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| {{about|the test device|the blower above a door|air door}}
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| [[File:Minneapolis Blower Door.jpg|thumb|right]]
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| A '''blower door''' is a machine used to measure the airtightness of buildings. It can also be used to measure airflow between building zones, to test ductwork airtightness and to help physically locate air leakage sites in the [[building envelope]].{{Citation needed|data=December 2011|date=December 2011}}
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| There are three primary components to a blower door: (1) a calibrated, variable-speed [[Mechanical fan|fan]], capable of inducing a range of airflows sufficient to pressurize and depressurize a variety of building sizes, (2) a [[pressure measurement]] instrument, called a [[manometer]], to simultaneously measure the pressure differential induced across the face of the fan and across the building envelope, as a result of fan airflow, and (3) a mounting system, used to mount the fan in a building opening, such as a door or a window.
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| A variety of blower door airtightness metrics can be produced using the combination of building-to-outside pressure and fan airflow measurements. These metrics differ in their measurement methods, calculation and uses. Blower door tests are used by building researchers, [[weatherization]] crews, [[home performance]] contractors, and others in efforts to assess the construction quality of the building envelope, locate air leakage pathways, assess how much ventilation is supplied by the air leakage, assess the energy losses resulting from that air leakage, determine if the building too tight or too loose, determine if the building needs [[mechanical ventilation]] and to assess compliance with building performance standards.{{Citation needed|data=December 2011|date=December 2011}}
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| ==History of Blower Door Testing==
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| Blower door technology was first used to measure building airtightness in Sweden around 1977. This earliest implementation used a fan mounted in a window, rather than a door.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Sherman|first=Max|title=The Use of Blower-Door Data1|journal=Indoor Air|date=1 September 1995|volume=5|issue=3|pages=215–224|doi=10.1111/j.1600-0668.1995.t01-1-00008.x}}</ref> Similar window-mounted measurement techniques were being pursued by Caffey in Texas,<ref>{{cite journal|last=Caffey|first=G.E.|title=Residential Air Infiltration|journal=ASHRAE Transactions|year=1979|volume=85|series=9|pages=41–57}}</ref> and door-mounted test fans were being developed by Harrje, Blomsterberg and Persily at Princeton University to help them find and fix air leaks in homes in a Twin Rivers, New Jersey housing development.<ref>{{Cite report |author= Harrje, D.T.|authorlink= |coauthors= A. Blomsterberg, A. Persily|date= 1979|title= Reduction of Air Infiltration Due to Window and Door Retrofits|url= |publisher= CU/CEES|page= |docket= |accessdate= |id= Report 85}}</ref> Harold Orr has also been identified as a member of a group in Saskatchewan, Canada who was pursuing similar testing methods.<ref>{{cite web|last=Holladay|first=Martin|title=Blower Door Basics|url=http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/musings/blower-door-basics|publisher=Green Building Advisor}}</ref>
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| These early research efforts demonstrated the potential power of blower door testing in revealing otherwise unaccounted for energy losses in homes. Previously, air leakage around doors, windows and electrical outlets was considered to be the primary leakage pathway in homes, but Harrje, Dutt and Beya used blower doors to identify “thermal bypasses”. These bypasses were air leakage sites, such as attic utility chases, that accounted for the vast percentage of air leakage energy losses in most homes.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Harrje|first=D.T.|coauthors=G.S. Dutt, J.E. Beya|title=Locating and Eliminating Obscure, but Major Energy Losses in Residential Housing|journal=ASHRAE Transactions|year=1979|volume=85|series=II|pages=521–534}}</ref> Use of blower doors in home energy retrofitting and weatherization efforts became known as “house doctoring” by researchers on the East<ref>{{cite conference |url= |title= House Doctors Program: Retrofits in Existing Buildings|author= Harrje, D.T.|authorlink= |coauthors= G.S. Dutt|year= 1981|conference= 2nd AIVC Conference|booktitle= |pages= 61–72|location= |id= }}</ref> and West coasts.<ref>{{Cite report |author= Diamond, R.C.|authorlink= |coauthors= J.B. Dickinson, R.D. Lipschutz, B. O”Regan, B. Schole|date= 1982|title= The House Doctor’s Manual|url= |publisher= Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory|id= PUB-3017|docket= |accessdate= |quote= }}</ref>
