Title 16 - Buildings and Construction

N1102.4 Air Leakage (Mandatory).

The building thermal envelope shall be constructed to limit air leakage in accordance with the requirements of Sections N1102.4.1 through N1102.4.54.

N1102.4.1 Building thermal envelope. The building thermal envelope shall comply with Sections N1102.4.1.1 and N1102.4.1.2. The sealing methods between dissimilar materials shall allow for differential expansion and contractions.

N1102.4.1.1 Installation. The components of the building thermal envelope as listed in Table N1102.4.1.1 shall be indicated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and the criteria indicated in Table N1102.4.1.1, as applicable to the method of construction. Where required by the Code Official, an approved third party shall inspect all components and verify compliance.

N1102.4.1.2 Testing. Where required by the Code Official, the building or dwelling unit shall be tested and verified as having an air leakage rate not exceeding five air changes per hour. Testing shall be conducted in accordance with RESNET/ICC 380, ASTM E779 or ASTM E1827 and reported at a pressure of 0.2 inches w.g. (50 Pascals). Where required by the Code Official, testing shall be conducted by an approved third party. A written report of the results of the test shall be signed by the party conducting the test and provided to the Code Official. Testing shall be performed at any time after creation of all penetrations of the building thermal envelope.

During testing:

1. 1.
   Exterior windows and doors, fireplace and stove doors shall be closed, but not sealed, beyond the intended weather-stripping or other infiltration control measures;
2. 2.
   Dampers including exhaust, intake, makeup air, backdraft and flue dampers shall be closed, but not sealed beyond intended infiltration control measures;
3. 3.
   Interior doors, where installed at the time of the test, shall be open;
4. 4.
   Exterior or interior terminations for continuous ventilation systems shall be sealed;
5. 5.
   Heating and cooling systems, if installed at the time of the test, shall be turned off; and
6. 6.
   Supply and return registers, if installed at the time of the test, shall be fully open.

N1102.4.2 Fireplaces. New wood-burning fireplaces shall have tight-fitting flue dampers or doors, and outdoor combustion air.  Where using tight-fitting doors on factory-built fireplaces listed and labeled in accordance with UL 127, the doors shall be tested and listed for the fireplace.

N1102.4.3 Fenestration air leakage. Windows, skylights and sliding glass doors shall have an air infiltration rate of no more that 0.3 cfm per square foot, and swinging doors no more than 0.5 cfm per square foot, when tested according to NFRC 400 or AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440 by an accredited, independent laboratory and listed and labeled by the manufacturer.

Exception: Site-built windows, skylights and doors.

N1102.4.4 Recessed lighting. Recessed luminaires installed in the building thermal envelope shall be sealed to limit air leakage between conditioned and unconditioned spaces. All recessed luminaires shall be IC-rated and labeled as having an air leakage rate not more than 2.0 cfm when tested in accordance with ASTM E 283 at a 1.57 psf (75 Pa) pressure differential. All recessed luminaires shall be sealed with a gasket or caulk between the housing and the interior wall or ceiling covering.

(History: Ord. BC-3286 §72, 2020; Ord. BC-2936 §52, 2012)

Effective on: 1/1/1901