Residential Services

There is a lot more to airtightness than just testing. If a builder has a low air tightness permeability rate that they are targeting of at least 10 m3/h/m2@50Pa, the builder will need consultancy advice before and during construction.
It should be the goal of every builder to pass an airtightness test the first time every time, for a project that requires a particular leakage rate.
The best way to ensure you pass an airtightness test the first time, is to contact Efficiency Matrix. It will cost you nothing to call us, and one of our Principal Air Tightness Testing experts will assess your project and advise you on what services you require to minimise your risk. We empower your staff to be able to leverage off our experience. You may need to use less of our services in the future.
Remember:

It’s expensive to retrofit air tightness, it can cost TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
It’s a great learning experience to use our consultancy
Everything leaks air

What is an Airtightness Desktop Review?
An experienced Efficiency Matrix Principal consultant reviews your drawings and other information that may be provided and identifies potential risk areas, advising you on details, materials and any possible improvements. This service has saved some of our client’s tens of thousands of dollars.
The Desktop Review also includes the redline markup, which is crucial with respect to airtightness, to understand which walls make up part of the building envelope.
If you are unsure about the benefits of this service, give us a call, we are here to help, and it could save you thousands of dollars.

What is an Airtightness on-site Design Review/Workshop?
Our Principal Airtightness Testing Consultants will come to your site and have a meeting with your project team and main contractors. The on-site design review will determine how air testing has been incorporated into the design; we go over how responsibilities across details and interfaces are being allocated and nut out where improvements and cost savings could be realised to achieve the construction of a better performing building.
If you are not sure if you need this service, give us a call, we are here to help, and it could save you thousands of dollars.

Efficiency Matrix have tested hundreds of Australian homes, and we are the leading air tightness testing company in Australasia.

New Homes and renovations need to meet at least 6 Star energy rating, which is equivalent to the heating and cooling requirements of 114MJ/m2/year in Melbourne. In Reality, post-construction audits on some 6-star homes have found them to be performing like 2-star (384MJ/m2/year) or 4-star (198MJ/m2/year) homes.

This performance gap can be due to poor attention to detail. Bad thermal bridges, plenty of insulation inconsistency and air leakage.

Multi-dwelling residential available Australia wide.

Efficiency Matrix use calibrated, quarterly tested, state-of-the-art pressure testing equipment, to verify the air tightness of a building for energy efficiency.
Top reasons why you should seal your home and check it with residential blower door testing:

Return on investment. Air leakage can be responsible for 40% of the heating load. Draught sealing your home can save you significantly.
Finding and reporting on issues you would not have necessarily have known about.
Whole house comfort. It will make your home more comfortable overall. Having one room too hot and another too cold is less likely when you have an air tight home.
Painless and immediate. It’s quick, quiet and most of the time not very intrusive. Up to 80% of air sealing a home can be done in a day, and you’ll notice the difference immediately.
Noise Reduction. Air sealing also reduces noise from outside coming inside.
Improve indoor Air quality. If you have allergies, air tightness can reduce pollen entering the building envelope
Pest Control. White tale spiders through to rodents are common pests that enter the building envelope via draughty homes.
Our thermal imaging technology helps people find trouble spots of draughts as well as potential issues with moisture and insulation inconsistencies.

Blower Door Testing can help identify and resolve the following:

1. Uncontrolled ventilation
In Australia, new and old homes can be extremely leaky compared to homes built overseas. As a result, our buildings are “automatically ventilated”. Over-ventilation can contribute to moisture problems, as it can be carried inside from outside air, people also producing more water vapour, by taking showers, washing and cooking which contributes to moisture problems again. That means that you still must ventilate, but we must ventilate more effectively. Permanently open or louvred windows should be avoided, otherwise, your heating costs are going to go up dramatically. A controlled ventilation system (via Energy Recovery Ventilation systems) is the optimum solution. It always provides for the perfect air change.

Manometer Setup2. Leakages in the building envelope
Small leakages in the building envelope and a lack of insulation are sufficient to let warm and damp indoor air escape. On its way out, the air cools down and the water vapour carried along with it condenses. This condensation can accumulate in the insulation layer and can lead to mould infestation after a few months. Mould can cause damage to certain building materials and therefore can lead to serious building damage. This is why an air and windtight building envelope is absolutely necessary, for building health and energy efficiency.

A useful table to understand Air tightness benefits of a home.

Achieving optimal air tightness and moisture management is crucial in modern construction for energy efficiency and building durability. Efficiency Matrix offers innovative solutions like TIGHTPlate™ and TightBridge, designed to integrate seamlessly with vapor-permeable wraps such as ProctorWrap RW-IT and ProctorWrap CW-IT, along with ProctorWrap High Tack Plus Tape, to enhance the building envelope’s performance.

TIGHTPlate™: Sealing the Bottom Plate

TIGHTPlate™ is a flexible, closed-cell polyethylene foam gasket that seals the gap between the concrete slab foundation and the bottom plate of exterior walls. This area often allows air infiltration, leading to energy loss and discomfort.

Key Features:

– Effective Sealing: The compressible foam conforms to irregular surfaces, creating a tight seal that minimizes air leakage.
– Moisture Resistance: The closed-cell structure provides excellent resistance to water and water vapor, preventing moisture ingress.
– Pest Prevention: By sealing gaps at the bottom plate, TIGHTPlate™ helps deter pests from entering the building.
– Compatibility: Designed to work in conjunction with vapor-permeable wraps like ProctorWrap RW-IT and CW-IT, maintaining the building envelope’s breathability.