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| The blower door first became commercially available in the United States in 1980 under the name Gadsco. Harmax started to sell units in 1981, followed closely by the Energy Conservatory in 1982.{{Citation needed|data=December 2011|date=December 2011}}
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| While these blower door-testing efforts were useful in identifying leakage pathways and in accounting for otherwise inexplicable energy losses, the results could not be used to determine real-time air exchange in buildings under natural conditions, or even to determine average annual air exchange levels. Sherman<ref>{{cite journal|last=Sherman|first=Max|title=Estimation of infiltration from leakage and climate indicators|journal=Energy and Buildings|date=1 February 1987|volume=10|issue=1|pages=81–86|doi=10.1016/0378-7788(87)90008-9}}</ref> attributes the first attempt at doing this to Persily and Kronvall, who estimated annual average air exchange by:
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| <math> ACH_{natural} = {ACH_{at 50 Pascal}\over20}\,\!</math>
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| :<math> ACH_{natural}\,\!</math> = Natural Air Changes per Hour [1/hr]
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| :<math> ACH_{at 50 Pascal}\,\!</math> = Air Changes per Hour at 50 Pascal [1/hr]
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| Further physical modeling efforts allowed for the development<ref>{{Cite report |author= Sherman, Max|authorlink= |coauthors= D.T. Grimsrud|date= October 1980|title= The Measurement of Infiltration using Fan Pressurization and Weather Data|url= |publisher= Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory|id= LBL-10852|docket= |accessdate= |quote= }}</ref> and validation<ref>{{Cite conference |author= Sherman, Max|authorlink= |coauthors= M.P. Modera|year= 1984|title= Infiltration Using the LBL Infiltration Model|url= |publisher= ASTM|conference= Measured Air Leakage Performance of Buildings|id= Special Technical Publication No. 904|pages= 325–347|quote= }}</ref> of an infiltration model by researchers at [[Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory]] (LBNL). This model combined data derived from blower door tests with annual weather data to generate time-resolved ventilation rates for a given home in a specific location. This model has been incorporated into the ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals (1989), and it has been used in the development of ASHRAE Standards 119<ref name="ASHRAE Standard 119">{{cite book|title=ASHRAE Standard 119, Air Leakage Performance for Detached Single-Family Residential Buildings|year=1988|publisher=American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers}}</ref> and 136.<ref>{{cite book|title=ASHRAE Standard 136, A Method of Determining Air Change Rates in Detached Dwellings|year=1993|publisher=American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers}}</ref> Other infiltration models have been developed elsewhere, including one by Deru and Burns at the [[National Renewable Energy Laboratory]] (NREL), for use in whole building energy simulation.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Deru|first=M.|coauthors=P. Burns|title=Infiltration and natural ventilation model for whole building energy simulation of residential buildings|journal=ASHRAE Transactions|year=2003|volume=109|issue=2|pages=801–814}}</ref>
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| ==How blower-door tests work==
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| A basic blower-door system includes three components: a calibrated fan, a door-panel system, and a pressure measurement device ([[manometer]]).
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| ===Test setup===
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| The blower-door fan is temporarily sealed into an exterior doorway using the door-panel system. All interior doors are opened, and all exterior doors and windows are closed. HVAC balancing dampers and registers are not to be adjusted, and fireplaces and other operable dampers should be closed. All mechanical exhaust devices in the home, such as bathroom exhaust, kitchen range hood or dryer, should be turned off. Pressure tubing is used to measure the fan pressure, and it is also run to the exterior of the building, so that the indoor/outdoor pressure differential can be measured. The exterior pressure sensor should be shielded from wind and direct sunlight. The test begins by sealing the face of the fan and measuring the baseline indoor/outdoor pressure differential. The average value is to be subtracted from all indoor/outdoor pressure differential measurements during the test.
