Air Tightness Testing as a route to Net Zero Scotland

Thermal Image UK has been a UK agent for Retrotec Blower Door Systems for the past 10 years. Our understanding of the systems available is based on our daily use of the fans, testing across central Scotland. We now have 2x 300 series fans for testing Passivhaus and other very airtight properties, and 8x 6000 series fans for testing houses and large buildings. By using all the 6000 series fans together in parallel, we can test some of the largest buildings in Scotland, with a combined air flow of over 100,000 m3/h.

Increasingly as clients look to make their properties ‘net-zero’ we are getting calls to test schools, colleges and commercial premises. Improving the air permeability of a building can often be the most cost-effective way to improve a building’s energy efficiency. Many of the existing buildings we test have an air permeability of 12.0 – 15.0 m3/h/m2 or more, and so by introducing measures to reduce this to 5.0 m3/h/m2 or less, significant energy efficiency savings can be achieved. Of course, improving the air tightness has to be done in conjunction with other measures such as insulation, to ensure a complementary and holistic whole-building approach is taken.

This morning, we air tested a nursery building in west Edinburgh, which when combined with some limited thermography due to the time of year, we identified opportunities to reduce the space heating energy costs of the building by up to 50%. Working with the architects and building services engineers assigned to the project, an overall energy saving of 70-80% will be possible.

Earlier this month our testing near Stirling identified a development of 42 houses where problems with the sealing of the dry-lining had led to heat loss caused by cool air infiltration within the fabric of the walls. Further investigations are ongoing.

If you’re involved in building investigations, please give TIUK a call on 01357 520557 for enquiries about testing, or to enquire about obtaining Retrotec blower door equipment.