Levegátereszt

Levegátereszt is a Hungarian term that translates to "air permeability" or "air leakage" in English. It refers to the measure of how easily air can pass through a material or a building envelope. This property is crucial in various fields, particularly in construction and material science, as it significantly impacts energy efficiency, comfort, and durability.

In the context of buildings, high air permeability means that uncontrolled air can infiltrate and exfiltrate through gaps and cracks in the structure. This leakage can lead to significant heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer, increasing heating and cooling costs. It can also cause drafts, reduce indoor air quality by allowing pollutants to enter, and lead to moisture problems that can damage building components and promote mold growth. Therefore, minimizing air leakage is a key objective in modern building design and construction, often achieved through the use of air barriers and careful detailing.

Materials themselves also have varying degrees of air permeability. For instance, fabrics used in outdoor gear might be designed to be breathable, allowing some air and moisture vapor to pass through while still resisting the passage of liquid water. Conversely, materials like concrete or dense plastics have very low air permeability. Measuring air permeability is typically done using specialized equipment that quantifies the volume of air that flows through a given area of a material or building component under a specific pressure difference. This measurement helps in selecting appropriate materials and assessing the performance of construction assemblies.