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| ===Test procedure===
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| The blower door fan is used to blow air into or out of the building, creating either a positive or negative pressure differential between inside and outside. This pressure difference forces air through all holes and penetrations in the building enclosure. The tighter the building (e.g. fewer holes), the less air is needed from the blower door fan to create a change in building pressure. Typically, only depressurization testing is performed, but both depressurization and pressurization are preferable. Different values for blower door metrics are to be expected for pressurizing and depressurizing, due to the building envelope's response to directional airflow. The smallest fan ring that allows the fan to reach the maximum target indoor/outdoor pressure differential should be used. A multipoint test can be performed either manually or using data acquisition and fan control software products. The manual test consists of adjusting the fan to maintain a series of indoor/outdoor pressure differentials and recording the resulting average fan and indoor/outdoor pressures. Alternatively, a single-point test can be performed, where the blower door fan is ramped up to a reference indoor/outdoor pressure differential and the fan pressure is recorded. Often the blower door hardware converts fan pressure measurements directly to fan airflow values.
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| Further details can be found in the blower door manual provided by the equipment manufacturer.<ref>{{cite web|last=Retrotec|title=Retrotec Blower Door Systems|url=http://retrotec.com/residential/Products/BlowerDoorSystems.aspx|publisher=Retrotec Residential Test Applications}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=The Energy Conservatory|title=Manuals|url=http://www.energyconservatory.com/support/support5.htm|publisher=The Energy Conservatory}}</ref>
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| ==Power law model of airflow for blower door testing==
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| Building leakage is described by a [[power law]] equation of flow through an orifice.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Sherman|first=Max|title=A Power Law Formulation of Laminar Flow in Short Pipes|journal=Journal of Fluids Engineering|year=1992|volume=114|issue=4|pages=601–605}}</ref><ref name="ASTM Standard E779-87">{{cite book| title=ASTM Standard E779-87, Test Method for Determining Air Leakage by Fan Pressurization|year=1991|publisher=American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM)}}</ref> The orifice flow equation is typically expressed as
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| <math> Q = C{\Delta}P^n\,\!</math>
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| :<math> Q\,\!</math> =Airflow (m<sup>3</sup>/sec)
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| :<math> C\,\!</math> = Air Leakage Coefficient
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| :<math> {\Delta}P\,\!</math> = Pressure Differential (Pa)
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| :<math> n\,\!</math> = Pressure Exponent
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| The C parameter reflects the size of the orifice, the ∆P is the pressure differential across the orifice, and the n parameter represents the characteristic shape of the orifice, with values ranging from 0.5 to 1, representing a perfect orifice and a very long, thin crack, respectively.
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| There are two airflows to be determined in blower door testing, airflow through the fan (Q<sub>Fan</sub>) and airflow through the building envelope (Q<sub>Building</sub>).
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| <math> Q_{Fan} = C_{Fan}{{\Delta}P_{Fan}}^{n_{Fan}}\,\!</math>
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| <math> Q_{Building} = C_{Building}{{\Delta}P_{Building}}^{n_{Building}}\,\!</math>
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| It is assumed in blower door analysis that mass is conserved, resulting in:
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| <math> Q_{Fan} = Q_{Building}\,\!</math>
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| Which results in:
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| <math> C_{Fan}{{\Delta}P_{Fan}}^{n_{Fan}} = C_{Building}{{\Delta}P_{Building}}^{n_{Building}}\,\!</math>
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| Fan airflow is determined using C<sub>Fan</sub> and n<sub>Fan</sub> values that are provided by the blower door manufacturer, and they are used to calculate Q<sub>Fan</sub>. The multi-point blower door test procedure results in a series of known values of Q<sub>n, Fan</sub> and ∆P<sub>n, Building</sub>. Typical ∆P<sub>n, Building</sub> values are ±5, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 Pascal. Ordinary least squares regression analysis is then used to calculate the leakage characteristics of the building envelope: C<sub>Building</sub> and n<sub>Building</sub>. These leakage characteristics of the building envelope can then be used to calculate how much airflow will be induced through the building envelope for a given pressure difference caused by wind, temperature difference or mechanical forces. 50 Pa can be plugged into the orifice-flow equation, along with the derived building C and n values to calculate airflow at 50 Pascal. This same method can be used to calculate airflow at a variety of pressures, for use in creation of other blower door metrics.
