Depressurization Test Report

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Pressure-measuring apparatus: The pressure-measuring apparatus shall operate in the range of at least 0-50 Pa with at least 1 Pa resolution. It shall be accurate to +/- 1 Pa within the range of 5 to 50 Pa. It shall be calibrated according to the manufacturer's instructions, and the calibration details shall accompany the apparatus (unless the unit is a fluid-filled manometer). The time since calibration shall not exceed one year. There are many manometers that are suitable for depressurization testing.

Examples include:

Oil-filled incline block manometers
Mechanical manometers (typically used on blower doors)

and

Manometers with electronic controls used on blower doors

Wind conditions: The test is best performed under calm or light wind conditions. If the site is windy, you can try reducing pressure fluctuations by using a pressure-averaging device described in CAN/ CGSB-149.10, by electronic averaging if using an electronic manometer, or through the use of small copper capillary tubes (e.g., 0.5 mm internal diameter) inserted within the plastic measurement tubes. The goal is to reduce pressure fluctuations to 1 Pa or less. If this is not possible, do not test. Return to perform the test at a less windy time.

Depressurization test procedure: The steps below shall be followed. The intent of the test is to determine the maximum house depressurization caused by the fans and set-up detailed below. There is no need to record each individual test pressure.

1. Use the “Depressurization test report” (Form 3) to record all the readings below.

2. Set an exterior pressure tap at least 3 m (10 ft) from the building and connect to the measuring instrument. Locate the manometer to measure the house pressure near combustion appliances (if they exist), which are generally in the basement for most Canadian houses. If there are no combustion appliances, the manometer may be located on any floor (for instance, by the entry way).

3. Prepare the house as per Table 1 below.

4. Record the measured pressure on line (a) of the “Depressurization test report” (Form 3). This is the “Starting ‘rest’ pressure.”

5. If a forced air system exists, measure the interior pressure in the same zone as any non-direct vent combustion appliances. Measure the pressure with and without the forced air fan system operating. Leave the forced-air furnace fan in the operating mode that results in the greatest depressurization.

6. If the furnace room or basement has a door, test in number 5 both with the door open and closed. Leave the door and furnace fan in the setting that results in the greatest level of depressurization.Turn on all foundation exhaust fans (e.g., radon fans) designed for continuous operation.

7. Turn on all ventilation devices (exhaust only, balanced, supply only) designed for continuous operation (for instance those systems installed to meet the ventilation capacity of the National Building Code of Canada). If the net effect of activating these systems is to pressurize the house, turn them off. Otherwise, leave them operating. This depressurization level can be recorded as (b) on the “Depressurization test report” if needed to design or modify the make-up system using the HRAI method.

8. Turn on all ventilation devices (exhaust only, balanced, supply only) designed for continuous operation (for instance those systems installed to meet the ventilation capacity of the National Building Code of Canada). If the net effect of activating these systems is to pressurize the house, turn them off. Otherwise, leave them operating. This depressurization level can be recorded as (b) on the “Depressurization test report” if needed to design or modify the make-up system using the HRAI method.

9. Turn on any kitchen exhaust device at high speed unless it can be shown that its maximum capacity is less than 75 L/s.

10. Turn on any other exhaust device that meets or exceeds 75 L/s in rated exhaust flow.

11. Turn on the dryer. If no dryer exists, simulate the use of a dryer with a portable exhaust fan vented to the outside with a minimum capacity of 75 L/s.

Note: If this is an occupied house with no dryer, and will continue to have no dryer in the foreseeable future, the simulation of a dryer is optional.

12. Operate any make-up air fan that is interconnected with any of the devices operated above.

13. Read and record on line (c) the operating depressurization of the house in Pa.

14. Turn off all ventilation and exhaust devices and record the “Ending ‘rest’ pressure” on line (d) of the “Depressurization test report”.

15. Calculate the house depressurization on line (f) of the “Depressurization test report” and compare it to the lowest depressurization limit in the list of appliances.

16. After testing, restore the house to its original condition by switching off fans, removing tape from blocked flues, collecting test equipment, returning thermostats to previous settings, etc.

17. Read and record on line (c) the operating depressurization of the house in Pa.

18. Turn off all ventilation and exhaust devices and record the “Ending ‘rest’ pressure” on line (d) of the “Depressurization test report”.

19. Calculate the house depressurization on line (f) of the “Depressurization test report” and compare it to the lowest depressurization limit in the list of appliances.

20. After testing, restore the house to its original condition by switching off fans, removing tape from blocked flues, collecting test equipment, returning thermostats to previous settings, etc.

Note: This test protocol applies to the majority of Canadian houses. If you are testing a house with fewer than 1.5 air changes per hour at 50 Pa, or you suspect the house to be that tight, every exhaust device may also be evaluated individually.

