Airtightness testing

Before a new build house is signed off and a completion certificate provided it is usually a requirement that an Airtightness Test is completed.

The test involves, a large ‘fan door’ being placed across your main door (don’t worry this uses an expandable frame and shouldn’t cause any damage to your door!) – then air is either blown in or sucked out of the property to assess the airtightness of the property. In some cases it may be required to provide a smoke test although the amount of smoke should be minimal.

Some suppliers will also provide thermal imaging of the property, specifically to identify any air leakage paths that may be causing an issue, however this service can be far more expensive that standard air tightness testing. Your property will generally have to meet the air leakage rate that is specified within the SAP calculation carried out on the build.

Airtightness testing of a single property should cost in the region of £250 but if you are building more than one property the cost will reduce and for a development of 5 or more properties the cost could reduce to around £75 per property (correct at February 2010).

For more information about airtightness testing or to find a supplier, visit the Supplier Directory here.