One of the several methods to improve energy efficiency in buildings is to test for the air-tightness of the building, said Arshad Momin, Sales Engineer, Building Doctor.

Elaborating, Momin said: “Considering that most of our buildings are air conditioned, energy efficiency becomes a key focus. Testing for air-tightness in a building helps in reducing the energy load on the HVAC systems.”

Further elaborating, Momin said, an air-tightness test measures how easy or difficult it is for air to leak through a building’s envelope. “A large blower fan is used to extract air or supply air to the building and measures the airflow throughout the building, and the corresponding pressure difference acting across the building enclosure.”

With the test, he added, the air pressure in the entire building can be determined, including the total airflow and direction of the air. These findings would help create a tighter building envelope, and the energy efficiency of the building HVAC systems would be improved.

The other benefit of the air-tightness test, Momin said, is that it helps in eliminating moisture and mould, which is a common problem in the UAE. “If a building leaks air,” he said, “it starts to condensate, and whenever there is condensation, you face an issue with the mould and moisture, and it affects the indoor air quality.”