Cardiff - Air tests - 029 2193 0147

The counties covered by this office are:
Powys, Pembrokeshire, Gwent, Glamorgan, Swansea County, Avon, Carmarthenshire, Dyfed, Gloucestershire,

Phone Number: 029 2193 0147 Email: cardiff@e2consultants.co.uk

Air Testing is sometimes referred to as Domestic Air tests, Domestic Air tightness tests, Domestic Air pressure testing, Domestic Air tightness testing, Domestic Air leakage testing, Domestic Air pressure tests.

Why E2 Consultants?

All new buildings in England and Wales have had a mandatory requirement since 2006 (2010 in Scotland) that domestic and commercial buildings, must have a passing air leakage certificate before the property can be passed off by building regulations.

E2 Consultants offer a range of services from desktop reviews of drawings to pre test inspections on site to advice on air tightness, how to improve and what needs to be completed and sealed for the testing to take place successfully.

For a quote or for more information, call our air tightness / pressure testing consultants in Cardiff on 029 2193 0147 or email us on Cardiff@e2consultants.co.uk

At E2 Consultants we offer Air Testing throughout Cardiff and surrounding areas. Our experienced air testing consultants will also be happy to offer advice on the best ways to gain your target rating.

What Does An Air Leakage Test in Cardiff Involve?

Employees can still do their job inside a commercial or domestic building in Cardiff whilst the air test is being carried out, within reason, though may feel some discomfort due to the noise of the fan and the draught that will be felt throughout the building. There should be no outside access once the test has begun - which lasts for approximately 90 minutes, so plan accordingly.

Whilst the air tightness test is being undertaken, furniture will not be affected but smaller items such as paper must be held down or removed completely so they're not blown about. The pressure of the room will be tested and as such all windows and doors that lead outside must be securely closed to avoid them swinging open and the test being abandoned. Similarly, all internal doors should be wedged open to avoid being slammed shut.

An air test involves placing a large fan, or several fans, to an opening within the property; usually a doorway. The fans will increase and decrease in speed that will in-turn change the building's air pressure and record the results. Please note: an air test cannot be carried out if wind speed is more than 13mph. 3 metres per second is the ideal wind speed when undertaking an air test in Cardiff.

When Should The Test Take Place?

For obvious reasons, an air pressure test is generally one of the last surveys to be undertaken once all the walls, windows, doors etc. are complete and sealed to stop any air escaping and prevent drafts through the property. The building envelope will also need to be completed.

What Air Permeability Rating Do I Need?

The air tightness rating of a property is not a fixed figure. This is set by the design SAP Calculation carried out (please contact us if you also require a SAP Calculation in Cardiff ). However the worst acceptable standard for air tightness is 10 m³/(h.m²) which resembles the amount of uncontrolled air that's leaking from the dwelling. However this does not mean that it would pass the SAP Calculations Design Air Permeability standard. Should the test fail, our air tightness team will help you identify where the leakages are happening in the hope that a passing score will be achieved after a re-test.

How Many Properties Need An Air Tightness Test?

The number of tests required are as follows:

• 4 or less properties of the same type: one test needed per type
• More than 4 but less than 40 dwellings of a type: at least two tests of each type
• More than 40 properties of a type: 5% of each type UNLESS the first 5 get a passing score - then this can be dropped to just 2%

For further Domestic Air Leakage Testing information for your area, be sure to check out Air-Testing-Cardiff.co.uk.