Air tightness blower door to detect draught

[Wyleecoyote]

I don’t need a test for building regs but to prove the extent of the cold air draught entering my home and to pinpoint the location of the draughts.

What kind of certification would a blower test operative hold to give their findings and report credibility ?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

I can't see how such a test would pinpoint air leakage, only that the whole house only achieves a certain level of air tightness.

 

[Wyleecoyote]

I’m no expert myself but apparently, the test draws air through the building, in my case, a one bed flat; and with the use a portable smoke generator on the outside around windows etc, the smoke is drawn in through gaps or inefficient seals; alternatively, the building can be filled with smoke, then pressurised and the smoke from inside is be forced through gaps or inefficient seals.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

I can't see how either are practical for a finished flat, are you on the ground floor at least? Will any of your adjacent neighbours be OK with a load of smoke wafting into their property? What about any air leakage holes that will simply lead to a floor or ceiling void or into the wall cavities etc? I can see that it might have some benefits before the buildings are occupied but not afterwards.

 

[Wyleecoyote]

Thanks for your opinion, although ideally I’m looking to confirm the certification the company/operative carrying out the test should hold, the official body of certification, so I know what to look out for.

From the YouTube footage, what’s depicted, it looks to be effective and all the other methods of draught detection are useless.

The property isn’t on a ground floor but balcony access to windows and doors; the ceilings and floor are concrete, only one neighbour below, who will be out, no neighbours above and other neighbours are only on one side and are separated by a communal stairwell, the smoke/fog used is odourless and dissipates after a few minutes, it’s the same as the smoke generated in Nite clubs and music videos.

 

[foxhole]

A candle will detect a draught, easy and cheap.

 

[Wyleecoyote]

Candle doesn’t work but even if it did, how would I get a certified written report from a recognised industry body.
It’s the certification that’s gives the report its credibility.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

You seem to be ignoring the practicalities of undertaking such a test.

 

[Wyleecoyote]

Have you carried out the test yourself to pinpoint a draught and proved it to be ineffective ?

The YouTube footage shows a smoke generator creating smoke/fog and due to the suction/vacuum generated within the building the smoke is withdrawn into the building via ineffective window, door seals or elsewhere but despite the many YouTube videos showing similar results, you believe its impractical.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Yes, impractical for all of the reasons in the 4th post in this thread.

 

[phatboy]

Surely a thermal camera is the right way to go?

 

[Wyleecoyote]

Firstly as you’ve carried out the test yourself, then you will know the smoke generated is concentrated within a specific area and dissipates within minutes of use, it doesn’t linger long enough to permeate into neighbouring properties but last long enough to pinpoint an area which is the cause of the draught, as shown in the YouTube footage; you will also be aware the smoke generated is odourless.
During the test, all intentional ventilation, such as trickle vents and extractor fans etc are sealed with tape.

As for ceiling voids and wall cavities, then surely, ceiling voids and wall cavities shouldn’t be causing a draught and may actual be the cause of the draught; also should smoke from the smoke generator enter the ceiling voids and wall cavities, it will dissipate within minutes.

If a smoke test has some benefits before the buildings are occupied then why not when occupied.

Neighbours will not be affected by loads of smoke entering their properties as the smoke generated is far less than the smoke generated by smoke screen burglar alarms, which impair visibility, which have been on the market for at least 10 years or more, and I don’t ever recall hearing an outcry of smoke screen smoke entering neighbouring properties during burglaries.

However, what did it cost for the air blower/air tightness smoke test, what was their certification for test and as the smoke test was ineffective, how did you eventually detect the draught in your property.

 

[Wyleecoyote]

Surely a thermal camera is the right way to go?

Thermal cameras only identify the cold spots and I believe a visible observation either captured by video recording and also witnessed by a certified operative will have more credibility.

 

[phatboy]

Thermal cameras only identify the cold spots and I believe a visible observation either captured by video recording and also witnessed by a certified operative will have more credibility.

Yes it will, so where heat is being lost rapidly will show as cold.

Certifications are worth very little here.... who needs to see the certification?

 

[Wyleecoyote]

I’ve used a thermal imaging device which attached to a mobile phone camera and a thermal leak detection device, both of which identify the cold spots but despite the cold spots the inspection surveyor says they can’t feel a draught.

What do you mean Certification is worth very little here… on the forum or in the UK ?