1、Designation: E 1554 03Standard Test Methods forDetermining External Air Leakage of Air DistributionSystems by Fan Pressurization1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1554; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or, in the case of revi
2、sion, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. Asuperscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1. Scope1.1 These test methods cover two techniques for measuringthe air leakage of the sections of air distrib
3、ution systems thatpass outside the conditioned space in low-rise residential andsmall low-rise commercial buildings. Both techniques use airflow and pressure measurements to determine the leakagecharacteristics, and include separate measurements of thesupply-side and the return-side distribution sys
4、tem leakage.1.2 These test methods also specify the auxiliary measure-ments needed to characterize the magnitude of the distributionsystem air leakage during normal operation (a measurement ofpressure differentials across duct leaks during normaldistribution-system operation), and to normalize the d
5、istribu-tion systems air leakage by the total recirculating air flowinduced by the air handler fan.1.3 The proper use of these test methods requires a knowl-edge of the principles of air flow and pressure measurements.1.4 These test methods are intended to produce a measure ofthe air leakage between
6、 an air distribution system and itssurroundings exterior to the conditioned space of a building.1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard. The values given in parentheses are for informationonly.1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns, if any, as
7、sociated with its use. It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazardstatements, see Section 7.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2E 631 Ter
8、minology of Building ConstructionsE 741 Test Method for Determining Air Change in a SingleZone by Means of a Tracer Gas DilutionE 779 Test Method for Determining Air Leakage Rate byFan PressurizationE 1258 Test Method for Airflow Calibration of Fan Pressur-ization Devices2.2 ASME Standard:MFC-3M Mea
9、surement of Fluid Flow in Pipes Using Ori-fice Nozzle and Venturi33. Terminology3.1 DefinitionsRefer to Terminology E 631 for definitionsof other terms used in these test methods.3.1.1 air handler fanthe air moving fan for the distribu-tion system located in the air-handling unit.3.1.2 air-handling
10、unitthe distribution-system fan andportion of the distribution system that is integral to the furnace,air-conditioner, or heat-pump.3.1.3 building envelopethe boundary or barrier separatingthe interior volume of a building from the outside environment.3.1.4 conditioned spacethe portion of a building
11、 whoseair temperature or humidity is intentionally controlled forhuman occupancy.4. Summary of Test Methods4.1 Two alternative measurement and analysis proceduresare specified. The first of these techniques, Test Method A, isbased upon changes in flow through distribution system leaksat fixed envelo
12、pe pressure differences due to air handleroperation. The envelope pressure differences are generated bya separate air moving fan, both pressurization and depressur-ization measurements are performed. The second technique,Test Method B, is based upon pressurizing the distributionsystem at the same ti
13、me as the house in order to isolate theleaks that are outside the building envelope. Measured systemoperating pressures are then used to estimate leakage underoperating conditions. Test Method B is shown schematically inFig. 1.4.2 These test methods also include specifications for theauxiliary measu
14、rements to interpret the air leakage measure-ments. These include measurement of the pressures that drive1These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 onPerformance of Buildings and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.41on Air Leakage and Ventilation.Current edit
15、ion approved Dec. 1, 2003. Published January 2004. Originallyapproved in 1993. Last previous edition approved in 1994 as E 1554 94.2For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org. For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume informa
16、tion, refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3Available from American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), ASMEInternational Headquarters, Three Park Ave., New York, NY 10016-5990.1Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 194
17、28-2959, United States.distribution-system air leakage during normal system operationand measurement of the air handler fan flow.5. Significance and Use5.1 Air leakage between an air distribution system andunconditioned spaces affects the energy losses from the distri-bution system, the ventilation
18、rate of the building, and poten-tially the entry rate of air pollutants.5.2 The determination of infiltration energy loads and ven-tilation rates of residences and small commercial buildings aretypically based on the assumption that the principal drivingforces for infiltration and ventilation are th
19、e wind and indoor/outdoor temperature differences. This can be an inappropriateassumption for buildings that have distribution systems thatpass through unconditioned spaces, because the existence ofrelatively modest leakage from that system has a relativelylarge impact on overall ventilation rates.
