Is it possible to pressure test the wind shelter when the house is being built?

[Svammlet]

How did it go and what was the result?

 

[Robert20]

The external pressure test went well with a leakage of 0.67 l/s/m2. External gypsum and windows and all other conceivable joints were taped. There are no standards for external tightness, but the technician said it is tighter than many houses when measuring internal tightness. Later, we also conducted an internal airtightness test, with a result of 0.14 l/s/m2. There is a standard for passive houses which is 0.3 l/s/m2. For vapor transport through the wall to be correct, internal leakage must be lower than external. I strongly recommend also pressure testing the external wind barriers. Just blindly trusting the construction company to do a good job is not enough for me (even though my builder has been fantastic, he didn't mind the pressure testing). See it as a way to ensure a tight house and also get proof of it. A pressure test cost about 5000 kr.

 

[Installation]

The external pressure test went well with a leakage of 0.67 l/s/m2. Exterior gypsum, windows, and all other possible joints taped. There are no standards for external tightness, but the technician said it is tighter than many houses when measuring internal tightness.
Later, we also did an internal air tightness test, where the result was 0.14 l/s/m2. There is a standard for passive houses which is 0.3 l/s/m2.
For the moisture transport through the wall to be correct, the internal leakage must be lower than the external.
I highly recommend testing the external wind protection as well. Just blindly trusting that the construction company does a good job isn't enough for me (even though my builder has been fantastic, he had no objections to pressure testing). See it as a way to help achieve a tight house, and also get proof of it. A pressure test cost about 5000 SEK.

At what pressure did you have these leakage rates? And what fans were used?

 

[Robert20]

The pressure was 50 Pa. It was a vartalsstyrd fan that had a pressure gauge and a flow meter. It was placed in the doorway through a taped plastic membrane. I don't know the brand of the fan (I didn't do this myself).

 

[Installation]

The pressure was 50 Pa. It was a variable speed fan that had a pressure gauge and a flow meter. It was placed in the doorway through a taped plastic membrane. I don't know the make of the fan (I didn't do this myself).

A blower door that most serious users use. 50Pa is the minimum requirement. They usually turn it up higher, around 65-70 as well.