ilmatiiviyyteen

Ilmatiiviyteen, often translated as air-tightness or airtightness, is a crucial characteristic in building construction. It refers to the degree to which a building envelope prevents unwanted air leakage. This leakage can occur through cracks, gaps, and openings in the building's shell, including walls, floors, roofs, windows, and doors.

Maintaining a high level of ilmatiiviyteen is important for several reasons. Firstly, it significantly contributes to energy efficiency. Uncontrolled air leakage allows conditioned air to escape from the building and unconditioned air to enter, leading to increased heating and cooling loads. This, in turn, results in higher energy consumption and associated costs.

Secondly, good ilmatiiviyteen helps to improve indoor air quality. By controlling air movement, it prevents the infiltration of outdoor pollutants such as dust, pollen, and exhaust fumes. It also helps to manage moisture within the building, reducing the risk of condensation, mold growth, and structural damage.

Furthermore, ilmatiiviyteen is essential for the effective operation of mechanical ventilation systems, such as heat recovery ventilation (HRV) or energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems rely on a controlled airflow to function efficiently and provide fresh air while recovering energy from outgoing stale air. A leaky building envelope can disrupt the intended airflow patterns of these systems, diminishing their performance.

Assessing and improving ilmatiiviyteen is typically done through blower door testing. This test pressurizes or depressurizes the building to measure the rate of air leakage. Remedial measures can then be implemented, such as sealing gaps with tapes, membranes, and caulking, to enhance the building's airtightness.