A blower door is a machine used to measure the airtightness of buildings. Some reasons for establishing airtightness are:

Reducing energy consumption due to air leakage
Avoiding moisture condensation problems
Avoiding uncomfortable drafts caused by cold or hot air leaking in from the outdoors

Blower door testing has been used in Europe and the US since the late 1970s. A blower door is a powerful fan that mounts into the frame of an exterior door. The fan pulls air out of the house, lowering the air pressure inside. The higher outside air pressure then flows in through all unsealed cracks and openings. The auditors may use a smoke pencil to detect air leaks. These tests determine the air infiltration rate of a building, measured at a given building-to-outside pressure differential of 50 pascal.

Such a blower door test has recently been done on a house with Paarhammer products. The windows and doors did not leak any air during the test. It is easy to see why this is so: Paarhammer products have also been tested for WERS (Window Energy Rating System) and one part of this test gives a percentage on air infiltration. Paarhammer have a very low infiltration starting from 0.05% for openable products and 0% for fixed panes.

A sealed building envelope stops warm air from escaping your home in winter and hot air from entering in summer, thereby saving you money and making your home more comfortable. Draughts and unwanted air leaks can also increase heating or cooling costs by around 20% (Sustainability Victoria).

For a comfortable house without drafts and a very low energy consumption contact Paarhammer on 03 5368 1999.

Image: A blower door test done on a house with Paarhammer products revealed the windows and doors did not leak any air during the test

Architecture & Design Team

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Paarhammer Windows and Doors

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