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A simple apparatus for the evaluation of air infiltration through building envelope components

Feldman, D., Stathopoulos, T., Cosmulescu, C. and Wu, H., Meadows D. H. , Meadows D. L. , Randers J. , Behrens III William W.
1998
Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, Volumes 77-78, 1 Pages 479-489


Feldman, D., Stathopoulos, T., Cosmulescu, C. and Wu, H., Meadows D. H. , Meadows D. L. , Randers J. , Behrens III William W., (1998), "A simple apparatus for the evaluation of air infiltration through building envelope components", Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, Volumes 77-78, 1 Pages 479-489.
Abstract:
Air infiltration through building envelope is very important in the design of buildings and in the evaluation of building performance. A simple, small apparatus has been designed, fabricated, calibrated and tested for the determination of the air leakage through building envelope components such as simple and composite walls. The device consists of two identical, controllable chambers with test specimens installed and sealed between them. Extensive measures have been taken to reduce the air leakage through chamber walls and joints. Such a leakage can be determined using a procedure developed specifically for the unique design of the simple apparatus, and then subtracted from the total measurements for accurate results of actual air infiltration through building envelope. The study has shown that this small apparatus is capable of measuring air infiltration accurately and efficiently for engineering purposes. This may be a potential low cost alternative to the current ASTM procedure for a particular set of materials. Experimental results of air flow through and static pressure difference across building envelope have been found in good agreement with literature information. The test apparatus and procedures have been developed according to the existing standards. The paper presents results for air leakage through impregnated brick walls as well as composite wall sections.

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Author Information and Other Publications Notes
Feldman, D.
Centre for Building Studies, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1M8
  1. A review of research activities in energy efficiency in buildings in Canada
  2. Energy-Storing Wallboard: Flammability Tests
  3. Full scale thermal testing of latent heat storage in wallboard
  4. Investigation of the thermal performance of a passive solar test-room with wall latent heat storage
  5. The stability of phase change materials in concrete  
Stathopoulos, T.
Professor, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec
  1. Experimental study of the thermal performance of a large institutional building with mixed-mode cooling and hybrid ventilation
  2. Prediction of wind effects on buildings using computational methods - state of the art review  
Cosmulescu, C.
     
Wu, H.
     



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