A comparative analysis of window airing models proposed in prEN 16798-7 has been performed and the influence of internal resistances has been taken into account. The ouput of the study are the equations implemented in the EPBD standard EN 16798-7.

Four conference and journal papers have been published:

• Calculation methods for single-sided natural ventilation: Now and ahead (Journal Paper)

• Comparative analysis of window airing models proposed in prEN 16798-7 and influence of internal resistances

• Evaluation of single-sided natural ventilation using a simplified and fair calculation method

• Calculation methods for single-sided natural ventilation - simplified or detailed?

In addition, another conference paper has been published in 2022 to suggest an alternative calculation method adapted to roof windows to take into account cross-ventilation:

• Better Estimation of Cross-ventilation through Roof Windows in an Attic - Possible Improvement for EN 16798-7:2017

For this project a method has been developed to calculate conservative estimates of fan energy use impacts of duct airtightness improvements. This method has been implemented in an Excel tool that has been tested on a laboratory replication of a multi-family building ductwork.

Two articles have been published on this project:

• Impact of ductwork airtightness on fan energy use: Calculation model and test case (Journal paper)

• Impact of ductwork airtightness on fan energy use:calculation model and test case (AIVC conference)

In this study the impact of ductwork leakages on the fan energy use of central mechanical ventilation units with heat recovery used in typical houses has been calculated. In addition, the impact on the sound pressure in dwellings has been investigated.

An article has been published at the AIVC 2019 conference :

• Impact of ductwork leakage on the fan energy use and sound production of central mechanical ventilation units in houses

Various solutions are under development to replace boilers connected tocentralised ventilation systems by more efficient condensing boilers.

However, these solutions imply to have new tubes (to extract the smoke) running inside the existing ventilation ductwork. These new tubes induce changes in the pressure drop of the ventilation air flowrate.

PLEIAQ has

• been involved in the definition of test cases to be tested through CFD simulation to establish new pressure drop equations

• been involved in the elaboration of the equations

• created the calculation tool to estimate pressure drop in the ductwork

PLEIAQ has done a study for MEZ-TECHNIK on the performance of the Aeroseal ductwork sealing process on 7 buildings across Europe.

A paper has been published on this study and presented at the AIVC 2022 conference:

• Field experience with ductwork airtightness improvement after installation in Europe

PROMEVENT, a project of the French programme « Towards responsible buildings at horizon 2020 ». This project aimed at improving the reliability of inspection's protocol for ventilation systems in residential buildings (including flowrate measurement at air terminal devices). PLEIAQ has mainly been involved in the literature review and on the reliability of the ductwork airtightness test.

• DUCTWORK AIRTIGHTNESS: RELIABILITY OF MEASUREMENTS AND IMPACT ON VENTILATION FLOWRATE AND FAN ENERGY CONSUMPTION

DURABILIT’AIR aims at improving knowledge on envelope airtightness durability. The 4 major objectives are:

• Analysing international research dealing with airtightness durability (state of the art), PLEAIQ was in charge of this task:

  • Durability of building airtightness, review and analysis of existing studies

• Characterizing the evolution over time of the airtightness of existing single family dwellings by on site measurement campaigns

  • Onsite evaluation of building airtightness durability: Long-term and mid-term field measurement study of 61 French low energy single family dwellings

  • Assessment of long-term and mid-term building airtightness durability: field study of 61 French low energy single-family dwellings (AIVC conference)

• Developing laboratory controlled methods in order to test the accelerated aging of airtightness products and systems

  • Assessment of the durability of airtightness products in laboratory controlled conditions: development and presentation of the experimental protocol (AIVC conference)

• Disseminating the main results of this work, with tools and communications among professionals of the building sector in order to promote best practices

A second part of this project DURABILIT'AIR 2 has started in 2022 to continue the research on the building airtightness durability. PLEIAQ has already updated the litterature review, resulting in an AIVC publication:

• TN 71: Durability of building airtightness

Promevent Tertiaire has the same objective as Promevent but for non-residential buildings. PLEIAQ is in charge of

• Task 1.1: Review of existing systems in non-residential systems: PLEIAQ_Report_2018_05

• Task 4: Impact of non-conformities on energy use and indoor air quality with three published report:

  • Detailed methodology for the estimation of non-conformities' impact (report available soon)

  • Case studies on three inspected buildings (2 schools and 1 office building) (report available soon)

  • Practical summaries of the non-conformities' impact (report available soon)

The reliability of the ductwork airtightness test has also been further studied:

• Reliability of ductwork airtightness measurement: impact of pressure drop and leakage repartition on the test result (AIVC conference)

In addition, two conference papers have been published and presented on the work performed for the Task 4:

• Ductwork leakage: practical estimation of the impact on the energy overconsumption and IAQ (AIVC 2022)

• Impact of ventilation non conformities: calculation methodology and on-site examples (AIVC 2022)