Diagnostics and Problems Analysis of Buildings Air Tightness

Abstract

Constantly increasing prices of energy and rising heating costs are forcing inhabitants of multifamily apartment houses and individual houses to think about savings of heating costs and improvement of living conditions as well. Air tightness is one of the most important factors influencing comfortable, energy efficient living environment. During winter time, air movement forms because of the pressure difference between outside and inside air. Air moves from the higher to the lower pressure zone, i. e. cold outside air penetrates to the room through the lower parts of the walls, and finally when it warms up, it goes out of the premises through the upper parts of the construction. The higher of uncontrolled air circulation is present in the premises, i.e. the more of cold air penetrates into the room, the higher energy consumption is required for heating. These energy losses can be reduced by increasing air tightness of the buildings. The aim of this research is to investigate the most common places of the buildings’ leakage and the causes of it.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.sace.3.4.4375