Managing Airflows and Pressures in High-Performance, Low-load, Airtight Homes

Today’s high-performance, airtight homes require carefully managed airflows and pressures. This session will focus on best practices for whole house ventilation, filtration, and make-up air in cold climates. There are four types of air that must be properly designed, installed and managed in operation. While most of us are quite comfortable with the need for ventilation air and combustion air, it is critical to pay closer attention to circulation air and make-up air. While each is important on its own merit, they also interact and potentially interfere with one another, especially in tighter homes. As homes continue to get tighter, the issue of pressure management, make-up air, and relief air are a growing concern. If left unmanaged, improper air flows and pressures can contribute to performance concerns including combustion safety, comfort, moisture transport, efficiency, and entry of exterior pollutants (i.e.. garage, soil, etc.). The session will define each and explore best practices that will fit with the modern high-performance house and its occupants.