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The Pulse system can be used in both air leakage testing and background ventilation assessment. Depending on the type of test being carried out, various required and optional information needs to be captured about the test location and building in question:

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Air pressure tests

An air pressure test, also known as an air permeability or airtightness test, is a formal methodology used to quantify the amount of air that escapes from a building through unintentional gaps and leakage paths at a given induced pressure difference between inside and the outside. Uncontrolled movement of air through a building envelope or component may be due to the porosity of building fabric materials, interfaces between materials and components and imperfections in the construction of the building. For example, common leakage points include service penetrations, around window frames, or via access hatches. The primary goal of the test is to measure the overall integrity of a building’s fabric in the interests of energy efficiency and comfort. In the UK, the assessment typically follows the CIBSE TM23 standard. Before the test begins, all intentional openings like extract fans and background ventilators are closed, or temporarily sealed where no operable closing mechanisms exist. The results are typically expressed as an air permeability value (AP4) or air change rate (ACH) which may be used for a number of purposes, including checking compliance with contractual or regulatory requirements. An air pressure test is a mandatory requirement for all new-build homes, most new non-domestic buildings and is also a key component of large-scale retrofit projects.

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What information do I need to collect?

  • Tester name
  • Test enclosure (building or room)
  • Enclosure volume (m³)
  • Enclosure envelope area (m²)
  • Building lifecycle (new build, existing dwelling, retrofit project)
  • Test purpose
  • Airtightness standard/procedure
  • Building code/regulations
  • Deviations from the standard
  • Openings preparation
  • Mechanical ventilation preparation
  • Preparation notes
  • Geometry source
  • Test notes
  • Tags
  • Total floor area (m²)
  • Building type
  • Attachment
  • Age band
  • Number of bedrooms
  • Wall construction
  • Floor type
  • Heating type
  • Ventilation type
  • Ventilation devices
  • Site notes
  • Room type
  • Room envelope area (m²)
  • Room type
  • Room name
  • Floor area (m²)
  • Age band
  • Wall construction
  • Floor type
  • Heating type
  • Ventilation type
  • Ventilation devices
  • Property address
  • Tester ID/number
  • Design target pressure
  • Related party disclosure

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Background ventilation assessment

A background ventilation assessment is a test methodology primarily used in retrofit projects to assess ventilation related risks and the adequacy of existing background ventilation arrangements. It is often not practical to eliminate all uncontrolled advantageous air infiltration and air leakage in existing buildings. Therefore a balance must be struck between understanding the existing level of background ventilation and how this may be best complemented by appropriate levels of additional controllable purpose provided background vents and/or mechanical ventilation. Unlike an air pressure test, a background ventilation test involves no temporary sealing of purpose provided ventilation. Instead, all operable vents are closed but otherwise the test is of the property in an as-lived state. A test is carried out of the whole house as well as each individual bedroom, with threshold values used to help guide if spaces have limited or excessive levels of background ventilation. Ensuring adequate ventilation is critical, as sealing a building without proper airflow and extract ventilation can lead to excessive moisture, condensation, and dangerous mould growth. The methodology, presented by The Installation Assurance Authority (IAA), requires results to be expressed as an air change rate (ACH). The approach is commonly practiced on projects working to the PAS2035 framework, including Annex C, with background ventilation testing serving as a useful way of measuring and understanding the ventilation dynamics, helping project teams to make better informed decisions.

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What information do I need to collect?

  • Tester name
  • Test enclosure (building or room)
  • Enclosure volume (m³)
  • Building lifecycle (new build, existing dwelling, retrofit project)
  • Test purpose
  • Building code/regulations
  • Airtightness standard/procedure
  • Deviations from the standard
  • Openings preparation
  • Mechanical ventilation preparation
  • Preparation notes
  • Geometry source
  • Test notes
  • Tags
  • Enclosure envelope area (m²)
  • Total floor area (m²)
  • Building type
  • Attachment
  • Age band
  • Number of bedrooms
  • Wall construction
  • Floor type
  • Heating type
  • Ventilation type
  • Ventilation devices
  • Site notes
  • Room type
  • Room name
  • Room envelope area (m²)
  • Floor area (m²)
  • Age band
  • Wall construction
  • Floor type
  • Heating type
  • Ventilation type
  • Ventilation devices
  • Property address
  • Tester ID/number
  • Pre or post retrofit status
  • Related party disclosure