Blower door Test

procedures
Preliminary comparison between EN 13829:2002 and ASTM 779-03

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1 July 2014
26 May 2014
Issued on

Guglielmino
Guglielmino
By

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Index
1.

Preface ......................................................................................................................................................... 3

2.

Acceptable Test Conditions ......................................................................................................................... 4

3.

Apparatus ..................................................................................................................................................... 5

4.

Test Methodology......................................................................................................................................... 6

5.

Reporting...................................................................................................................................................... 8

6.

Final proposal............................................................................................................................................. 10

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1. Preface
This document aims to compare the contents of EN 13789:2002 Thermal Performance of buildings
Determination of air permeability of buildings Fan pressurization method and E779-03 ASTM Standard
Testing Method for determining Air Leakage Rate by Fan Pressurization.
The E-779-03 ASTM is recognized by LEED BD+C 2009 to demonstrate compliance with IEQ prerequisite 2
Environmental Tobacco Smoke.
The comparison intends to show how EN13829 may be used as a base to implement a dedicated Alternative
Compliance Path for Europe, since this Standard has been implemented by many National Standardization
Bodies.
The pages that follow contain a list of crucial topics on which the standards comparison is based.

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2. Acceptable Test Conditions

EN 13829

ASTM E779-03

According to EN13829, for a blower door test to be

According to E779-03, for a blower door test to be

acceptable the following specification have to be met:

acceptable the following specification have to be met:

1.

Outside temperature: n/a

2.

Windspeed: must be Beaufort scale 3 or

less, or, if measured, 6 m/s or less

3.

4.

1.

Outside temperature: outside temperature

should be from 5 to 35C (41 to 95F).

2.

Windspeed: Low-wind pressure conditions:

Product Temperature-Height The product

the wind speed is to be part of the

of the absolute value of the indoor/outdoor

measurement

air temperature difference multiplied by the

measuring device or obtain readings from a

building height, must be lower than 500

nearby weather bureau. Preferred test

mK (226,85 mC)

conditions are wind speed of 0 to 2 m/s and

Static pressure (Zero Flow) difference: the

an outside temperature from 5 to 35C (41

static pressure (Zero Flow) difference

to 95F).

between the inside and outside of the

3.

record,

use

wind-

Product Temperature-Heigh: The product

building with the envelope closed up, but

of the absolute value of the indoor/outdoor

with no test equipment running, must be

air temperature difference multiplied by the

less than 5 Pascal (Pa) over a 30 second

building height, must be lower than 200

average.

mC.
4.

Static pressure (Zero Flow) difference: To

create a single zone for this test procedure,
all interconnecting doors, except for
closets, which should be closed, in the
conditioned space should be opened such
that a uniform pressure will be maintained
within the conditioned space to within 10
% of the measured inside/outside pressure
difference.

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3. Apparatus
EN 13829

ASTM E779-03

The following is a general description of the required

The following is a general description of the required

apparatus:

apparatus:

1.

1.

2.

Air-Moving Equipment: A fan, blower, or

blower door assembly that is capable of

blower door assembly that is capable of

moving air into and out of the conditioned

moving air into and out of the conditioned

space at required flow rates under a range

space at required flow rates under a range

of test pressure differences

of test pressure differences.

Pressure-Measuring Device: A manometer

4.

2.

Pressure-Measuring Device: A manometer

or pressure indicator to measure pressure

or pressure indicator to measure pressure

difference with an accuracy of 2Pa of

difference with an accuracy of 65% of

measured pressure in the field of 0 and 60

measured pressure.

Pa
3.

Air-Moving Equipment: A fan, blower, or

3.

Airflow Measuring System: A device to

Airflow Measuring System:A device to

measure airflow with an accuracy of 65 %

measure airflow with an accuracy of 7%

of the measured flow. The

Temperature-Measuring

measuring system shall be calibrated in

Device:

An

instrument to measure temperature with an

accuracy of 1C (2F).

airflow

accordance with Test Method E 1258

4.

Temperature-Measuring

Device:

An

instrument to measure temperature with an

accuracy of 1C (2F).
5.

Wind Speed-Measuring Device (Optional):

A device to give an accuracy within 0.25
m/s (0.56 mph) at 2.5 m/s (5.6 mph).
Perform wind speed measurements at a
distance three to five building heights away
from the buildings, where practical. List the
height above ground at which wind speed
is measured.

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4. Test Methodology
EN 13829

ASTM E779-03

The EN13829 standard lists two principal test

This test is a multi point test (It is good practice to

preparation methods, which are given as Method A

use more than one location across the building

and Method B.

envelope for pressure measurement, for example,

They are given as follows (EN13829:2002, pg 7):

one across each faade).

Method A (test of a building in use):

Verify this

The condition of the building envelope should

measurements at the highest pressure used in the

represent its condition during the season in which

test. Make these measurements at the highest and

heating or cooling systems are used.

lowest level of the building and on the windward and

Method B (test of the building envelope):

leeward sides.

Any intentional opening in the building envelope shall

To perform the test according to ASTM E779-03 the

be closed or sealed as specified in 5.2.2 and 5.2.3.

range of induced pressure difference shall be from

In summary, Method B allows more items to be

10Pa to 60Pa.

sealed up or closed over during a test than Method A

A good location avoids exterior corners and complex

does.

architectural features and should be close to the

This test is a multi point test.

middle of the exterior wall. In addition, buildings more

The test does not consist of a single reading at 50Pa.

than three stories, or 7.5 m (25.5 ft), high shall have

To perform the test according to the EN13829

exterior pressures measured at more than one height

standard, at least 5 readings must be taken at

on the exterior walls. The pressures from each

different pressure points of no more than 10 Pa

location should be averaged, typically using a

differences, e.g. 60Pa, 50Pa, 40Pa, 30Pa, 20Pa.

manifold. Average the pressures over at least a 10-s

To satisfy the EN13829 standard, the readings can

time period.

be taken only for pressurization or depressurization,

HVAC balancing dampers and registers should not

or both (with the result being the average between

be adjusted. Fireplace and other operable dampers

the two).

should be closed unless they are used to pass air to

The lowest pressure point allowed is 10Pa, or at least

pressurize or de-pressurize the building.

