Understanding testing procedure – AS NZS ISO 9972:2015
What does the standard “AS NZS ISO 9972:2015” do?
- Quantifies Thermal performance of buildings
- Determination of the building air permeability rate
- Fan pressurization/Blower Door method
Quick tips/summary for ensuring a company is testing to an Australian Standard (AS NZS ISO 9972:2015).
Firstly, Australia has a standard method for air tightness testing of the building envelope.
Preparation is key to testing to a standard. It ensures that testing can be replicated and that the result is useful in understanding the effectiveness of the building envelope efficiency performance. This directly impacts the temperature differential between the inside and outside as well as the comfort of occupants. There are three methods for preparation:
Method 1 is the test of the building in use where the natural ventilation is closed, and the whole building mechanical ventilation or air conditioning openings are sealed.
Method 2 is the test of the building envelope where all the intentional openings are sealed, and the doors, windows, and manholes are closed.
Method 3 is the test of the building for a particular purpose, the treatment of the intentional openings being adapted to this purpose according to the standard or policy that may be specified.
Baseline/Bias pressures are critical, to get an understanding of the dynamics of pressure acting on the building. If +-5Pa of pressure is captured during a baseline, the test is not valid. This pressure must be remedied permanently to conduct the test.
Getting the building up to at least 50Pa is also absolutely critical to get an accurate understanding of the leakage in a building, and 75Pa is even more desirable. However, if the building is too leaky for the fan to undertake the blower door test, a pressure of at least 25Pa can be created to comply with the standard. It must be clearly recorded in the test report that the requirements of the standard have not been fully met, and an account of troubleshooting should be present.
An alternative solution is to measure significant buildings by dividing into some smaller parts using guarded blower door testing. It’s critical that a contractor doing the testing allows for enough fan power to test up to the necessary pressure. Ensure in the quoting that all contractors have allowed for the same number of fans.
Testing to 10m3/h/m2
| m3 Air Volume | Fans Required |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 5000 | 2 |
| 8000 | 3 |
| 11000 | 4 |
| 14000 | 5 |
| 17000 | 6 |
| 17000+ | Building must be inspected |
*Note the leakier the rate, the more fans that are required to do an area.
Testing to 5m3/h/m2
| m3 Air Volume | Fans Required |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 5000 | 1 |
| 8000 | 2 |
| 11000 | 2 |
| 14000 | 3 |
| 17000 | 3 |
| 21000 | 4 |
| 30000 | 5 |
| 37000 | 6 |
| 37000+ | Building must be inspected |
Call us for more information on the standard, or for testing to this international standard that has now been adopted by Australia.
