New Build Air Testing
- New Build Air Testing with Nationwide Coverage
- Fully Accredited Engineers
- Same Day Retest
- On-Site Certificate Accepted by Building Control
- Part L1A Compliance & Passive House Testing
- Localised Smoke Test & Thermographic Air Leakage Diagnostics
Air Tightness Solutions provides a cost-effective solution for your Domestic Air Tightness testing requirements for the small developer to the large housing contractor. We provide a nationwide air pressure testing service that is delivered within 72 hours of your order. All new build air testing and domestic air tests are undertaken by ATTMA accredited engineers to ATTMA TSL1. Air pressure testing in new houses, as well as other dwellings, should be done after the construction is complete. To ensure your new build is prepared, read our blog post.
New Build Air Testing – Do I need an air test?
Current legislation requires a sample of all newly built houses to be air tested to ensure compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations in England and Wales and Section 6 of the Scottish Building Standards. An Energy Performance Certificate cannot be issued without an Air Tightness Test Certificate. Your air leakage testing results must have an air permeability figure specified in the design SAP calculations. For one or two units, air tightness testing is not mandatory, but an assumed air leakage rate above the industry norm must be made, which may cause your overall assessment to fail.
Air Tightness Solutions provide a free new build air testing regime assessment allowing the number of dwellings that require testing to be calculated. We will also help you decide when testing will be most cost-effective for you and keep site disruption to a minimum.
We will attend the site to undertake site air testing, air pressure test, air leakage test to determine the air permeability. Beforehand we may require the following information:
• Regulations or standards you are conforming to
• Site layout detailing the different construction forms and designs of houses you have on the development.
• Plans and sections for each house type. If there are different plans for sub-types such as terraced or semi-detached, these will also be required.
• Floor layouts for each apartment block on the development
• A build program if you would like us to suggest which plots to test
• The Design Air Permeability, available from the SAP calculation
If you want to find out more about domestic air testing, or simply need some expert advice, we’d be delighted to help.
What is Air Testing for New Builds?
Air testing, or air tightness testing allows to determine the total air lost through leaks in a new build. The test finds leaks by measuring the amount of air that escapes the building. Leaks refer to uncontrolled escaping air through various parts of the building. The test must be carried out when the build is complete. For this reason, it is wise to design buildings with air tightness in mind.
Common Areas of Leakage for New Builds
• Windows
• Recessed lighting
• Fireplaces
• Sockets
• External doors
• Eaves
• Attic hatches
• Intermediate floors
• Skirting boards
• Plumbing
Benefits of New Build Air Testing
How is the New Build Air Testing performed?
Our Air Tester will either pressurise or depressurise the building with industrial fans to an external opening, such as a doorway. Doing this will allow us to take readings of the difference in pressure between the building and the exterior. We also measure the internal and external temperature and other variables, such as barometric pressure and wind speed. With this information, we can then run calculations and identify if there is any air leakage in the building and whether the results meets the building regulation requirements.
What happens after the air test?
We will give you your results as soon as the air test has been completed. If your new build has passed you will be supplied with an air test certificate within 72 hours. If it fails we provide further assistance with identifying the leaks and fixing them.
