Testing to the ABAA Enclosure Airtightness Standard And Common Building Flaws
Track 2: Construction & Testing Sessions
Wednesday, May 9, 08:00 – 09:30
In this session we will discuss using ABAA’s standard test method for building enclosure tightness. How this standard differs from some of the other common test procedures. What a qualitative test looks like versus a quantitative test and what findings are pursued. We will discuss the accepted ABAA test procedures; multi‐point, repeated single point, and repeated two‐point air tightness testing. What to include when documenting findings. What type of space lends itself well to a single zone conditions versus when multiple zones might be recommended. During the test, building failings will inherently be observed. What are common areas of building failings and how to document these areas of concern
within the scope of this standard.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand why to specify air barrier testing.
- Knowing what an air barrier test consists of.
- Knowing how the ABAA Standard differs from other common testing standards.
- Knowledge of common errors in the air barrier.
Torrance Kramer, CEM, BECxP, LEED, BPI Building Analyst, BPI Multifamily Building Analyst
President
Accurate‐Airtight Exteriors
Torrance Kramer has been passionately working to reduce energy consumption of buildings across the country for over a decade. He has completed comprehensive energy audits and onsite assessments on everything from single family homes, multi-story high rises, grocery stores, municipal, ice arenas, and everything in between. He began testing building air barriers after observing the lack of understanding and recognition of the necessity for an effective air barrier in the older building stock. This led to testing buildings small to large across the country. He now operates a firm that tests, repairs, and consults on proper air and thermal barriers of buildings of all sizes. He is a Certified Energy Manager, Building Envelope Commissioning Professional, Building Analyst, and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design professional.
Paul Morin
Technical Support
The Energy Conservatory
Paul Morin did his first blower door test in 1991 and his first multiple fan blower door test in 1996. He has helped on site with about a dozen tests that required between 9 and 24 blower door fans and helped author the Blower Door Applications Guide: Beyond Single Family Residential. He has worked for The Energy Conservatory since 2009 providing technical support and has developed dozens of presentations and webinars including commercial and multifamily blower door testing and a four part series on using the TECLOG3 software for multiple fan testing.