TightBridge: Ensuring Continuity in Air Barriers

TightBridge maintains continuous air barriers across structural transitions, such as between framing elements and sheathing, where gaps can lead to air leakage.

Key Features:

– Seamless Integration: Works effectively with vapor-permeable wraps to ensure a continuous, breathable air barrier.
– Flexible Application: Adapts to various structural configurations, providing a reliable seal across different building designs.
– Durability: Constructed from robust materials that withstand environmental stresses, ensuring longevity.

ProctorWrap RW-IT and CW-IT: Advanced Vapor-Permeable Wraps

ProctorWrap RW-IT and CW-IT are triple-layer polyolefin non-woven textile weather barriers designed for residential and commercial applications, respectively. They meet the requirements of AS/NZS 4200.1 and are suitable for use in Australian construction.

Key Features:

– Vapor Permeability: Allows moisture vapor to escape, reducing the risk of condensation and mold growth.
– Weather Resistance: Provides a durable barrier against wind and rain, protecting the building envelope.
– Integrated Tape (IT) Option: Features pre-applied integrated tape release liners for efficient installation and improved air tightness.

ProctorWrap High Tack Plus Tape: Securing Seams and Joints

ProctorWrap High Tack Plus Tape is a single-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape with an aggressive acrylic adhesive, designed primarily to seal overlaps and joints of external vapor-permeable and internal vapor/air retarder construction membranes.

Key Features:

– Superior Adhesion: High initial bond strength to assist in ease of application.
– Durability: Resistant against humidity and UV exposure for up to two months.
– Versatility: Suitable for repairing and sealing overlaps and joins of various construction membranes.

Synergistic Integration for Enhanced Performance

Combining TIGHTPlate™ and TightBridge with ProctorWrap RW-IT or CW-IT, secured using ProctorWrap High Tack Plus Tape, creates a comprehensive system that ensures:

– Continuous Air Barrier: Eliminates gaps and penetrations that can lead to air leakage, enhancing energy efficiency.
– Moisture Management: Maintains the breathability of the building envelope, allowing moisture vapor to escape and preventing condensation-related issues.
– Ease of Installation: Integrated tape options and flexible materials simplify the installation process, reducing labor time and costs.

Installation Considerations

– Surface Preparation: Ensure that surfaces are clean, dry, and free from contaminants to maximize adhesion and effectiveness.
– Proper Alignment: Carefully align TIGHTPlate™, TightBridge, and ProctorWrap membranes during installation to maintain the continuity of the air and moisture barriers.
– Compatibility: Verify that all components used in the building envelope system are compatible to prevent adverse reactions or reduced performance.

By integrating these products, builders can achieve a high-performance building envelope that balances air tightness and moisture management, leading to improved energy efficiency, durability, and indoor comfort.

Air leakage testing is a vital process that identifies unintended air infiltration points in buildings, enabling homeowners to enhance energy efficiency, indoor comfort, and air quality. By pinpointing and addressing these leaks, it’s possible to reduce energy consumption and improve overall building performance.

Common Areas of Air Leakage in Australian Homes:

Evaporative Cooling Systems: Ductwork associated with evaporative cooling can be a significant source of air leaks, leading to energy inefficiencies.

Ducted Heating Returns: Leaks in return air ducts can cause conditioned air to escape, reducing system efficiency.

Building Cavities Used as Ductwork: Utilizing wall or floor cavities for air distribution can result in leaks due to unsealed joints and penetrations.

Gaps Behind Joinery: Spaces behind kitchen and bathroom cabinetry often have unsealed openings that allow air leakage.

Exhaust Fans Without Draft Stoppers: Exhaust fans lacking proper sealing mechanisms permit unwanted air exchange when not in use.

Unsealed Doors: Doors without appropriate seals can lead to drafts and energy loss.

Skirting Boards and Architraves: Gaps around skirting boards and window or door architraves can be pathways for air leakage.

Cupboard Doors, Especially in Closets: Unsealed cupboard doors, particularly in closets, can contribute to air infiltration.

Addressing these common leakage points through targeted sealing and insulation can significantly improve a home’s energy efficiency and comfort.

For a comprehensive understanding of how air leakage testing can benefit your home, please visit Efficiency Matrix’s detailed guide.

tion Features That Set Efficiency Matrix Apart
Thermal Imaging Analysis:

Documents insulation coverage and calculates temperature differentials to identify inconsistencies.
Provides detailed reporting to validate construction quality and energy efficiency.
Defect Reporting:

Connects to video tutorials and web resources for easy, actionable guidance.
Helps trades understand and rectify defects with minimal supervision.
Marked-Up Floor Plans:

Offers precise defect mapping for trades to locate and fix issues efficiently.
Facilitates revisiting documented areas before finishes are installed.
Prediction Capabilities:

Enables early identification of potential performance issues, allowing proactive remediation before blower door tests.
Our Core Inspection Philosophies
Save Time Onsite: Efficient processes reduce downtime, speeding up project progress.
Empower Knowledge: Equip trades and homeowners with the tools to resolve issues effectively.
Drive Better Outcomes: Ensure high-performing building envelopes through precise defect management.
Streamlined Reporting: Deliver fast, accurate, and actionable insights for stakeholders.
Collaboration-Ready: Foster seamless communication and coordination among all project teams.
Bringing Value to Modern Construction
Efficiency Matrix’s inspections are designed to help clients meet stringent performance standards for air tightness, thermal consistency, and fire safety. By combining innovative technology with a commitment to accuracy and collaboration, so that every project achieves a better outcome in terms of energy efficiency, safety, and long-term performance.

Our tools and expertise align with our vision: to empower the construction industry with the insights and resources needed to build better, faster, and smarter.