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FEATURE Understanding Air
Leakage in Residential
and Commercial Buildings
Innovation in architectural practices has revolutionized the construction sector in a way
that, today, architects and designers are aiming to build structures that do not create
an imbalance between infrastructural demands and ecological concerns. In this article,
Nikhilesh Singh Bist and Ankit Debnath present a study of 23 residential buildings and
30 air-conditioned double occupancy hotel rooms in Ahmedabad to understand the air
leakage characteristics that lead to an unwanted increase in the energy consumption
of the building. Infiltration and penetration of outdoor contamination are some of the
hazards that the author warns both the builders and residents about, while highlighting
the importance of air quality within an enclosed space.
Nikhilesh Singh Bist completed his MTech in building energy performance
from CEPT University and is currently working in AECOM India Pvt Ltd as
a sustainability consultant. He is among the few in India who can perform an
airtightness test using the blower door method and can generate air leakage
data for different building types. He has presented two research papers on air
leakages in buildings at international conferences which were appreciated by
the international jury members.
Ankit Debnath did his MTech in building energy performance from CEPT
University. His work in infiltration for hotels in Ahmedabad using the blower
door method is one of a kind. He has an experience in working with LEED V4.0
materials and interiors in JLL. Currently, he is working as an energy analyst
on high side chiller optimization at Smart Joules Pvt Ltd.
The best architectural and openings in the building envelope, pollutant concentration may
engineering practice in meeting change in building construction, etc. increase. Infiltration may reduce
green building codes and A large body of research has shown these concentrations; however, it is
international standards includes that tightening the building envelope not possible to control infiltration/
constructing airtight buildings can lead to significant saving in energy exfiltration exchange through
while maintaining adequate and reduction in HVAC equipment building leakage area, which possibly
ventilation. In practice, post size. From an energy point of view, leads to an unwanted increase in the
occupancy air change rates may not it is always favourable to reduce air energy consumption of the building.
meet design intent, possibly due to leakage by tightening the building While providing energy
multiple factors like infiltration/ envelope, but without a dedicated simulation parameter for air
exfiltration from cracks and ventilation system, the indoor air leakage, we either refer to codes
| 164 |
Leakage in Residential
and Commercial Buildings
Innovation in architectural practices has revolutionized the construction sector in a way
that, today, architects and designers are aiming to build structures that do not create
an imbalance between infrastructural demands and ecological concerns. In this article,
Nikhilesh Singh Bist and Ankit Debnath present a study of 23 residential buildings and
30 air-conditioned double occupancy hotel rooms in Ahmedabad to understand the air
leakage characteristics that lead to an unwanted increase in the energy consumption
of the building. Infiltration and penetration of outdoor contamination are some of the
hazards that the author warns both the builders and residents about, while highlighting
the importance of air quality within an enclosed space.
Nikhilesh Singh Bist completed his MTech in building energy performance
from CEPT University and is currently working in AECOM India Pvt Ltd as
a sustainability consultant. He is among the few in India who can perform an
airtightness test using the blower door method and can generate air leakage
data for different building types. He has presented two research papers on air
leakages in buildings at international conferences which were appreciated by
the international jury members.
Ankit Debnath did his MTech in building energy performance from CEPT
University. His work in infiltration for hotels in Ahmedabad using the blower
door method is one of a kind. He has an experience in working with LEED V4.0
materials and interiors in JLL. Currently, he is working as an energy analyst
on high side chiller optimization at Smart Joules Pvt Ltd.
The best architectural and openings in the building envelope, pollutant concentration may
engineering practice in meeting change in building construction, etc. increase. Infiltration may reduce
green building codes and A large body of research has shown these concentrations; however, it is
international standards includes that tightening the building envelope not possible to control infiltration/
constructing airtight buildings can lead to significant saving in energy exfiltration exchange through
while maintaining adequate and reduction in HVAC equipment building leakage area, which possibly
ventilation. In practice, post size. From an energy point of view, leads to an unwanted increase in the
occupancy air change rates may not it is always favourable to reduce air energy consumption of the building.
meet design intent, possibly due to leakage by tightening the building While providing energy
multiple factors like infiltration/ envelope, but without a dedicated simulation parameter for air
exfiltration from cracks and ventilation system, the indoor air leakage, we either refer to codes
| 164 |
