There is a growing recognition of the need to establish performance targets for the airtightness of buildings either through regulations or voluntary programs. Before this occurs, further research is required to establish baseline air leakage rates and appropriate building airtightness targets (and, for specific building types/uses such as schools).

Our Research

Between 2012 and 2014, with the support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and Manitoba Hydro, a total of 26 commercial buildings in Manitoba were tested.

Overall, they represented a fairly diverse sample of Manitoba’s commercial construction:

• 18 (69%) were situated in the City of Winnipeg
• They ranged in age from one to over 100 years
• 建筑面积从 150 m 起²至 19,788 m² （1,615 英尺² 至 212,918 英尺²)
• 建筑物高度从 1 层到 16 层不等

Five of the structures were owned by Manitoba Hydro who also provided financial and in-kind support for the project. The rest were occupied by a variety of private and public owners. An effort was also made to include a few buildings that were undergoing, or had recently completed, a major building envelope retrofit.

Results

• 虽然 RRC 在这一领域的工作极大地扩展了该领域的知识，但测试的大型建筑数量仍然相当少，特别是与低层住宅相比。
• The following three projects illustrate RRC’s ongoing efforts in this area through BETAC: 查看最终项目报告