Air Tightness Testing
Commercial Buildings
Don’t let building compliance hold you back
We provide competitively priced commercial air tightness tests and consultancy services for all types of commercial developments including simple retail units, offices, industrial buildings, leisure facilities and care homes.
Book Your Test From
EPS Group Today
- Commercial Air Tightness Testing throughout the UK for all types of Commerical Buildings.
- Design Reviews, Pre-Air Test Visits & Inspections, Diagnostic Smoke Testing and Diagnostic Thermal Imaging.
- 92.5% Pass Rate for Air Tightness Testing
Expert Air Tightness Testing and Consultancy for Commercial Buildings
Air Tightness Testing (also referred to as Air Pressure Testing or Air Leakage Testing) is a method for measuring the amount of conditioned air that is unintentionally lost from the inside of a building as a result of unsealed gaps or cracks within the thermal envelope of the property (also known as air leakage or air infiltration. The graphic below highlights a number of common sources of air infiltration within a commercial building.
Each commercial air pressure test is completed in strict accordance with a standardised methodology detailed within a Technical Guideline known as CIBSE TM23 ‘Testing Buildings for Air Leakage’ by an accredited Air Tightness Contractor.
For more information relating to Commercial Air Pressure Testing please explore the Frequently Asked Questions below and our graphic highlighting common sources of air infiltration within a residential building.
Why Choose Us
Competitive Pricing
EPS Group regularly review our pricing to ensure that we offer the most competitive rates on the market. If you do find a cheaper quotation, we’ll do our best to match it.
Fully Accredited
With EPS Group you can be confident that you are working with a fully accredited energy consultancy.
In House Team
At EPS Group we believe in building ongoing relationships with clients. Customer care is our primary focus and for these reasons we do not use sub-contractors.
UK Coverage
Our in-house team covers the entire UK, no matter which service you require or where you are based, we’ve got you covered.
We'll Work With You
We understand that it’s your project, and we’ll do all we can to make compliance as straight forward as possible.
Proudly Working With
Members of the Elmhurst Airtightness Scheme (EAS)
Let’s discuss your project
Why is Air Tightness Testing required in Non-Domestic Properties?
Asides from causing potential discomfort to occupiers, excessive air leakage increases the energy demand of building owing to the uncontrolled loss of conditioned air from the building (heated or cooled). As well as increasing the running costs of the property excessive air leakage results in additional carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions arising from the building.
As part of the Government’s drive for improving the energy efficiency of buildings and reducing the overall carbon dioxide emissions from the built environment, Air Tightness Testing was introduced to Approved Document Part L2A of the Building Regulations in 2006 (as applicable to newly built commercial properties).
In addition to the standard requirements of the Building Regulations, many tenants and building owners also stipulate maximum Air Permeability Rates within their build specifications and contract conditions in order to ensure that they will have an energy efficient building with reduced running costs on completion.
Improved Air Pressure Test results can also help the building achieve credits in environmental or sustainability certification schemes such as BREEAM or help with increasing the EPC Asset Rating of the building.
Common Sources of Air
Infiltration in Non-Domestic Properties
The image shows a sample of the common problems we find when air tightness testing houses, flats, and bungalows, however this is not exhaustive.
There are several key principles for constructing an air tight building:
- Identify the air barrier at an early stage of design
- Refer to airtightness in all contracts which may impact the air barrier
- Highlight the importance of the air tightness barrier to project teams
- Select Airtight components
- Check interfaces between components
- Ensure all site workers are aware of the importance of the air barrier
- Complete regular checks on the air barrier throughout construction
- Ensure that all works are complete prior to the final test
EPS Group will be happy to discuss any concerns that you may have prior to a test and advise on cost effective solutions.
We are also able to offer a mid-construction air tightness testing service, which can eliminate problems and an early stage through the use of smoke tests or thermal imaging.
Commercial Air Tightness Testing FAQs
What Air Permeability Rate is required to pass a Commercial Air Pressure Test?
Approved Document L: Volume 2 of the Building Regulations allows for a maximum air permeability rate of 8.00 m3.h/m2 per tested commercial building. This relatively generous air leakage rate is a maximum ‘backstop’ value which is often superseded by a lower ‘target’ rate detailed within the building’s Design Stage SBEM Calculation and BRUKL document. In order to help the SBEM calculation to pass to carbon emission requirements of Approved Document L of the Building Regulations, it is common for commercial developments to have to achieve a measured air permeability rate of 5.00 m3.h/m2 or less.
Do all new commercial buildings require an Air Tightness Testing?
Approved Document L: Volume 2 of the Building Regulations has a mandatory requirement for all new commercial buildings with a floor area greater than 500m2 to have an Air Leakage Test. Smaller commercial buildings are permitted to avoid an Air Pressure Test provided the SBEM Assessment for the unit still shows an overall pass when a penalty Air Permeability Rate of 15.00 m3.h/m2 is applied. As a consequence, it tends to be far more economical to commission a ‘voluntary’ commercial pressure test to help the SBEM Calculations to pass rather than undertaking costly compensatory measures.
How Do I Pass an Air Tightness Test?
In order to have the best chance of passing an Air Tightness Test, we would recommend reviewing our illustration showing common areas of air infiltration within commercial buildings. It is important that these potential sources of air leakage are well sealed before any air tightness test is scheduled.
We would also advise adhering to the following key principles throughout the development process in order to help achieve a low air permeability:
- Identify the air barrier within the proposed building at an early stage of design
- Refer to airtightness in all contracts which may impact the integrity of the air barrier during construction
- Highlight the importance of the air tightness barrier to project teams
- Select airtight components
- Check interfaces between components
- Ensure all site workers are aware of the importance of maintaining the integrity of air barrier
- Complete regular checks on the air barrier throughout construction
- Ensure that all works are complete prior to the final test
How can EPS Group help with
Commercial Air Tightness Testing?
Since 2007, EPS Group has been providing professional and efficient Air Tightness Testing for all types of non-domestic buildings throughout England and Wales. We are also vastly experienced with pressure testing domestic properties meaning that we are also well placed to complete the air pressure tests on all types of development.
As part of our client-focused service, we allocate a reasonable amount of time within our appointments to allow our client’s the opportunity to undertake any permanent remedial works that may be identified during the air pressure test procedure. This provides the best possible chance of achieving a pass certificate for the commissioned Air Tightness Test.
We also provide the following ancillary services to support the air leakage testing of commercial buildings:
- Design / Plan Reviews
- Mid build and pre-test site inspections
- Mid build air tightness tests
- Whole building smoke diagnostics
- Thermally imaging diagnostics
- Pre and post improvement testing
Our Air Tightness Technicians are fully accredited members of the Elmhurst Airtightness Scheme (EAS) and work from the same offices as our SAP and SBEM Assessors. This can provide significant time and cost savings when we are instructed to provide a full Approved Document L compliance package.
How it Works
Send us your plans
Arrange a suitable time & date for the test
Our friendly in house Technicians will carry out the test
We’ll send the certificate of compliance within 24 hours
How it Works
Send us your plans
Arrange a suitable time & date for the test
Our friendly in house Technicians will carry out the test
We’ll send the certificate of compliance within 24 hours
