3.8 Blower Door Instructions

Personnel:

The PHIUS+ Rater/Verifier will perform the blower door testing.

Building Preparation:

See Appendix F – ANSI/RESNET/ICC 380-2016: Procedure to Prepare the Building for Testing

Large building infiltration testing: Verifiers are encouraged to test the building as a whole, and if needed, to reach out to and attempt to contract a more experienced testing professional. PHIUS is open to alternative methods of testing, and is open to reviewing proposed work scopes from Verifiers. The building should be prepared for the test in accordance with RESNET Mortgage Industry National Home Energy Rating Standards – Appendix A Section 9, Element: Air Leakage refer to ANSI Standard 380-2016.

• PHIUS Variance: Barometric/spring loaded dampers could be sealed for the direction of the test that they will be force-failed open by the test. Thus, fresh air intake dampers could be sealed during depressurization, while exhaust dampers could be sealed during pressurization. The idea here is that whatever small amount of damper gasket leakage will be captured in the opposite direct in which the damper is forced open so it is at least somewhat accounted for.

Test Method:

The blower door testing should be computer-controlled using automated testing software (such as “Tectite” from The Energy Conservatory or “Fantestic” from Retrotec).

The PHIUS+ Rater/Verifier will conduct multi-point testing in both pressurization and depressurization modes. The test method in the automated testing software should be set as “RESNET” or “ASTM E779”. The final CFM50 for certification purposes is the average of the two results.

Note: It is important to route an additional pressure tap to the exterior for the reference pressure on channel B during the pressurization test. In some cases, when this is not done, the pressurization results are worse than the depressurization.

Documentation:

The project team or PHIUS+ Rater/Verifier will submit PDF reports from the automated testing software documenting the test results.

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