Midlands - Air pressure tests - 0121 381 0129

The counties covered by this office are:
Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Herefordshire,

Phone Number: 0121 381 0129 Email: midlands@e2consultants.co.uk

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

What Does An Air Leakage Test Involve?

During an air test in Midlands 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. Furniture will not be affected during the test, but smaller items such as paper must be held down or removed completely so they're not blown about.

Air tests cannot be carried out if the wind speed is more than 13mph - 3 metres per second is the ideal wind speed when undertaking an air test in Midlands. 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.

There should be no outside access once the test has begun for approximately 90 minutes so plan accordingly. Workers can still do their job inside the property, within reason, though may feel some discomfort due to the noise of the fan and the draught that will be felt throughout the building.

What Air Permeability Rating Do I Need?

A passing score in Midlands is 10 m³/(h.m²) for an air permeability rating which resembles the amount of uncontrolled air that's leaking from the dwelling. 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.

Do I Need An Air Leakage Test?

All new buildings in England and Wales have had a mandatory requirement since 2006 (2010 in Scotland) that domestic and commercial buildings, over a certain size, must have a passing air leakage certificate before the property can be sold.

On a large plot of new houses that are built to a similar specification, only a sample of the houses will need to be air tested. This is outlined in Part L of Government building regulations.

We offer air leakage testing throughout Midlands where our experienced assessors will be happy to offer advice on the best ways to gain your air permeability rating. Planning your test in advance will help us determine how many tests you'll need ahead of time per property.

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%

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.

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