Airtightness in New and Retrofitted US Army Buildings

The Engineer Research and Development Center, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC-CERL) recently developed design/construction strategies that improve the energy efficiency, reduce the potential for mould, and improve indoor air quality in newly constructed buildings and buildings undergoing major renovations. ERDC-CERL performed building envelope leakage tests on Army facilities to test their general integrity and the effect of increased airtightness on building energy consumption. Results were used to develop airtightness criteria and performance requirements for new construction and major renovation projects, which have been included in Army design/construction strategies. Since 2009, the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has implemented an airtightness requirement in all new construction and building enclosure renovation projects. Engineering and Construction Bulletin (ECB) 2012-16 set levels of airtightness for building enclosures at the material, assembly, and system level. ECB 2012-16 requires whole building air leakage tests to be conducted at completion of construction to verify the constructed air barrier system's performance. The current Air Leakage Test Protocol for Building Envelopes developed by ERDC-CERL, the Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA), and other industrial partners was published in May 2012. This paper presents the results of airtightness tests before and after the new requirements were established, updated results for air leakage tests of more than 285 newly constructed and renovated large buildings, and a performance analysis of the design and construction process, air barrier materials, building use, and construction types. These data may support future decisions regarding airtightness levels to be adopted for commercial buildings.