Air Leakage and Air Transfer Between Garage and Living Space

This research project focused on evaluation of air transfer between the garage and living space in a single-family detached home constructed by a production homebuilder in compliance with the 2009 International Residential Code and the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code. The project gathered important information about the performance of whole-building ventilation systems and garage ventilation systems as they relate to minimizing flow of contaminated air from garage to living space. Important gaps and barriers addressed by this research were: (1) Developing recommendations for effective methods for precluding the flow of contaminated air from garages to living space. (2) Creating a resource for guiding home builders and retrofitters to achieve garage isolation by use of mechanical ventilation equipment. (3) Providing field measurement support for revision of the EPA Indoor airPLUS program requirements, which are part of the DOE Challenge Home program. Field test data provided in the form of technical report showing blower door test results for air leakage measurements and tracer gas testing results. Waldorf, MD 20602