Air Sealing & Fire Stopping Information for The Architect

Golden Rules to Ensure Part L is Met

Designing airtight buildings is the only means of ensuring long term, low air leakage performance. Build tight – ventilate right. The objective is to minimise uncontrolled air leakage whilst maintaining controlled ventilation. Ensure the air barrier is based on structural elements, wherever possible. Condensation risk will be minimised if the air barrier or seal envelope is correctly positioned, which depends on the make up of the construction element itself. Generally, it should be placed on the warm side of the insulation layer. It is also important for the insulation layer to be continuous and to bear in mind that excessive cold air moving around loose or misplaced insulation can lead to interstitial condensation.

Remember that air tightness details needs to be considered hand in hand with acoustic and fire requirements.

Also consider that the pressure differential across a building wall or roof can be > 500 pascals and all air sealed elements need to be able to withstand such a pressure; which can easily force open joints on sheet materials that are not securely fixed or restrained.

Ensure that the air tightness test is carried out by a member of the ATTMA – Air Tightness Test Measurement Association. The CLG recognises members of ATTMA as being ‘suitably qualified & competent’ companies to carry out air tests.

Frequently Asked Questions

What needs to be air sealed on site?

Careful consideration is needed on all structural elements. For instance, pre-cast concrete floors may look airtight, but consider air leakage along open voids through the slab into cavities in external walls. Also think about non-structural elements such as roof liner sheets or T and G boarding. A 1mm gap along each joint adds up to a considerable area for air to leak through.

Where can I access reference to standard details?

  • CLG Website
  • The Stationery Office – Robust Details For Dwellings
  • MCRMA Technical Guide 14
  • SEDA
  • BRE Good Building Guides
  • Kingspan

When to Get Worried

Any supplier of materials or components who can not state the air leakage rate (permeability) of their product per metre squared, as tested to BS / EN standards. Beware material suppliers who states their components are air tight. NO materials are perfectly airtight, particularly after installation on site!

Using dry lining or vapour barrier as the air barrier is possible with good detailing. However, a high level of site supervision is required to ensure all junctions are air tight and that the lining is not damaged.

Perforated liner sheets are NOT suitable as an air seal line.

 

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Air Sealing - Flagship Projects

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Air Sealing Contracting - 800 retail stores for 4 major retail chains

Since 1995 for 4 major retail companies, whom HRS still work for on a regular basis

250 existing Morrisons Stores fire stopped over a period of 18 months

HRS were directly employed by Wm Morrisons to upgrade fire stopping

New & existing Tesco stores air sealed by HRS Services

For over 10 years, Kiers has appointed HRS to air seal over 50 TESCO stores