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| An alternative approach to the multi-point procedure is to only measure fan airflow and building pressure differential at a single test point, such as 50 Pa, and then use an assumed pressure exponent, n<sub>Building</sub> in the analysis and generation of blower door metrics. This method is preferred by some for two main reasons: (1) measuring and recording one data point is easier than recording multiple test points, and (2) the measurements are least reliable at very low building pressure differentials, due both to fan calibration and to wind effects.
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| ==Air density corrections==
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| In order to increase the accuracy of blower door test results, [[air density]] corrections should be applied to all airflow data. This must be done prior to the derivation of building air leakage coefficients (<math>C_{Building}\,\!</math>) and pressure exponents (<math>n_{Building}\,\!</math>). The following methods are used to correct blower door data to standard conditions.<ref name="ASTM Standard E779-87" />
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| For depressurization testing, the following equation should be used:
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| <math> Q_{Corrected} = Q_{Measured}*{\rho_{In} \over \rho_{Out}}\,\!</math>
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| :<math>Q_{Corrected}\,\!</math> = Airflow corrected to actual air density
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| :<math>Q_{Measured}\,\!</math> = Airflow derived using <math>C_{Fan}\,\!</math> and <math>n_{Fan}\,\!</math>
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| :<math>\rho_{In}\,\!</math> = Air density inside the building, during testing
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| :<math>\rho_{Out}\,\!</math> = Air density outside the building, during testing
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| For pressurization testing, the following equation should be used:
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| <math> Q_{Corrected} = Q_{Measured}*{\rho_{Out} \over \rho_{In}}\,\!</math>
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| The values <math>{\rho_{Out} \over \rho_{In}}\,\!</math> and <math>{\rho_{In} \over \rho_{Out}}\,\!</math> are referred to as air density correction factors in product literature. They are often tabulated in easy to use tables in product literature, where a factor can be determined from outside and inside temperatures. If such tables are not used, the following equations will be required to calculate air densities.
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| <math>\rho_{In}\,\!</math> can be calculated in [[Imperial units|IP]] units using the following equation:
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| <math>\rho_{In} = 0.07517*(1-{0.0035666*E \over 528})^{5.2553}*({528 \over T_{In}+460})\,\!</math>
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| :<math>\rho_{In}\,\!</math> = Air density inside the building, during testing
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| :<math>E\,\!</math> = Elevation above sea level (ft)
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| :<math>T_{In}\,\!</math> = Indoor Temperature (F)
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| <math>\rho_{Out}\,\!</math> can be calculated in IP units using the following equation:
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| <math>\rho_{Out} = 0.07517*(1-{0.0035666*E \over 528})^{5.2553}*({528 \over T_{Out}+460})\,\!</math>
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| :<math>\rho_{Out}\,\!</math> = Air density outside the building, during testing
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| :<math>E\,\!</math> = Elevation above sea level (ft)
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| :<math>T_{Out}\,\!</math> = Outdoor Temperature (F)
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| In order to translate the airflow values derived using <math>C_{Fan}\,\!</math> and <math>n_{Fan}\,\!</math> from the blower door manufacturer to the actual volumetric airflow through the fan, use the following:<ref>{{cite book|last=The Energy Conservatory|title=Minneapolis Blower Door Operation Manual for Model 3 and Model 4 Systems|year=2010|publisher=The Energy Conservatory|location=Minneapolis, MN|url=http://www.energyconservatory.com/support/support5.htm}}</ref>
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| <math>Q_{Actual} = Q_{Fan}*\sqrt{\rho_{Ref} \over \rho_{Actual}}\,\!</math>
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| :<math>Q_{Actual}\,\!</math> = Actual volumetric airflow through the fan
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| :<math>Q_{Fan}\,\!</math> = Volumetric airflow calculated using manufacturer's coefficients or software
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| :<math>\rho_{Ref}\,\!</math> = Reference [[air density]] (typically 1.204 for Kg/m<sup>3</sup> or 0.075 for lb/ft<sup>3</sup>)
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| :<math>\rho_{Actual}\,\!</math> = Actual density of air going through the fan <math>\rho_{In}\,\!</math> for depressurization and <math>\rho_{Out}\,\!</math> for pressurization
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| ==Blower door metrics==
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| Depending on how a blower door test is performed, a wide variety of airtightness and building airflow metrics can be derived from the gathered data. Some of the most common metrics and their variations are discussed below.
