Love, JA; Wingfield, J; Elwell, C; (2018) Does compulsory airtightness testing result in airtight buildings or creative ways of passing the test? In: Proceedings of CIBSE Technical Symposium 2018: Stretching the Envelope. CIBSE: London, UK.

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Abstract

The ATTMA airtightness testing competent person scheme collects pressure test data from the majority of new build dwellings in the UK. A dataset of around 150,000 dwellings is available for analysis and shows surprising results. Measured airtightness for the first recorded test per dwelling is disproportionately concentrated at sharp peaks related to design targets. This is contrary to the skewed normal distribution expected from a process of building, testing, remedial works to seal the primary air barrier and retesting, and indicates that short term measures are being undertaken to pass the test that may not ultimately result in airtight buildings. We reflect on the purpose of airtightness targets and suggest ways in which the regulatory environment could encourage good design and consistent quality of construction.

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