Stroma Built Environment offers comprehensive air tightness testing and consultancy services, from initial design stages to project completion. We can help you achieve air permeability test targets, meet planning requirements, and ensure compliance with UKAS Building Regulations Part L and BREEAM.
We also provide complementary services for UKAS Accredited Air Tightness Testing for Part L Compliance. Our UKAS schedule of accreditation specifies the limits of our accreditation.
Air Permeability Test & Consultancy Services
The air permeability test, also known as the air tightness test or air leakage test, is a mandatory requirement of Part L of the Building Regulations 2021. This applies to all new build commercial buildings over 500 square metres and extensions with a floor area greater than 25% of the current building.
At Stroma, we provide professional air leakage test and consultancy services for projects in design stages to completion. We can ensure you meet all necessary air tightness test targets, planning requirements, regulatory compliance, and BREEAM.
Helping to identify potential air tightness improvements, minimise risks, and reduce overall construction costs, our services include:
- Desktop design reviews
- Architectural drawing reviews
- Pre-test site inspections
- Air tightness test services
- Online design reviews & design workshops
Air Leakage Test & Sealing
Our highly skilled and certified consultants can provide air leakage test services for a range commercial premises, such as retail establishments, schools and hospitals, as well as climate-sensitive areas, such as museums and galleries.
We can identify:
- Gaps between walls, ceilings, or floors
- Inadequate sealing between doors or architraves
- Other areas of air leakage, via smoke testing methods
We also offer services for remedial and temporary air sealing and fire stopping, which are key to reducing the risks of air leakage in the event of a fire, or where a building has failed its air permeability test.
Our Air Tightness Test Packages
With Stroma, you will find several air tightness test packages which can be tailored to the unique demands of your project. These include:
- Air permeability testing - to identify the cubic metres of air leakage per hour per square metre of the external area of the building
- Plenum testing - to ensure any plenums are correctly sealed for air tightness testing
- Room integrity testing - for gaseous fire suppression systems
- Compliance testing - for remedial air sealing & fire stopping to reduce air leakage risks
Not sure if you need an air tightness test? Our experienced team can help you understand your responsibilities throughout the whole development process.
Passivhaus Consultancy Services
Stroma Built Environment provides Passivhaus certification services to help you meet strict air tightness test and energy efficiency targets. Our certified consultants will deliver specialist guidance and assurance from end to end.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should an air tightness test be done?
The air tightness test is a mandatory requirement under Part L of the Building Regulations for all new build commercial buildings over 500 square metre and on extensions with a floor area of greater than 25% of the existing building.
What is Part L of Building Regulations?
Part L, or Document L, of the Building Regulations is an amended building standard stating that all new dwellings must be built in compliance with current energy conservation objectives.
How long does an air tightness test take?
In most cases, the assessor can complete an air permeability test in as little as 1 hour. The test usually does not take longer than 2 hours. For larger projects with more complex buildings, access, time, and preparation, testing could take between 2 and 4 hours.
What is Passivhaus?
Passivhaus is a voluntary design standard for energy efficiency in a dwelling, aiming to produce low-energy, efficient, and sustainable buildings. Under Passivhaus, buildings in development must meet strict guidelines in areas such as air tightness, heating, and ventilation.
Passivhaus developments are required to be tested to a more onerous standard than Building Regulations Part L and are often required over and above the standard Part L testing.
What is our test calculation methodology?
Please view our testing methodology document.
Stroma Built Environment and its team of experts are here ready to discuss a range of packages for any new project. Get in touch today!