Leak test For this purpose, the building’s airtight exterior envelope (floor, walls, roof) must be complete, doors and windows must be installed, and all penetrations must be in place and sealed (ventilation ducts, range hood, fireplace and sauna stove flues, water and sewer lines, central vacuum system exhaust pipe, floor penetration pipes such as protective sleeves for electrical supply or geothermal heating pipes, etc.).
The measurement can be taken even if one door has not yet been installed or if a temporary door is in place. In this case, the door opening must be less than 1 meter wide and must have door frames or a frame to which the measurement door frame can be attached.
If the garage is attached to the house, its exterior door must be installed.
It is a good idea to leave the air/vapor barrier exposed so that any leaks that may be found can still be easily repaired. However, this is not essential.
The ventilation unit does not need to be installed. It is easier to perform the measurement before the ventilation unit is installed.
The following installations must be completed before the measurement:
Exterior doors and windows
- The gaps above windows and doors have been sealed with tape, at least on the inside.
- Around the windows and doors, the gaps between the frames and the sashes have been sealed with tape.
- (Optional: Seal the gaps between the studs and logs around windows and doors using tape or a suitable sealant.)
Ground-level slab
- Pipe penetrations sealed to the floor with urethane or a suitable sealant.
- The base strip should be compressed at every point between the log and the concrete, and any gaps should be sealed with urethane from underneath the base strip. (A recommended but not mandatory practice is to cut the base strip flush with the concrete surface and then coat the joint between the wall and the subfloor with a suitable sealant.)
Ross floor
- Air barrier film or paper taped along the seams to form a continuous layer on the floor, then taped to the log wall using double-sided tape, with a mounting strip installed on top.
- Penetration pipes are sealed to the floor's air barrier (plastic or paper) using sealing collars and vapor barrier tape.
Roof
- Air barrier film or paper sealed to the log wall with double-sided tape, with a mounting strip installed on top.
- In the case of sloped roofs, the joints between the logs are sealed with urethane or a suitable sealant.
- The roof joists have been installed. The measurement is performed under high vacuum, which may damage the air barrier of an unfinished roof.
- Pipe penetrations sealed with collars and vapor barrier tape against air barrier paper or plastic
- The fireplace flue is sealed with air barrier paper or plastic.
Walls
- Any conduits for electrical wiring drilled into the log wall should be sealed with urethane or a suitable sealant, preferably from the outside (to prevent the conduit from filling with cold air in winter and cooling the wall structure).
- Penetrations through the exterior wall (fresh air duct for the HVAC unit, exhaust pipe for the central vacuum cleaner, electrical conduits, etc.) are sealed with urethane or a suitable sealant.
Other
- Block walls and chimneys have been smoothed out completely on the inside (including the walls of the basement and utility room). Air leaks through uncoated block walls and chimneys, which can affect the accuracy of the measurement.
- Ensure that the air barrier of the exterior envelope is continuous at the washrooms, sauna, and utility room.
- Temporary construction-related penetrations and any other holes in the exterior envelope have been sealed.
- Standard AC power is available in the building.
- In the case of semi-detached houses, the penetrations between the units must also be sealed.
- For buildings with two or more floors: There must be a ladder between the floors, as the inspector must be able to access all floors from inside the building.
- Roof safety equipment must be in place, as the inspector may need to seal the chimney or ventilation ducts on the roof.
Before the measurement:
- Close the windows and doors carefully
- Do not heat the fireplace for about 24 hours before taking the measurement
- Turn on the heater about 24 hours before taking the measurement if the house is cold
- To locate leaks, move construction materials, furniture, or other loose items about one meter away from exterior walls
- Make sure there is sufficient general lighting in the building so that measurements can be taken properly on site
During the measurement:
- Please allow 3–4 hours for the measurement. You can spend most of that time doing other work.
- It’s a good idea to have a carpenter on site who can make the necessary repairs.
Did you remember to make sure the concrete is dry enough before you start paving?