Research Program

The purpose of this project was to design a test procedure to verify the air leakage and structural performance of air barrier systems intended for use in wood frame walls. Tests to evaluate the performance of windows, curtain walls and doors followed all the procedure outlined in ASTM E283, "Standard Test Method for Rate of Air Leakage through Windows, Curtain Walls and Doors," using a pressure differential of 75 Pa. A similar test procedure was used in this project to measure the air leakage of air barrier systems. The Institute for Research in Construction (IRC) of the National Research Council Canada has proposed the following levels of airtightness for air barrier systems:

• air barrier : test
• wood frame houses and walls, wood structure : air barrier

1. Establishing the protocol for measuring air leakage and air flow patterns in high-rise apartment buildings