Measuring Residential Ventilation Air Flows

Airtight construction is a hallmark of high performance construction, but requires a comprehensive ventilation system as the foundation of good indoor air quality. Join Dr. Iain Walker, ASHRAE Fellow and staff scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, for an expert breakdown of how we measure what matters. This session moves beyond the basics to explore the technologies—both simple and sophisticated—for measuring ventilation airflows and summarizes relevant diagnostic standards and test methods, such as RESNET 380. Drawing on historical background and recent USDOE studies of ventilation systems in new residences, Dr. Walker will share insights into what works (and what doesn’t), what is easy to measure (and what isn’t), and the broader implications for the residential construction industry. 0:00 - Introduction (Alexander Gard-Murray) 2:34 - Introduction (Iain Walker) 5:21 - A Bit of History 14:37 Alternative Methods 22:28 Measurement Challenges 29:14 Key Issues 35:13 Q&A