ThermalWise conducted two whole building air leakage tests (WBALTs) at the Wing Telecommunications Upgrade and Information Services Upgrade Personnel and Shops Facility (PSF) at CFB Shearwater, Nova Scotia. The purpose of the testing was to verify the whole building air tightness functional performance against project specifications at two stages of construction – completion of the air barrier system; and at or near construction completion.

ThermalWise completed air tightness testing and air leakage site detection using thermographic imaging at two stages of construction. The first stage was conducted once all building envelope components were installed. The second stage was performed after all building components were in place and construction completed.

 General Air Tightness Testing Procedure (based on subsection 3.1.1 and 3.1.2 of section 07 27 00): the mean value of the air leakage flow through the exterior envelope for a negative and positive pressurization air leakage test must not exceed 0.25 CFM/ft2 @75Pa. Air leakage testing is required to be performed in general accordance with ASTM E779 with additional requirements included in the construction specification. 

 Building Air Leakage Site Detection: thermography-based air leakage site detection took place in conjunction with the air leakage testing for both Stage 1 and Stage 2 testing. This testing was performed in general accordance with ASTM 1186. 

Thermal Wise completed one whole building air leakage test (WBALT) to evaluate the constructed air tightness of the building in question. The test provided the client with the following metrics: air changes per hour at 50 Pa, normalized air leakage rate at 75 Pa (can be used to compare results to default code air leakage rates) and the flow exponent for the test(s) conducted. Testing was conducted in general compliance with ASTM E3158, “Standard Test Method for Measuring the Air Leakage Rate of a Large or Multizone Building.”