FAQ - Blower Door Test

Q. What is a blower door test? 

A. A blower door test  aka Air Leakage test or Air Barrier test is the colloquial term for an air leakage pressurization test, during which a fan is mounted into the frame of an exterior door and either pressurizes or depressurizes the building to a pressure difference of 50 Pascals (approximate equivalent of a 20 mph wind). 

  
Q. When is it required in NYC?

A. The 2016 NYCECC Section R402.4.1.2 now requires that all buildings subject to the residential provisions perform this test on the building at a pressure of 50 Pascals and that a third party certify that no more than 3 air changes per hour escapes the building thermal envelope.

 
The 2016 NYCECC also requires that buildings between 25,000 and 50,000 square feet and less than 75 feet in height perform a blower door test and certify that the air leakage is less than 0.4 cubic feet per minute of enclosed building area, per Section C402.5.1.3. Buildings requiring air leakage testing and containing multiple dwelling units may follow the sampling protocol listed in Section R402.4.1.2.3.

 
Q. What is considered a residential building and what is considered commercial building? 

A. 2015 IECC defines residential building. For this code, includes

detached one- and two-family dwellings and multiple single family dwellings (townhouses) as well as Group R-2, R-3 and R-4 buildings three stories or less in height above grade plane.

A Commercial building is all buildings that are not included in the definition of residential building.

Q. The 2016 NYCECC requires air leakage testing on certain buildings. What progress inspections are required on the TR8 form so that the air leakage requirements are met?

A. Any new building that is required to comply with the residential provisions of the 2016 NYCECC is required to perform both IA6 Air sealing & insulation – visual and IA7 Air sealing and insulation - testing and indicate “yes” in Section 3A of the TR8 form.

Any new building that is required to comply with the commercial provisions of 2016 NYCECC and is between 25,000 and 50,000 sqft of floor area and less than or equal to 75 feet in height is required to perform IIA7 Air sealing and insulation - testing and indicate “yes” in Section 3A of the TR8 form.

Any new building that is required to comply with the commercial provisions of 2016 NYCECC and is greater than or equal to 50,000 sqft in floor area is required to perform both IIA6 Air sealing & insulation – visual, if the Air Barrier Continuity Plan is the chosen method of compliance, or IIA7 Air sealing and insulation – testing, if whole building pressurization testing is the chosen method of compliance.

 
All other buildings required to comply with the commercial provisions of the 2016 NYCECC shall require either IIA6 Air sealing & insulation – visual or IIA7 Air sealing and insulation - testing.

https://www1.nyc.gov/site/buildings/codes/nycecc-faq.page#nycecc_faq_envelope_q7