5 times the static pressure reading.

Make general observations of the condition of the

The highest pressure reached is up to the discretion

building. Take notes on the windows, doors, opaque

of the tester given the site conditions, for any non-

walls, roof, and floor.

dwelling small building it should be at least 50Pa.

Measure and record the indoor and outdoor

4000m3,

temperatures at the beginning and the end of the test

When testing larger buildings of greater than

condition

by

differential pressure

the lowest maximum pressure allowed is 25Pa.

so that their average values can be estimated.

The result at 50Pa is extrapolated from this result. As

Connect the air duct or blower door assembly to the

noted above, the EN 13829 standard allows for either

building envelope, using a window, door, or vent

a pressurization or depressurization test alone to be

opening. Seal or tape openings to avoid leakage at

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valid.

these points.

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5. Reporting
EN 13829

ASTM E779-03

The report shall contain at least the following

The report shall contain at least the following

information:

information:

1.

1.

2.
3.

Details necessary to identify the object

Building description, including, location,

tested: purpose of test (method A or B);

address (street, city, state, or province, zip

post address and estimated date of

or postal code, country, and elevation

construction of the building;

[above mean sea level in m (ft)].

Reference to this standard and any

2.

Construction, including date built (estimate

deviation from it;

if unknown), floor areas for conditioned

Test object shall include:

space, attic, basement, and crawl space,

a.

Description of which parts of the

and volumes (optional) for conditioned

building were subject to the test;

spaces attic, basement, and crawl space:

apartment number;
b.

a.

Net floor area and internal

envelope including:

volume of space subject to the

test

and

other

b.

required
c.

Documentation of calculations so
d.

verified;
envelope,

e.

latched,

Detailed

f.

description

of

4.

g.

Statement whether the test zone

with at least door-sized openings.

The type of heating, ventilating

measurements between portions

and air conditioning system;

of the zone.

Equipment

and

h.
technique

HVAC system, including the

location and sizes of ducts that
penetrate the test zone envelope.

Test data:
a.

Chimneys, dampers closed or

If not, the results of pressure

employed;
5.

Ventilation openings, dampers

any;

Apparatus and procedure:

a.

Windows, closed, latched or

is interconnected

temporarily sealed openings, if

f.

or

open, and a

sealed, open, etc.;

e.

locked

closed or open;

The status of all openings on the

building

closed,

unlatched;

that the stated results can be

d.

Doors,
unlocked;

dimensions of the building;

c.

Condition of openings in building

3.

Procedure, including the test equipment

Zero-flow pressure differences

used (manufacturer, model, serial number),

p0,1+ , p0,1- , p0,2+ , p0,2-

and calibration records of all measuring

equipment.

p0,1

and

p0,2

for

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pressurization

and

4.

depressurization test;

Measurement data, including:

a.

Fan

pressurization
(inside-outside

b.

Inside and outside temperatures;

measurements

c.

Wind speed, barometric pressure

zero

if it is part of the calculation;

differences);

d.

Table

of

induced

pressure

b.

flow

building

pressure

Inside and outside temperature

differences and corresponding air

(at start and end of test) and the

flow rates;

product of the absolute value of

e.

Air leakage graph

the

f.

Air flow coefficient, Cenv ,A

temperature difference multiplied

g.

Air flow exponent, n,

by the building height;

h.

Air leakage coefficient, CL

i.

Pressurization

and

depressurization
determined

j.

by

time,

building

pressure

difference, air density, nominal

indicated in clauses 4, 5 and 6

airflow rate, fan airflow rate, and

along with their confidence limits;

air leakage rate; and, deviations

Air change rate, n50 , at 50 Pa,

from standard procedure.

pressurization

depressurization

and

and/or

d.

mean

Optional data, including wind

speed/direction

and

whether

value;

wind speed is estimated to

Derived quantity according to

exceed 0 to 2 m/s (0 to 4 mph).

national regulation;
l.

Tabular list of all air leakage

measurements and calculations:

tests
the

air

method

for

k.

c.

indoor/outdoor

Date of test.

5.

Calculations, including:
a.

The leakage coefficient and

pressure

exponent

pressurization

for

and

both
de-

pressurization;
b.

The effective leakage area. Also,

report if a reference pressure
other than 4 Pa is used; and, An
estimate of the confidence limits.

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6. Final proposal
A comparison between EN 13829 and ASTM E-779 is presented.
Main topics on which the two standards are based are punctually compared, highlighting main elements.
The Std. EN 13829 has been recognized as equivalent to ASTM E-779 previously, when LEED Italia was created
and launched.
It is relevant to know that EN 13829 is commonly applied in Europe, since that many National Standardization
Bodies has introduced and translated for each own Country: samples of these are: UNI (Italy - UNI EN
13829:2002), BSI (UK - BS EN 13829:2001), DIN (Germany - DIN EN 13829:2001).
Due to these assumption, the proposal is to introduce EN 13829, eventually declined on local adaptations which
do not alter the related substance, as a basis for the creation of an alternative compliance path for the IEQ
prerequisite 2 Environmental Tobacco Smoke.

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