
- Attendance of one CPS member of staff.
- Up to 4hrs on site.
- Attend site between the hours of 0800-1600. Arrival time at CPS’s discretion.
- Service Guide for air testing multiple buildings is as follows:
- Envelope area calculation. FOC.
- To perform an initial Whole Building Air Permeability Test on the first unit.
- In the event of a fail to perform a localised smoke test. FOC.
- After Remedial work by site to perform an additional Whole Building Air Permeability Test before moving on to the next unit.
- Using one of CPS’s Test units.
- Declaration of result & Report.
- Fail report if required or requested. £xx additional. Within 4-5 working days.
- Attendance of one CPS member of staff.
- Attend site between the hours of 0800-1600. Arrival time at CPS’s discretion.
- To perform additional air tests on X additional units on the same site on the same day with the same service. £xxx each with report.
- Hours on site vary between up to 4 hours and up to 6 hours depending on the number of units to be air tested.
Attendances:
- The customer should provide any temporary seals and wedge open any internal doors before the air test team arrives.
- The client needs to supply either a 110 volt power source with 16 amp sockets, or a 240 volt source with 13 amp sockets. You will need to tell us if this source is a portable, wheeled generator.
- The customer will provide steps, scissor lifts, scaffolding and all other forms of height-related access where necessary.
- If the building fails the air test, all remedial work has to be carried out by the customer.
- You must give us two weeks notice if you want to book an air test.
- Accurately-measured floor plans and sections must be provided, so that we can calculate the envelope area before we arrive on site for the final air test.
- The client is responsible for making sure we have reasonable access to welfare facilities on site, assuming we could be there for a whole day.
Additional Services:
- Acoustic Consultancy and Acoustic Testing. £POA
- Thermal Imaging. £POA
- SBEM and SAP. £POA
- Terms and Conditions:
- No retentions, bonds, LAD’s or main contractor’s discounts are applicable.
- Retests on another day will be charged at the same rate again.
- CPS Ltd is CIS exempt and so a purchase order may be appropriate.
- Payment in full, no later than 30 days from the invoice date.
- Certificates will be released upon receipt of payment when trading for the first time.
- Certificates and reports available within 4-5 working days.
- All prices are subject to VAT at the standard rate.
- Prices hold for a period of three months from the offer letter date.
- CPS’s standard terms and conditions apply.
- UKAS Accreditation applies to Air Leakage Testing only.
- Additional extra for booked at a Weekend / Bank holiday: +£xxx per man, per day.
- Additional extra for booked as an evening test. Weekday: +£xxx per man.
- Additional extra for booked as night/early hours following day, test price is doubled.
- Additional cost for working over contracted hours: £xx per hour per man.