Building Performance Testing Services
I. Basic Infrared Scan (Popular with Residential Clients who want to reduce energy costs or solve building envelope problems. To learn more about infrared thermography and the services H C Fennell Consulting could provide for evaluating your building’s thermal envelop, Click here…)
A. Infrared camera survey under normal and induced negative pressure
B. Provide findings and recommendations while on site
Output:
Using thermography to verify injection foam at the Guggenheim Museum
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Advice regarding how to prioritize the scan results
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Copy of infrared scan – video with audio
II. Baseline Evaluation Study (Budget development)
A. Blower door test
B. Infrared assessment of R-value
C. Review and benchmark present energy consumption
Blower door testing at the Park Avenue Armory in NYC
Output:
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How the building compares in airtightness, R-value, and heat energy consumption to other buildings
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Determines where to focus attention: HVAC, R-value, or Airtightness improvements
III. Baseline Determination Study (Recommended)
A. Blower door test
B. Infrared assessment of R-value
C. Review and benchmark present energy consumption
D. Infrared camera survey under normal and induced negative pressure
Output:
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How the building compares in airtightness, R-value, and heat energy consumption
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Determines where to focus attention: HVAC, R-value, or Airtightness
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Building envelope weaknesses located and prioritized
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Copy of all infrared images
IV. Other Services
A. Pressure balanced (or Guarded) blower door testing for additions or zones for accurately testing parts of a building as if it were a stand alone structure.
B. Volume and surface area calculations – increases the accuracy of the blower door test, recommended for setting or verifying air tightness performance targets.
C. Baseline pressure analysis of the building – determines the normal operating pressures of zones of the building due to stack, wind, and HVAC systems. Identifies the zones that are most subject to heat loss by air leakage.
D. Pressurized fog testing – Year-round, non-invasive approach to identify air leakage sites and diagnose complex air leakage pathways.
E. Quality assurance testing with Fog or infrared camera – on site testing of zones, rooms, or specific details with minimal distruption while construction or renovation is ongoing to insure that the design intent is being met in the actual construction. On-site training for subcontarctors included.
F. Quality assurance visual inspections – site inspections to verify that envelope details are being built as designed.
G. Air tightness baseline or compliance testing for large buildings – blower door tesing to confirm compliance to a standard with diagnotic testing to locate remaining openings in the envelope. Able to test up to 200,000 s.f. at a time.
H. Window air tightness testing – quantify air leakage through installed windows