Upcoming Changes to Air Testing

Following the response to the Future Buildings Standard Consultation, the government has confirmed that changes to Approved Document L1A will come into effect on 15th June 2022. The amendments will affect the number of air tightness tests that will need to be undertaken on site, who is able to carry out these tests and improve on the limiting value acceptable for a pass.

Under the current regulations, a building that achieves a 10 m3@50Pas is recognised as passing but this number is now being reduced to 8 m3@50Pas.

Currently, sample testing is used on sites which means not all dwellings are tested. On larger sites, generally only around 30% of dwellings are tested. Going forwards, all dwellings will need to be tested, including both flats and houses.

At the moment, air tests can be accepted from any air permeability engineer that has proven their equipment has be correctly calibrated on an annual basis. This will change under the new regulations so that only air permeability engineers registered to either The Air Tightness Testing & Measurement Association (ATTMA) or Independent Air Testing Scheme (iATS) will be accepted. If the air tests don’t come in this format, then the EPCs will not be able to be lodged which will delay sign off from building control.

At C80 Solutions, all of our air permeability engineers are fully qualified and registered to the ATTMA certification scheme.

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