Study of air infiltration in tight homes

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Proc. Annu. Meet. - Am. Sect. Int. Sol. Energy Soc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6166076

Lints, M C ^[1]; Rizzuto, J E; Desmond, R M

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1. RIT Research Corp., Rochester, NW

The results are presented of the first phase of a study to measure infiltration and indoor air quality in a number of homes in Rochester, New York. The objectives of the overall study were to: (1) assess the effectiveness of special construction techniques and determine the energy savings that result; (2) monitor indoor air quality in selected homes with low infiltration; and (3) evaluate the thermal performance and impact on indoor air quality of mechanical ventilation systems employing air-to-air heat exchangers. In the first phase of the study a sample of 50 homes, with and without builder-designed tightening measures, was selected for field testing. The effective leakage area was measured in each house using the fan pressurization technique. Specific leaks were located with the aid of smoke sticks. In the second phase, ten relatively tight homes were chosen for detailed study of indoor air quality. Air-to-air heat exchangers were installed in these homes, and air quality monitoring was performed with and without their use. In each of these homes the air exchange rate, radon concentration, and various temperatures were measured. Other equipment provided data on the average daily formaldehyde concentration, the average weekly nitorgen dioxide concentration, humidity levels and heating energy consumption. This paper presents the results of the effective leakage area measurement, and describes the most significant location of air infiltration within the sample of homes.

• OSTI ID: 6166076
• Report Number(s): CONF-810925-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Proc. Annu. Meet. - Am. Sect. Int. Sol. Energy Soc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320101* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Residential Buildings-- (-1987)
AIR INFILTRATION
AIR QUALITY
ALDEHYDES
BLOWERS
BUILDINGS
CHALCOGENIDES
CONSTRUCTION
EFFICIENCY
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FLUIDS
FORMALDEHYDE
GASES
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HOUSES
HUMIDITY
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
NITROGEN OXIDES
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADON
RARE GASES
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
THERMAL EFFICIENCY