This study sought to measure the airtightness of a number of apartment buildings with the aim of getting some indicative sense of the level of airtightness being provided by the wider stock of apartments in New Zealand. While a limited amount of data exists for stand-alone low-rise residential buildings, very little was known about the airtightness level being provided by apartments.
The airtightness of a building is a key aspect of a building’s performance – affecting the energy efficiency, thermal comfort and indoor air quality provided by the building. However, airtightness is only mentioned indirectly in the New Zealand Building Code, and there is no requirement to meet a particular level of airtightness.
For assistance with locating previous versions, please contact the information provider.
For assistance with locating previous versions, please contact the information provider.
This resource is not cited by any other resources.
SR455 - Airtightness of selected apartments in New Zealand
This document is not CITED BY any other resources:
SR455 - Airtightness of selected apartments in New Zealand
Description
This study sought to measure the airtightness of a number of apartment buildings with the aim of getting some indicative sense of the level of airtightness being provided by the wider stock of apartments in New Zealand. While a limited amount of data exists for stand-alone low-rise residential buildings, very little was known about the airtightness level being provided by apartments.
The airtightness of a building is a key aspect of a building’s performance – affecting the energy efficiency, thermal comfort and indoor air quality provided by the building. However, airtightness is only mentioned indirectly in the New Zealand Building Code, and there is no requirement to meet a particular level of airtightness.
This study sought to measure the airtightness of a number of apartment buildings with the aim of getting some indicative sense of the level of airtightness being provided by the wider stock of apartments in New Zealand. While a limited amount of data exists for stand-alone low-rise residential buildings, very little was known about the airtightness level being provided by apartments.
The airtightness of a building is a key aspect of a building’s performance – affecting the energy efficiency, thermal comfort and indoor air quality provided by the building. However, airtightness is only mentioned indirectly in the New Zealand Building Code, and there is no requirement to meet a particular level of airtightness.
INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................... 3
What is airtightness? ............................................................................. 3
Airtightness in New Zealand ................................................................... 3
How does airtightness in New Zealand compare with overseas? ................ 4
Airtightness of apartments ..................................................................... 8
How can airtightness be achieved? ......................................................... 9
DISCUSSION ........................................................................................ 27
Potential targets for New Zealand ......................................................... 28
Achieving a target ............................................................................... 30
REFERENCES ................................................................................................ 32
Study Report SR455 Airtightness of selected apartments in New Zealand
v
Figures
Figure 1. Airtightness of New Zealand houses by date of construction. ....................... 4
Figure 2. Apartments #1, Auckland........................................................................ 13
Figure 3. Apartments #2, Dunedin. ........................................................................ 14
Figure 4. Apartments #3, Wellington. .................................................................... 15
Figure 5. Apartments #4, Wellington. .................................................................... 17
Figure 6. Apartments #5, Auckland........................................................................ 18
Figure 7. Air leakage paths through ranch slider joinery shown by passage of smoke. 19
Figure 8. Apartments #6, Queenstown. .................................................................. 20
Figure 9. Apartments #7, Auckland........................................................................ 22
Figure 10 Apartments #8, Wellington .................................................................... 23
Figure 11. Smoke coming through the bottom plate of an external wall under
depressurisation of the apartment. .............................................................. 24
Figure 12. Apartments #9, Upper Hutt. .................................................................. 25
Figure 13. Airtightness of New Zealand houses by date of construction including
apartment data. ......................................................................................... 27
Figure 14. Estimated infiltration rates associated with different levels of airtightness for
a BRANZ test house if it were located in Christchurch. ................................... 29
Figure 15. Heat loss components for an illustrative case in Christchurch with
mechanical ventilation. ............................................................................... 30
Tables
Table 1. Selected airtightness requirements.............................................................. 5
Table 2. Summary results for Apartments #1. ........................................................ 13
Table 3. Summary results for Apartments #2. ........................................................ 15
Table 4. Summary results for Apartments #3. ........................................................ 16
Table 5. Summary results for Apartments #4. ........................................................ 17
Table 6. Summary results for Apartments #5. ........................................................ 18
Table 7. Summary results for Apartments #6. ........................................................ 21
Table 8. Summary results for Apartments #7. ........................................................ 22
Table 9. Summary results for Apartments #8. ........................................................ 24
Table 10. Summary results for Apartments #9. ....................................................... 25
