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Air tightness test query

  • 09-02-2017 12:16pm
    #1
    zulutango
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,903 ✭✭✭


    Is an air tightness test required for all new buildings? Where can I find the info.


Comments

  • #2
    gooner99
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,056 ✭✭✭gooner99


    I could be wrong, but I believe it is. Whether it needs to be done before the house is signed off I'm not sure, but as I've not witnessed any on the new houses in my area, I assume it's not enforced.


  • #3
    zulutango
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,903 ✭✭✭zulutango


    I've been looking through the regs just there (http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/building-standards/tgd-part-d-materials-and-workmanship/Technical-guidance-documents).

    Part L (Dwellings) seems to be saying that it is required for a certain proportion of new houses in a housing estate.
    Part L (Buildings Other Than Dwellings) doesn't seem to require it.

    But that's just from a cursory look. Would like to hear from somebody who knows the regs well.


  • #4
    Metric Tensor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,725 ✭✭✭Metric Tensor


    If it's a one off dwelling it is required.

    If it is a large number of identical dwellings in a housing estate the developer can test a percentage of same.

    I could be corrected on this but I don't think it is mandatory for non-domestic buildings ... (yet!)


  • #5
    gooner99
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,056 ✭✭✭gooner99


    But is it enforced?


  • #6
    zulutango
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,903 ✭✭✭zulutango


    gooner99 wrote: »
    But is it enforced?

    There's very little enforcement of any kind, but that's a different issue!


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  • #7
    Gumbo
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 40,365 Mod ✭✭✭✭Gumbo


    zulutango wrote: »
    Is an air tightness test required for all new buildings? Where can I find the info.

    Yes. If building one house, that house has to be tested. If building more than one there's a % calculation in Part L that sets out how many you have to do depending on the different types of dwellings been constructed.
    gooner99 wrote: »
    I could be wrong, but I believe it is. Whether it needs to be done before the house is signed off I'm not sure, but as I've not witnessed any on the new houses in my area, I assume it's not enforced.

    As above, it's required under the building control acts and your supervising professional should not be signing off the house without one been done.
    gooner99 wrote: »
    But is it enforced?

    Depends on where you are. In Dublin, yes and is a required to be submitted. Who're completion certs are entered into the register.
    zulutango wrote: »
    There's very little enforcement of any kind, but that's a different issue!

    Incorrect. Building Control enforce this and as per my post above, every new house in Dublin would have this done.


  • #8
    gooner99
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,056 ✭✭✭gooner99


    I'd imagine most other parts of the Country don't have the man power to check or enforce.


  • #9
    zulutango
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,903 ✭✭✭zulutango


    I was more interested in 'buildings other than dwellings'. Am I right in saying that an air tightness test is not a requirement?


  • #10
    Gumbo
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 40,365 Mod ✭✭✭✭Gumbo


    zulutango wrote: »
    I was more interested in 'buildings other than dwellings'. Am I right in saying that an air tightness test is not a requirement?

    Agh right, missed that.

    Don't think an Air Tightness Test is required, but depending on floor area, different requirements are required.

    For example, in Dublin, Building Control now look for alternative sources of power, heating and hot water supply as part of the Near Zero Emissions Targets. This is set out in legislation.


  • #11
    BryanF
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 10,146 Mod ✭✭✭✭BryanF


    zulutango wrote: »
    I was more interested in 'buildings other than dwellings'. Am I right in saying that an air tightness test is not a requirement?

    Not required in non-domestic under tgd L 08
    BUT how are you going to show compliance with min air-tightness regs (a max of 10ach) without testing?
    Also would you not write a higher ach into the spec/ contract to ensure better workmanship / lower heating costs etc?


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  • #12
    zulutango
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,903 ✭✭✭zulutango


    BryanF wrote: »
    Not required in non-domestic under tgd L 08
    BUT how are you going to show compliance with min air-tightness regs (a max of 10ach) without testing?
    Also would you not write a higher ach into the spec/ contract to ensure better workmanship / lower heating costs etc?

    Those are fair points. Presumably you mean lower ACH though?

    Where are you getting the max ACH of 10? I don't see it in Part L (2008)


  • #13
    BryanF
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 10,146 Mod ✭✭✭✭BryanF


    zulutango wrote: »
    Those are fair points. Presumably you mean lower ACH though?

    Where are you getting the max ACH of 10? I don't see it in Part L (2008)

    Sorry yes 'lower'

    Ye no mention of 10 ach - that may have been the pre 2011 domestic level?

    Projects I work on are typically performance specified at 5


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