From April 2006 Building regulations require that new builds comply with ‘Part L’. This means that a percentage of new properties must go through air tightness testing, air leakage testing and air permeability testing.

Testing airtightness is the process to trace any unwanted wind and unrestrained airflow through the house . A lot of air leakage leads to heat loss which results in greater C02 emissions. Reducing C02 emissions is the purpose of ‘Part L’ in the new building regulations through airtightness testing, air leakage testing and air permability testing.

Both domestic and public buildings have to be examined for air leakage, air tightness and air permeability to adhere to L1 & L2 regulations.

If the home exceeds the specified size, or happens to be a domestic property , you can’t pass it across to the customer without the recognised air leakage test certificate .

Part L of the Buildings Regulations demands that all buildings that aren’t residential , and that have a total floor space greater than 500m2, be accountable to a compulsory air permeability examination . L2 demands that for residential dwellings a representative section of houses (in a development) be tested .

The airtightness of a building is called ‘air permeability’ or leakage rate. This leakage will occur through gaps, holes and cracks in the framework of the building envelope which aren’t always visible . This air leakage alters the building’s effectiveness and is now firmly embedded in Part L of the Building Regulations & Conservation of Fuel and Power. Making a building extensively air tight cuts down the amount of fuel needed to heat it. This then reduces the CO2 produced and reduces your carbon footprint – So it is definately valid and necessary .