ABSTRACT
The introduction of airtightness testing in support of energy calculations for new buildings has done much to concentrate the minds of design and construction teams on ensuring that buildings are both properly detailed and that care is taken during construction. Tests should be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Air Tightness Testing and Measurement Association by qualified specialists. The Sustainability Strategy for the building and the detailed services strategy must be developed with an understanding of the user’s needs, how robust a solution has to be and how proactive or otherwise the user may be. Both the calculations which produce Energy Performance Certificate and off-the-shelf assessment methodologies are asset based and reflect an assumed standardised occupation pattern in order to allow a direct comparison between projects.
