Simplified Multizone Blower Door Techniques for Multifamily Buildings. Final Report Page: 4 of 85
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New York State
Energy Research and Development Authority
Two Empire State Plaza, Suite 1901 . Albany, New York 12223-1253
(518) 465-6251 Fax: (518) 432-9474
A NYSERDA Report in Brief
Report: Simplified Multizone Blower Door Techniques for Multifamily Buildings
Report No. 95-16
Project Manager: Norine H. Karins
Contractor: Steven Winter Associates
Background: This report describes the results of a study that examined the applicability of two- blower-
door and single-blower-door multizone pressurization techniques for estimating the air-leakage
characteristics of New York State multifamily buildings. The research investigated the magnitude of
external leakage areas, and used computer simulations to estimate the effect on air infiltration rates of
decreasing external.and internal leakage areas. The research also examined whether two blower doors
can be used to determine the equivalent leakage area (ELA) of the exterior envelope, and the ELA of
partitions. Two multizone versions of the single-door pressurization method also were investigated.
Objectives: The project's objectives were to refine and validate a test method that uses two blower doors
to estimate air-leakage characteristics of low-rise, multifamily buildings and to determine the leakage of
a multizone building's entire envelope. Tests were performed on two three-story, six-apartment buildings
in Brooklyn.
R&D Results: Using air-tightness expertise of Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL), this project refined
and applied the two-door fan pressurization technique to determine the external and interzonal leakage
in two low-rise apartment buildings. The protocols involved the use of the ASTM E 779-88 blower-door
measurement technique, as well as the techniques discussed in the similar Canadian standard (CGSB 149).
The results of the research indicate that measurements with two blower doors can be used successfully
to quantify the external and interzonal air leakage in multifamily buildings. One version of the multizone
single-blower-door method was found to be useful in quantifying the external air leakage from each
apartment, and in estimating the amount of the interzonal air leakage when the interior partitions are not
tight relative to the exterior envelope. Research results also indicated that the total interzonal leakage area
was of comparable magnitude to the external leakage area. Consequently, interzonal leakage cannot be
ignored when performing blower door tests.
Measurements using two blower doors yielded much more useful information than the single-zone, single-
door technique (ASTM E 779-88) currently used by energy auditors. The two-door method allows the user
to estimate air infiltration/exfiltration rates, which cannot be calculated based on ASTM E 779-88 data.
The two-door method is faster than the multiple-blower-door method, but still requires substantial time.
The two-door method is primarily useful for research (i.e. characterizing the building stock) and special
situations. The two-door method can be used to assess whether weatherization of interior partitions
should be recommended to reduce air infiltration rates and whether communication with the boiler room
creates widespread problems. Specifically, the two-door method can be used on a large sample of
buildings to characterize the air leakage and contaminant flow in the buildings.
Copies Available: A limited number of copies of the full report are available from the New York State
Energy Research and Development Authority, 2 Empire State Plaza, Suite 1901, Albany, New York 12223-
1253; (518) 465-6251, ext. 241.
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Simplified Multizone Blower Door Techniques for Multifamily Buildings. Final Report, report, September 1, 1995; Albany, New York. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc618813/m1/4/: accessed March 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.