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| ===Airflow at a specified building pressure===
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| One metric is to measure airflow at a given building-to-outside reference pressure, typically at 50 Pascal (Q<sub>50</sub>). This standardized single-point test allows for comparison between homes measured at the same reference pressure. A suitably high pressure, such as 50 Pa, is chosen so that the effects of stack-induced airflow and wind-driven airflow are minimized. This increases the repeatability of the measurement, essentially controlling for the different temperature and wind conditions under which a building can be tested. Buildings of different sizes and similar envelope quality will have different results in this test.{{Citation needed|data=December 2011|date=December 2011}}
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| ===Airflow per unit surface area or floor area===
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| Often, an effort is made to control for building size and layout by normalizing the airflow at a specified building pressure to either the building’s floor area or to its total surface area. These values are generated by taking the airflow rate through the fan and dividing by the area. These metrics are most used to assess construction and building envelope quality, because they normalize the total building leakage area to the total amount of area through which that leakage could occur. In other words, how much leakage occurs per unit area of wall, floor, ceiling, etc.{{Citation needed|data=December 2011|date=December 2011}}
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| ===Air changes per hour at a specified building pressure===
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| Another common metric is the air changes per hour at a specified building pressure, again, typically at 50 Pa (ACH<sub>50</sub>).
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| <math> ACH_{50} = {Q_{50}*60\over V_{Building}}\,\!</math>
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| :<math> ACH_{50}\,\!</math> = Air changes per hour at 50 Pascal (hr<sup>-1</sup>)
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| :<math> Q_{50}\,\!</math> = Airflow at 50 Pascal (ft<sup>3</sup>/minute)
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| :<math> V_{Building}\,\!</math> = Building volume (ft<sup>3</sup>)
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| This normalizes the airflow at a specified building pressure by the building’s volume, which allows for more direct comparison of homes of different sizes and layouts. This metric indicates the rate at which the air in a building is replaced with outside air, and as a result, is an important metric in determinations of indoor air quality.{{Citation needed|data=December 2011|date=December 2011}}
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| ===Effective leakage area===
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| In order to take values generated by fan pressurization and to use them in determining natural air exchange, the effective leakage area of a building must be calculated. Each gap and crack in the building envelope contributes a certain amount of area to the total leakage area of the building. The Effective Leakage Area assumes that all of the individual leakage areas in the building are combined into a single idealized orifice or hole. This value is typically described to building owners as the area of a window that is open 24/7, 365 in their building. The ELA will change depending on the reference pressure used to calculate it. 4 Pa is typically used in the US, whereas a reference pressure of 10 Pa is used in Canada. It is calculated as follows:<ref name="ASTM Standard E779-87" />
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| <math> ELA = C_{Building}*\sqrt{\rho \over 2}*{\Delta}P_{Ref}^{n_{Building}-0.5}\,\!</math>
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| :<math> ELA\,\!</math> = Effective Leakage Area (m<sup>2</sup> or in<sup>2</sup>)
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| :<math>C_{Building}\,\!</math> = Building air leakage coefficient
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| :<math>\rho\,\!</math> = Air density (Kg/m<sup>3</sup> or lb/in<sup>3</sup>), typically a standard density is used
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| :<math>{\Delta}P_{Ref}\,\!</math> = Reference Pressure (Pa or lb<sub>Force</sub>/in<sup>2</sup>), typically 4 Pa in US and 10 Pa in Canada
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| :<math>n_{Building}\,\!</math> = Building pressure exponent
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| It is essential that units are carefully conserved in these calculations. C<sub>Building</sub> and n<sub>Building</sub> should be calculated using [[SI]] units, and ρ and ∆P<sub>Reference</sub> should be Kg/m<sup>3</sup> and Pascal, respectively. Alternatively, C<sub>Building</sub> and n<sub>Building</sub> can be calculated using [[Imperial units]], with ρ and ∆P<sub>Reference</sub> being lb/ft<sup>3</sup> and lb<sub>Force</sub>/in<sup>2</sup>, respectively.
