High-performance airtightness is fundamental for climate resilient buildings, reducing energy consumption, enhancing comfort, and improving indoor air quality. While codes increasingly mandate tighter envelopes, reliably achieving and verifying stringent targets, especially in complex structures, remains challenging. Supported by examples of field testing, this abstract outline a holistic approach for consistently delivering high performance air tightness. We emphasize an integrated approach with a focus on three key elements.

1. Design: Identifying key design objectives early on in design and prioritizing early, collaborative design to define clear air barrier strategies and meticulous detailing for critical junctions and penetrations, which are common leakage points. Choosing robust, durable, and compatible air barrier components, considering their performance at interfaces (e.g., wall-roof, window transitions) and long-term resilience. Articulating the design intent in project documents and specifications.

2. Build: Defining the role of the air barrier supervisor and implementing rigorous site management, continuous installer training, and phased inspections. Leveraging the mockups to improve the quality of the installation and reduce the risk of non-compliance.

3. Confirm: This includes leveraging diagnostic tools like smoke pencils and infrared thermography during construction, rather than solely at project completion, to catch issues early. Selection of an appropriate test method to demonstrate compliance.

By embracing this comprehensive strategy – integrating robust design, skilled execution, continuous quality control, and rigorous testing – teams can reliably deliver highly airtight building enclosures, contributing significantly to a more climate resilient built environment.