BASC Search

Wrong – Air sealing and fastening of this duct take-off has been damaged during construction, causing a large gap in the right-hand side of the connection that will reduce air delivered to living spaces and make it difficult to balance the system

Image

If an intermittent ventilation duct is connected to an air handler, the damper should be shut and the intake vent should not be covered when performing a duct leakage test; if the ventilation will be continuous, the intake should be covered and sealed.

Image

Wrong – This duct boot is not sealed to the wall board

Image

Wrong – The plastic seal of the open end of this duct is ripped; the test measurement will overestimate the duct leakage if the temporary seals are not very carefully completed

Image

Right – These duct take-offs are well sealed to the branch duct

Image

Wrong – This ductwork is not sealed where the round duct is attached to the square duct riser

Image

Air Distribution Retrofit Strategies for Affordable Housing

Reference

Report describing two retrofit duct sealing techniques - manually-applied sealants and injecting a spray sealant, that were implemented in several low-rise multi-unit buildings in North Carolina.

Right – This register is sealed for a final test and the duct test pressure is being monitored at the register

Image

SMACNA HVAC Air Duct Leakage Test Manual (first edition)

Reference

Manual that identifies certain leakage limits for ducts and outlines procedures for testing ducts for conformity with air leakage limits that are set forth in a designer’s project specification.

This constant airflow regulator (CAR) has been fouled by deposition of aerosolized sealant because it was not protected during duct sealing

Image

Wrong – This duct boot is sealed inside the boot for a duct leakage test; this fails to account for the ductwork leakage between the duct boot and the wall board

Image

Building America Top Innovations 2014: HVAC Cabinet Air Leakage Test Method

Case Study

Case study describing a 2014 DOE Building America Top Innovation on development of a standardized testing method for testing the air leakage of HVAC air handlers and furnace cabinets developed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

This constant airflow regulator (CAR) has been fouled by aerosolized sealant because it was not covered while the ducts were being sealed with the aerosolized acrylic sealant.

Image

Conducting a Residential Duct Leakage Test and Blower Door Test: Quick and easy set up of the blower door and determination of whole house air leakage

Video

Video describing how to conduct a residential blower door and duct blaster test, including an efficient method for setting up the blower door equipment and how to set up the fan rings and the manometer. Video 4 of 9.

ANSI/RESNET/ICC 380: Standard for Testing Airtightness of Building, Dwelling Unit, and Sleeping Unit Enclosures; Airtightness of Heating and Cooling Air Distribution Systems; and Airflow of Mechanical Ventilation Systems

Reference

This ANSI/RESNET/ICC standard provides a consistent, uniform methodology for evaluating the airtightness of building, dwelling unit, and sleeping unit enclosures and heating and cooling air distribution systems, and the air flows of mechanical ventilation systems.

Wrong – Air sealing and fastening of this duct take-off has been damaged during construction, causing a large gap in the right-hand side of the connection that will reduce air delivered to living spaces and make it difficult to balance the system

If an intermittent ventilation duct is connected to an air handler, the damper should be shut and the intake vent should not be covered when performing a duct leakage test; if the ventilation will be continuous, the intake should be covered and sealed.

Wrong – This duct boot is not sealed to the wall board

Wrong – The plastic seal of the open end of this duct is ripped; the test measurement will overestimate the duct leakage if the temporary seals are not very carefully completed

Right – These duct take-offs are well sealed to the branch duct

Wrong – This ductwork is not sealed where the round duct is attached to the square duct riser

Air Distribution Retrofit Strategies for Affordable Housing

Right – This register is sealed for a final test and the duct test pressure is being monitored at the register

SMACNA HVAC Air Duct Leakage Test Manual (first edition)

This constant airflow regulator (CAR) has been fouled by deposition of aerosolized sealant because it was not protected during duct sealing

Wrong – This duct boot is sealed inside the boot for a duct leakage test; this fails to account for the ductwork leakage between the duct boot and the wall board

Building America Top Innovations 2014: HVAC Cabinet Air Leakage Test Method

This constant airflow regulator (CAR) has been fouled by aerosolized sealant because it was not covered while the ducts were being sealed with the aerosolized acrylic sealant.

Conducting a Residential Duct Leakage Test and Blower Door Test: Quick and easy set up of the blower door and determination of whole house air leakage

ANSI/RESNET/ICC 380: Standard for Testing Airtightness of Building, Dwelling Unit, and Sleeping Unit Enclosures; Airtightness of Heating and Cooling Air Distribution Systems; and Airflow of Mechanical Ventilation Systems

Duct Leakage Tests

Sample results from a total duct leakage test at final

Sample results from a total duct leakage test at rough-in

To prepare for a total duct test at final, cover all of the supply outlets and return inlets

To prepare for a total duct test at rough-in, cover all of the supply outlets and return inlets

Designing and Installing Mechanical Ventilation Systems to Enable Airflow Testing

Conducting a Residential Duct Leakage Test: Why set the Duct Fan to Depressurize not Pressurize the Home

Conducting a Residential Duct Leakage Test and Blower Door Test: Sequencing - Run the blower door test first

Duct Leakage Testing for Central Exhaust and Ventilation Systems in Multifamily Buildings