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  • Depressurization Test Report

    This form is must be completed in entirety for the Mentorship Process, regardless if combustion appliances are present in the house.

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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

    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
     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 Évent du vide sanitaire Fermer
    Attic hatch Close Trappe d'entre toit 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

  • Test instrument

  • Test Firm/ Test Professional information

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  • House

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  • Measurements

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  • 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

  • Maximum Depressurization

  • 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

  • Test Results

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

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  • Clear
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