The builder and contractor community is under pressure from the ever changing energy code (IECC) to build houses more energy efficiently, and to meet specific and sometimes stringent standards. Most of these energy standards require third party testing to ensure that the standards are achieved.
A Blower Door test is the only way to determine the air tightness of a home. This is measured in Air Changes Per Hour (ACH) and in CFM.
5 ACH or lower is required for all new construction under 2015 IECC now being enforced here in Hampton Roads localities.
Here is some of what the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code states:
At Dynamic Inspections we do not just perform a Blower Door Test on the home. If you fail your “Blower Door Test”, with our extensive knowledge of home systems, for an addition fee we can help you find air leaks using Infrared technology, weather permitting, should the house being tested not meet the new standard.
Duct Testing sometimes know as a Duct Blaster test, has also become a code requirement here in Hampton Roads and throughout Virginia. The purpose of duct leakage testing is to evaluate how well a home’s duct system can hold air. The idea behind it is that the more air that leaks out of the duct system, the more potential energy loss can occur. Because of this, a duct pressure test is required to determine if the duct system is meeting the standards of today’s building code which is 4% or less of the square footage of the zone being tested.
We have been using Blower Doors, Duct Blaster and Infrared equipment for over 15 years well before it became a code requirement, we have the experience to get it done!