20、The air leakagecharacteristics of these exterior distribution systems are neededto determine their ventilation, energy, and pollutant-entryimplications.5.3 Air leakage through the exterior air distribution enve-lope may be treated in the same manner as air leakage in thebuilding envelope as long as
21、the system is not operating (seeTest Method E 779). However, when the air handler fan isturned on, the pressures across the air distribution-system leaksare significantly larger than those driving natural infiltration,thereby inducing much larger flows. Thus, it is important to beable to isolate the
22、se leaks from building envelope leaks. Due tothe different impacts of supply-side and return-sidedistribution-system leaks, these two air leakage pathways shallbe measured separately. The leakage of air distribution systemsmust be measured in the field, because it has been shown thatworkmanship is o
23、ften more important than design in determin-ing the leakage of these systems. In addition, it is important todistinguish leaks to the conditioned parts of a building fromleaks to the outside.5.4 As an alternative to the test methods in this standard, airinfiltration with and without an air distribut
24、ion system operat-ing may be measured directly using the tracer dilution method(see Test Method E 741). The test methods described in thisstandard provide an indirect way to relate the infiltration rate tothe leakage of the building and the air distribution system.5.5 Combined with the fan pressuriz
25、ation method for mea-suring envelope leakage (Test Method E 779) there are severaladvantages over the tracer dilution method. The methodsdescribed in this standard produce results that characterize theair tightness of the building envelope and the air distributionsystems. The methods described in th
26、is standard are used tocompare the relative air leakage of several similar air distribu-tion systems, to identify the leakage sources and rates ofleakage from different components of an air distributionFIG. 1 Schematic of Method BDuct Pressurization Test (for Supply Leakage)E1554032system, and to de
27、termine the air leakage reduction for indi-vidual retrofit measures applied incrementally to an existing airdistribution system.6. Apparatus6.1 The following description of apparatus is general innature. Any arrangement of equipment using the same prin-ciples and capable of performing the test proce
28、dure within theallowable tolerances is permitted. Those items required for TestMethod A are labeled (A only), those for Test Method B arelabeled (B only), and those for both test methods are labeled (Aand B). Most of the components are illustrated in Fig. 1.6.2 Major Components:6.2.1 Air-Moving Equi
29、pment (A and B)A fan, blower, orblower door assembly that is capable of moving air into and outof the conditioned space at the flow rates required to create thefull range of test pressure differences (up to 25 Pa). The systemshall provide constant air flow at each incremental pressuredifference at f
30、ixed pressure for the period required to obtainreadings of air flow rate. The air moving equipment shall beable to accomplish both pressurization and depressurization ofthe conditioned space and distribution system.6.2.2 Air Flow-Regulating System (A and B)A device,such as a damper or variable speed
31、 motor control, that willregulate and maintain air flow through the air moving equip-ment (6.2.1) and pressure difference across the leaks withinspecific limits.6.2.3 Air Flow Measuring Device (A only)A device tomeasure airflow with an accuracy of 65 % of the measuredflow. The airflow measuring syst
32、em shall be calibrated inaccordance with Test Method E 1258 or ASME MFC-3M,whichever is applicable. The temperature dependence andrange of the calibration shall be explicitly reported.6.2.4 Duct Flow Measurement Device (B only)A deviceto measure airflow with an accuracy of 65 % of the measuredflow.
