CfSH Additional Services

Air Pressure Test

Our Code for Sustainable Homes Assessors can guide you through the air pressure testing process, from design stage to post completion. Please contact our Code for Sustainable Homes Consultancy Team on 01303 248648 or info@reinagroup.co.uk, for further information or an estimate.

What is Air Pressure Testing? Air Tightness Testing (also referred to as Air Leakage Testing or Air Pressure Testing) is a means to quantify the extent to which buildings ‘leak’ air through their envelopes.  Air leakage is a vehicle for energy wastage, resulting from the increased loads placed on the space heating and/or cooling systems.  Improving air tightness is an important factor in reducing carbon emissions in buildings.  The requirement for Air Leakage Testing of buildings in the UK is driven by the Building Regulations Part L – Conservation of Heat & Power.

The Air Pressure Test Process

• Check site preparation, including temporary sealing
• Calculate the envelope, this is preferred to be calculated prior to site visit
• Explain the process to relevant staff and sub-contractors working on or near the building
• Take environmental condition measurements – wind speed, temperatures, barometric pressures
• Install fan into door / opening
• Connect monitoring equipment
• Check the static pressure before test
• Take multiple pressure difference readings and record fan flow rate(s) – allowing sufficient time for the pressure readings to stabilise
• Check the static pressure after the test
• Input the data readings into software – check that readings are at the right standard for test
• Calculation of the results from test pass or fail
• If the building fails, we pinpoint key leakage paths and help client/ staff on remedial work
• Then rerun test stage again
• Note results pass or fail / discuss results with client
• Disconnect measurement equipment
• Remove the fan

SAP Calculations

Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) Calculations and Energy Performance Certificates (EPC)

Our qualified Code for Sustainable Homes assessors will carefully guide you through the SAP process, offering advice and recommendations on all aspects of the calculations, ensuring that you get the most cost effective design solutions.
What is SAP?

The SAP energy rating has been devised as a user friendly method of measuring the overall efficiency of a property.   It is the Governments recommended system for producing a home energy rating.  It is used to demonstrate compliance with Building Regulations for dwellings part L1A, calculating the (TER) Target Emissions Rate and the (DER) Dwelling Emissions Rate, the DER must be equal or better than the TER to show compliance.
Our fee proposals include:-

• Design Stage SAP Calculations
• Predicted Energy Certificate
• As Built SAP Calculations
• Energy Performance Certificate
• What we need to complete the calculation:
• Full set of plans (AutoCAD preferred)
• Completed Data Collection Form

What are EPC’s?

Energy Performance Certificates (EPC’s) are the Government’s chosen way of complying with the Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD). Its purpose is to record how energy efficient a property is. The certificate will provide a rating of the energy efficiency and CO2 emissions of a building from A to G, where A is very efficient and G is very inefficient.
EPCs are produced using standard methods with standard assumptions about energy usage so that the energy efficiency of one building can easily be compared with another building of the same type. This allows prospective buyers, tenants, owners, occupiers and purchasers to see information on the energy efficiency and CO2 emissions from their building so they can consider energy efficiency and fuel costs as part of their investment.

Please contact our Code for Sustainable Homes team on 01303 248648 or info@reinagroup.co.uk for further information or an estimate for undertaking SAP and EPC calculations for you.

Sound Testing

Our Code for Sustainable Homes Assessors can guide you through the Sound Testing process, from design stage to post completion. Please contact our Code for Sustainable Homes Consultancy Team on 01303 248648 or info@reinagroup.co.uk, for further information or an estimate.

What is a Sound Insulation Test?

Airborne Test
The airborne test measures the resistance to the passage of airborne sound through a separating wall or floor. It is conducted using a high power multidirectional loudspeaker creating a steady sound level. A microphone is then used to measure the difference in this sound level between the source room (the room with the speaker in) and the receiver room (the room next to, below or above the source room).

Impact Test
The impact test measures the resistance to the passage of impact sound, using a tapping machine, which is a small machine containing 5 weights. Placed on the floor, these weights are then allowed to drop onto the floor. The sound level is then measured using a microphone in the room below the tapping machine.

What is UKAS Accreditation?
The United Kingdom Accreditation Service is the sole national accreditation body recognised by government to assess, against internationally agreed standards, organisations that provide certification, testing, and inspection and calibration services. (Ref: www.ukas.com)

UKAS Accreditation is your guarantee that the testing that is performed for you is conducted with proper care, by experts, using fully calibrated equipment and adhering to the latest standards.