The purpose of this testing was to compare results from newly produced samples (one month) to aged samples (six years).įour samples were provided for thermal testing – two aged for one month, and two aged for six years. The final portion of the Artspan project was conducting a thermal performance assessment of the insulation used in their SIP. office building air tightness and energy modelling were plotted alongside values for various new and existing commercial buildings in Manitoba. The second airtightness test was conducted once the building had been completed, transported to its location, and was occupied. The first test was conducted during construction – building was near completion with installed windows, drywall, and HVAC. Damage to the building and its component materials from moisture-related mechanisms of deterioration.īETAC’s research personnel conducted the Standard Test Method for Measuring the Air Leakage Rate of a Large or Multizone Building, with two airtightness tests using the Envelope Protocol.

Negative impacts upon the HVAC system which can degrade its efficiency.Poor occupant comfort – cold drafts, poor air quality, and inadequate temperature control.Excessive energy costs, for both heating and cooling.However, it can be managed and controlled within limits to minimize several potential issues, including: The overall objectives of the tests were two-fold:Ī) To measure the airtightness of the office building built with Artspan SIP panels both during and post-construction.ī) To expand the general knowledge base on the airtightness characteristics of commercial-style buildings in Manitoba.Īir leakage in a building can never be eliminated. The project also included a whole building air leakage test and energy modelling of the Artspan office building, located in Winkler, MB. Air Tightness Testing and Energy Modelling Resistance to air and water infiltration at these points is critical in cold and mixed climate zones, with regards to the building envelopes’ durability and its energy efficiency.Įxperimental testing took place in the RRC Centre for Applied Research in Sustainable Infrastructure (CARSI), using the Air-Water-Structural (AWS) Test Chamber, to conduct air leakage and water penetration testing on three test walls. Air Leakage and Water Penetration TestingĪs mentioned, Artspan had previously conducted tests on its structurally insulated panels However, testing of the panel joints (wall-to-floor, panel-to-panel, and floor-to-ceiling) and the window-wall interfaces had been limited. Testing was broken down into three parts: air leakage and water penetration, air tightness and energy modelling, and thermal performance assessment. The Engage Grant project with Artspan took place between 20, with the objective of conducting a performance assessment of the company’s panelized system and window installation details. The Building Efficiency Technology Access Centre (BETAC) at Red River College performed further testing through an Engage Grant project, with financial support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). The company had previously conducted airtightness testing on completed houses, thermal testing on its insulation foam, and a variety of fire and structural testing. Artspan provides a one-step building envelope solution for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. (Artspan) is a company based out of Winkler, MB, that designs, manufactures, and distributes structurally insulated panels (SIP).

Building envelope testing