3. Airtightness of buildings

The airtightness of a building corresponds to the capacity of the building envelope to let air through by parasitic infiltration when there is a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the building. This pressure difference may be caused by wind, by a temperature difference between the inside and outside of the building, or by a mechanical ventilation system.

Good airtightness is essential to guarantee the effective energy performance of buildings. The existence of holes in the envelope generates uncontrolled through-air flows, in addition to voluntary air renewal through ventilation.

For single-family homes, semi-detached houses and apartment buildings, the air permeability of the envelope is characterized by a coefficient called "Q4Pa-surf". This represents the leakage rate per m ²...

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Airtightness of buildings

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Ventilation for single-family homes

Bibliography

Also in our database

BERGNER (A) - Ventilation et traitement de l'air dans les bâtiments tertiaires -

Standards

Building work – Mechanical ventilation systems - NF DTU 68.3 - Novembre 2017
Building ventilation – Conduit network – Requirements for components designed to facilitate the maintenance of duct systems (classification index: E51-734) - NF EN 12097 - Novembre 2006
Building ventilation – Conduit network – Resistance and tightness of circular sheet metal conduits (classification index: E51-717) - NF EN 12237 - Juin 2003

Regulations

Air quality decrees and orders

Decree of October 22, 1955 on ventilation in new housing.

Decree 2012-14 of January 5, 2012 on the evaluation of ventilation means and the measurement of pollutants carried out as part of the monitoring of indoor air quality in certain establishments open to the public.

Decree 2015-1000 of August 17, 2015 on indoor air...