Air Tightness Test - New Build A2 Rating

gandalfio

Hi,

Should this test be performed/signed off on before or after the plumbing and heating systems are operational/commissioned?

MicktheMan

After ... when there's water in the waste water traps

gandalfio

Is there any regulation or guidelines that enforces this that I can quote/refer to? Ours was done two days before plumbing and heating was commissioned.

The result was 4.51 m³/(hm²) at 50 Pa. The home has mechanical ventilation, I've read the max result should be 3 m³/(hm²) at 50 Pa.

We've been having problems with heat retention since moving in and am trying to gather whatever evidence we can to get the builder to sort it out.

Lumen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120323626#Comment_120323626

TGD Part L, particularly p31.

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/d82ea-technical-guidance-document-l-conservation-of-fuel-and-energy-dwellings/#current-edition

keno-daytrader

A horrible result in this day and age, you shouldn't settle for anything over 2.0 at bare minimum, that result will really cost you in the years to come if you dont rectify it now.

Anyone signing contracts of a new build should have minimum airtightness stipulated in the contract.

gandalfio

Is there any obligation on the builder to bring it down to below the recommended level of 3? See attached from the TGD Part L document.

We've been complaining to them about heat loss since we bought the house 3 months ago. But have only today discovered the recommendation to be below 3 on the ATT for homes with mechanical ventilation.

IMG-20230307-WA0002.jpeg

IMG-20230307-WA0004.jpeg

Stone Deaf 4evr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120324918#Comment_120324918

Depends, without mechanical ventilation you could face air quality / condensation issues if airtightness is excessive.

Stone Deaf 4evr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120324981#Comment_120324981

Being pedantic, the wording is 'recommended' , so theres scope for interpretation. technically speaking, the builder has complied with the regs as regards the minimum acceptable air-tightness value.

keno-daytrader

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120330808#Comment_120330808

The op said that he has Mechanical ventilation.

Lumen

There's no such thing as "excessive airtightness".