AAVs (Air Admittance Valves)

Posted by NYPH , March 14, 2014 - General Interest - Science & Lifestyle, HVAC

[caption id="attachment_2579" align="alignright" width="80"] AAV[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2581" align="alignright" width="80"] TYPICAL VENT STACK[/caption] Venting of plumbing fixtures has been a standard in the design and construction of plumbing systems in New York City buildings for almost a century. Vented plumbing stacks are required to maintain a water seal in a fixture's trap, the U-shaped section of pipe below a sink, which creates an air lock that prevents the entrance of sewer gasses. Without the trap's water…

Building Efficiency and Blower Doors: Essential Responses to Sandy

Posted by NYPH , August 2, 2013 - HVAC, News, Technical

By Ken Levenson, A.I.A. Superstorm Sandy has produced a torrent of meetings, plans, reports, announcements and actions by city, state, federal and non-governmental organizations. Today, before their terms expire, the New York City Council and Mayor are racing to pass important legislation based on these past months of herculean effort. While the action may be understandably focused on measures directly related to storm survival of our built environment from wind…

PHI airtightness maximums compared to current USA airtightness code requirements

Posted by NYPH , October 4, 2012 - General Interest - Science & Lifestyle, HVAC, Passive House Institute, Technical

By Floris Keverling Buisman, reposted from  Four Seven Five It has been argued by many that the air-sealing requirements set by the Passivhaus Institute are too strict, unrealisticly low and thus too costly. However, the kind people on the other side of the Atlantic have shown that it is not hard to surpass these requirements by far, save both energy and prevent moisture and mold issues in walls. We are starting…

Blowerdoor protocol for verification of 0.6 ACH50 for Passive House

Posted by Andreas Benzing , July 21, 2012 - General Interest - Science & Lifestyle, HVAC, Renewable Elements, Technical, Translucent Elements

By Floris Keverling Buisman,  Four Seven Five Automated blowerdoor test according to EN13829 with DG700 manometer controlled by laptop Building air-tightness that is below 0.6 air changes per hour at 50 pascals pressure (0.6ACH50) is a simple target that the Passive House Institute (PHI) requires for new building certification.  (A retrofit may meet 1.0ACH50 for EnerPHit certification.)  This is a measurement of air flow and not much input or calculations are required…. Just…