The air-tightness of a building is known as its ‘air permeability’ or leakage rate. Air leakage can occur through gaps, holes or cracks in the fabric of the building envelope. This air leakage affects the building’s energy performance.

Part L of Building Regulations (‘Conservation of Heat & Power’), stipulate limits for the air tightness of buildings, hence the requirement for testing.

The price of an Air Tightness Test is not fixed by a Government body. It depends on the size and complexity of the property, the location and the level of preparation done prior to the test. UKBC are very competitively priced please call for a quotation.

Yes an air test must be carried out in accordance with building regulations L2A.

Yes. The building regulations require air test on any newly constructed dwelling when they are constructed, sold or rented.

For buildings that are to be sold, the building’s owner will be responsible for ensuring a certificate is available; this should be shown, on request, to any prospective purchaser, and should be provided by the owner to the ultimate purchaser before a contract for sale is made.

Building Regulations stipulate that sound insulation testing should take place on all party elements (party walls/ floors). E.g. adjoining walls/ floors between 2 flats.

In order to rate the airborne sound insulation of a party element, speakers are used to generate white noise, usually at levels of around 100 decibels, in the source room. Then, using a moving microphone technique, the average sound pressure level is measured the other side of the element in question. The same procedure is used to measure the average sound pressure level in the receiver room.

We understand that this possibility is a concern to our clients and therefore offer free advice on remedial measures in case of failed tests and heavily discounted retest fees.

Impact tests require a tapping machine to create impact sound directly on the floor construction in the source room. Measurements are taken in the receiver room, in third octave bands from 100Hz to 3150Hz. The impact sound pressure level is calculated, giving the floor an impact sound insulation rating. Measurements are taken with the tapping machine in at least four different position and at least six measurements are taken.

• Services penetrating dot & dab, such as sink pipes, heated towel rails, radiator pipes, toilet wastes etc. – seal with silicone / expanding foam
• Any waste pipes through first floor – seal at source or seal bath panel or shower tray if already fitted.
• Boiler flue open to outside and boiler pipes open to plaster void – ensure sealed
• All lights fitted (Inc. bulbs in spotlights) NO open holes to ceiling void
• All skirting’s fitted and sealed top and bottom unless foamed prior to skirting or solid dabbed. Ensure the plaster void is not exposed!
• Quality sealed loft hatch – ensure draught strip fitted if standard wood hatch is used and frame sealed to ceiling.
• Seal any around any boxing / boxed services
• Ensure storage cupboards within rooms in roof are fully air sealed or an airtight door is fitted.
• Ensure all sockets & light switches are fitted (i.e. no exposed plaster void)
• Seal around extract fans both internally and externally
• Access to water on site – in order to fill water traps or air will travel up waste pipes

Ventilation Tests are performed to ensure that extractor fans throughout a building have appropriate flow rates according to Part F of the Building Regulations.

Ventilation is an important component in buildings, it ensures air quality is of a good standard; removing moisture, odours, gases, dust and other air pollutants from the air.

Ventilation is an important component in buildings, it ensures air quality is of a good standard; removing moisture, odours, gases, dust and other air pollutants from the air.

• Services penetrating seal with silicone / expanding foam exterior elements , such as sink pipes, toilet wastes etc.
• Seal any around any boxing / boxed services
• Ensure all sockets & light switches are fitted
• Access to water on site pipes