33、The airflow measuring system shall be calibrated inaccordance with Test Method E 1258 or ASME MFC-3M,whichever is applicable. The temperature dependence andrange of the calibration shall be explicitly reported.6.2.5 Pressure-Measuring Device (A and B)A manometeror pressure indicator to measure press
34、ure differences with anaccuracy of 60.25 Pa (60.001 in. H2O) or 61 % of measuredpressure, whichever is greater.6.2.6 Duct Pressure Measuring Probe (B only)A probe tomeasure the static pressure within a duct under flow conditions.6.2.7 Air Temperature Measuring Device (A and B)Togive an accuracy of 6
35、0.5C (1F).6.2.8 Simultaneous Pressure and Flow Measurement System(A and B)Asystem that provides for essentially simultaneousmeasurement of building envelope and distribution-systempressures, as well as building envelope and distribution-systemflows. Three alternative systems are a computerized dataa
36、cquisition system, a multi-channel sample and hold system,and an interleaved multi-point sampling technique (that is,sequential recording of the pressures and flow signals averagedover at least three sets of signal-series samples).7. Hazards7.1 Glass should not break at the pressure differencesnorma
37、lly applied to the building, however, protective eye wearshall be provided to personnel.7.2 When conducted in the field, safety equipment requiredfor general field work shall be supplied, such as safety shoes,hard hats, and so forth.7.3 Because air-moving equipment is involved in this test, aproper
38、guard or cage to house the fan or blower and to preventaccidental access to any moving parts of the equipment must beprovided.7.4 Hearing protection shall be provided for personnel whowork close to noises such as those generated by moving air.7.5 When the blower or fan is operating, a large volume o
39、fair is being forced into or out of the building, the air-distribution system, or both. Plants, pets, occupants, or internalfurnishings shall not be damaged due to the influx of cold orwarm air. Similar precautions shall be exercised with respect tosucking debris or exhaust gases from fireplaces and
40、 flues intothe interior of the building.8. Procedure8.1 GeneralThe basic procedure involves pressurizationand depressurization of air distribution systems and buildingswith concurrent flow and pressure measurements to determinethe air leakage of the distribution system. It also includesmeasurement o
41、f distribution-system pressures and fan flowsduring normal system operation. The air handler fan speed andheating or cooling function must be the same for all steps of thetest procedure.8.1.1 Test Method A (Flow Difference) for Air LeakageDeterminationThis technique is based upon changing theflow th
42、rough distribution system leaks by operating the airhandler fan and simultaneously pressurizing (and depressuriz-ing) the building envelope and distribution system.8.1.2 Test Method B (Fan Pressurization) for Air LeakageDeterminationThis technique is based upon sealing theregisters of the distributi
43、on system and pressurizing the systemto measure the flow out through the leaks at the imposedpressure difference. With the house pressurized to the samepressure, this test isolates the leaks that are to outside only.Measurements of system operating pressures allow the leakageflow at the fixed test p
44、ressure to be converted to the leakageflow at operating conditions (pressures).8.1.3 Choice of Test MethodIn general, Test Method Awill have lower operating condition air leakage flow uncertain-ties for leaky systems than Test Method B, due to uncertaintiesin Test Method B when converting to operati
45、ng systempressures. Test Method B will be preferred for houses that havevery leaky envelopes, where the changes in envelope pressuresand flows used in Test Method A will result in greateruncertainties, or if testing to determine compliance with aspecified low leakage value.8.2 Procedure for Test Met
46、hod A:8.2.1 Environmental MeasurementsAt the beginning andthe end of each test, measure the outdoor temperature andindoor temperature.8.2.2 Building Preparation:E15540338.2.2.1 EnvelopeOpen all interconnecting doors in theconditioned space (except for closet doors, which shall beclosed) so that a un
47、iform pressure will be maintained within theconditioned space to within 10 % of the measured inside/outside pressure difference. Verify this condition by performingdifferential pressure measurements between several rooms atthe highest test pressure. Fireplace and other operable dampersshall be close
48、d. If the air handling unit is located in a closet, thecloset door shall be closed during testing.8.2.2.2 Distribution SystemHVAC-balancing dampersand registers, in general, shall not be adjusted. However, formultiple zoned systems, the position of zonal dampers shouldbe fixed for the duration of th
49、e test. Several tests may beperformed with zone dampers fixed at different settings, but atleast one of the tests should have all zone control dampers inthe fully open position.8.2.3 Test Method A: Flow Difference Measurements:8.2.3.1 Connect the air moving/flow-regulating/flow mea-surement assembly to the building envelope using a window ordoor opening. Seal or tape openings to avoid leakage at thesepoints.8.2.3.2 Install the envelope pressure difference sensor. Theoutside pressure measurement location should be shelteredfrom wind and sunshine. The inside pre
