Energy Matters | Issue 6 | 2021
14
F E AT U R E www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk
Pulse now in regulations Jason Hewins, On Construction Support Team Leader
You may be aware that there is a new method of air tightness testing that has been approved by MHCLG to carry out air tightness tests. This method is known as Pulse and it is slightly different to the traditional blower door which could offer a number of advantages for air tightness testers. In this article we explore what Pulse is, how it works and what it means for iATS testers.
Pulse was developed by Build Test Solutions. It uses compressed air released in bursts to measure airtightness at 4Pa and can take as little as 6 seconds to complete. It was developed to test buildings under ‘normal’ conditions so does not force leakage paths and stress the building fabric. Pulse has also been approved for airtightness testing of existing buildings in PAS 2035 as well as the Building Regulations in England. The Pulse system is made up of three parts - an air release tank, a compressor to fill the tank and a control unit where everything is calculated and recorded. The process starts by releasing a known amount of air from the air release tank into the suitably prepared test building. The Pulse system then measures the response of the test building to this released pressure to calculate
the air leakage whilstcontinuously monitoring temperature and pressure. Elmhurst Energy Consultancy has already started using the Pulse method for some of its own projects, most recently carrying out comparison air leakage testing for a local authority to test the efficacy of a liquid sealing system on a trial house undergoing a full retrofit. Elmhurst Consultancy will carry out Pulse Comparison Air Leakage Testing on the trial house. The Pulse air leakage test will be carried out prior and then post application of the improvement measures and Consultancy will provide a comparison report summarising the methodology, approach and subsequent results. The Pulse Airtightness Leakage is
the ideal system to use for this particular application as it can be used to determine retrofit strategies and to validate the quality and performance of delivered works. If you are an accredited iATS tester, later this year you will notice changes to the lodgement portal as we are adding the option to enter and lodge Pulse tests, giving testers the choice now that Pulse is an approved testing method. Just like the blower door method, Pulse testers will have the option to upload straight from the Pulse system onto the iATS lodgement portal for seamless lodgements. Pulse is not a replacement for the current blower door method of air tightness testing, but it provides an alternative option for air testers who may benefit from using this method. Elmhurst will be providing training for air tightness testers on the use of Pulse, so keep an eye on our Training Calendar as Dates will be released shortly. It is a great opportunity to learn about the new method and get hands on experience with the Pulse system. For more information about Pulse please visit https://buildtestsolutions.com/ air-leakage-testing/pulse