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| The ELA can be used, along with the Specific Infiltration Rate (s) derived using the LBNL infiltration model, to determine airflow rate through the building envelope throughout the year.{{Citation needed|data=December 2011|date=December 2011}}
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| ===Leakage area per unit floor or surface area===
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| Leakage area estimates can also be normalized for the size of the enclosure being tested, For example, the LEED Green Building Rating System has set an airtightness standard for multifamily dwelling units of {{convert|1.25|sqin|cm2}} of leakage area per {{convert|100|sqft|m2}} of enclosure area, to control [[tobacco]] [[smoke]] between units. This is equal to 0.868 cm²/m².<ref>[http://www.us.sbt.siemens.com/siemensleed/EAC9C15D.html Siemens Building Technologies]</ref>
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| ===Normalized leakage===
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| Normalized leakage is a measure of the tightness of a building envelope relative to the building size and number of stories. Normalized Leakage is defined in ASHRAE Standard 119 as:<ref name="ASHRAE Standard 119" />
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| <math> NL = 1000*({ELA \over A_{Floor}})*({H \over H_{Ref}})^{0.3}\,\!</math>
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| :<math> NL\,\!</math> = Normalized leakage
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| :<math>ELA\,\!</math> = Effective Leakage Area (m<sup>2</sup> or in<sup>2</sup>)
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| :<math>A_{Floor}\,\!</math> = Building floor area (m<sup>2</sup> or in<sup>2</sup>)
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| :<math>H\,\!</math> = Building Height (m or in)
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| :<math>H_{Ref}\,\!</math> = Reference height ({{convert|2.5|m|in|lk=on}})
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| ==Uses of blower-door testing==
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| Blower doors can be used in a variety of types of testing. These include (but are not limited to):
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| * Testing residential and commercial buildings for air tightness
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| * Testing buildings for compliance with standards for energy efficiency, such as the [[International Energy Conservation Code|IECC]] and [[ASHRAE]].
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| * Testing building envelopes and window frames for water tightness and rain penetration
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| * [[National Fire Protection Association|NFPA]] Clean Agent Retention testing (this type of testing is usually described as a ''door fan test'' rather than a blower door test)
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| * [[Duct leakage testing]] of forced air heating/cooling systems - both supply (vents) ducts and return ducts can be tested to determine if and how much they leak air.
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| ==NFPA Enclosure Integrity Testing==
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| [[National Fire Protection Association|NFPA]] enclosure integrity testing is a specialized type of enclosure testing that typically measures the tightness of rooms within buildings (though testing entire buildings require testing on occasion) that are protected by clean agent fire suppression systems. These types of enclosures are typically server rooms containing large amounts of computer and electronic hardware that would be damaged by the more typical water based sprinkler system. The word "clean" refers to the fact that after the suppression system discharges, there is nothing to be cleaned up. The agent merely disperses into the atmosphere.
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| NFPA standards for equipment calibration are more rigorous than other types of testing, but any modern blower door equipment is sufficiently accurate to perform NFPA enclosure integrity testing.
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| The NFPA standard requires that the blower door operator be trained, but does not specify the nature or source of this training. There is no official NFPA training available for enclosure integrity testing methodology at this time.
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| An NFPA enclosure integrity test result is typically reported in the form of an ''agent retention time'' which represents the duration for which the room will retain the agent at sufficient concentration to suppress a fire. This retention time varies based on the leakage area of the room, the location of the leaks and the particular clean agent being used.{{Citation needed|data=December 2011|date=December 2011}}
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| The latest version of NFPA 2001 (Edition 2012) requires a peak pressure evaluation in addition to the traditional Hold Time analysis that has been required since 1985.
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| ==See also==
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| * [[Energy audit]]
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| * [[Home performance]]
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| * [[Green retrofit]]
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| * [[Weatherization]]
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| * [[Efficient energy use]]
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| ==Blower Door Manufacturing Companies==
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| * [http://www.infiltec.com/ Infiltec]
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| * [http://retrotec.com/ Retrotec Energy Solutions]
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| * [http://energyconservatory.com/ The Energy Conservatory]
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist}}
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| [[Category:Ventilation]]
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