DEPRESSURIZATION LIMITS

COMBUSTION APPLIANCE CLASS		Limit
NON-SPILLAGE SUSCEPTIBLE	Direct vent, power-vented DHW, or no combustion appliances	No Limit
OTHER	Other rated appliances	Depressurization limit as set by manufacturer or certified agency or may be those specified in CGSB 51.71
SPILLAGE SUSCEPTIBLE	Non-rated appliances (Spillage susceptible)	-5 Pa
SPILLAGE SUSCEPTIBLE	Solid fuel (If solid-fuel burning appliances are protected by smoke and carbon monoxide alarms as per the National Building Code of Canada, you may, at your discretion, ignore the depressurization limit.)	-5 Pa

LIMITES DE DÉPRESSURISATION

CLASSE D’APPAREILS À COMBUSTION		Limite
NON SUSCEPTIBLE DE SE RÉPANDRE	Appareils à ventilation directe, ECS à ventilation forcée ou sans combustion	Aucune limite
Autre	Autres appareils cotés	Limite de dépressurisation fixée par le fabricant ou l'organisme certifié ou pouvant être celle spécifiée dans la norme CGSB 51.71
DÉVERSEMENT SUSCEPTIBLE	Appareils non homologués (susceptibles de se renverser)	-5 Pa
DÉVERSEMENT SUSCEPTIBLE	Combustible solide (Si les appareils à combustible solide sont protégés par des détecteurs de fumée et de monoxyde de carbone, selon le Code national du bâtiment du Canada, vous pouvez, à votre discrétion, ignorer la limite de dépressurisation.)	-5 Pa

Table 1 Tableau 1

House component	How to prepare	Maison	Comment se préparer
Windows	Close	Fenêtres	Fermer
Doors to outside	Close	Portes vers l’extérieur	Fermer
Interior doors	Leave as found	Portes intérieures	Laisser telles quelles
Furnace room or basement doors	Open initially and follow Step 6	Portes de la chaufferie ou de sous-sol	Ouvrir d’abord et suivre l’étape 6
Chimney damper, if installed (e.g. fireplace)	Close	Clapet de cheminée, s’il est installé (p. ex. foyer)	Fermer
Other chimneys without dampers	Leave unsealed	Autres cheminées sans clapets	Laisser non scellées
Make-up air with damper	Close	Air d'appoint avec clapet	Fermer
Other passive make-up air	Leave as found	Autre air d'appoint passif	Laisser tel quel
Combustion devices	Turn off or turn thermostats down	Dispositifs de combustion	Éteindre ou réduire les thermostats
Air conditioner	Turn off	Climatiseur	Éteindre
Floor drains and traps	Fill with water	Drainages et siphons de sol	Remplir d’eau
All fans and ventilation equipment	Turn off initially	Tous les ventilateurs et l’équipement de ventilation	Éteindre d’abord
Clothes dryer	Turn off initially	Sécheuse	Éteindre d’abord
Crawl space vent	Close	Évacuation de la galerie technique	Fermer
Attic hatch	Close	Évacuation de la galerie technique	Fermer
Broken or missing window	Seal with tape and plastic	Fenêtre cassée ou manquante	Sceller avec du ruban adhésif et du plastique
Radon fan	Turn off initially	Ventilateur de radon	Fermer d’abord

Enter your combustion Appliances and Depressurization limit (Pa)

Test instrument

Make

Type

Test Firm/ Test Professional information

Job Name

Job Number

Name

First Name Last Name

Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

City State / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Phone Number

Area Code Phone Number

House

Name of Owner

House ID Number

Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

City State / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Phone Number

Area Code Phone Number

Email

example@example.com

Measurements

Date

Wind

km/h (mph)

Note: Test to be carried out when house is substancially complete.

Note: Ideally wind conditions should be less than 15 km/h

See over for procedure description

a) Starting "rest" pressure

Pa

b) Venting system depressurization (see point 8 of document above)

Pa

c) Measured depressurization

Pa

d) Ending "rest" pressure

Pa

Maximum Depressurization

e) (a + d) / 2

Pa

f) c minus e

Pa

f is maximum house depressurization

Pa

Calculate the house depressurization on line (f) of the “Depressurization test report” andcompare it to the lowest depressurization limit in the list of appliances.

After testing, restore the house to its original condition by switching off fans, removing tape from blocked flues, collecting test equipment, returning thermostats to previous settings, etc.

Test Results

The dwelling unit and systems at the time of test _______ to the depressurization requirements of CSA F300

Conforms Does not conform

Test Results

I certify that the test has been performed in accordance with the test procedure in CSA F300.

Date

Phone Number

Area Code Phone Number

Full Name

First Name Last Name

Signature

Clear

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