A Comparison of the Power Law to Quadratic Formulations for Air Infiltration Calculations

TitleA Comparison of the Power Law to Quadratic Formulations for Air Infiltration Calculations
Publication TypeJournal Article
LBNL Report NumberLBNL-41447
Year of Publication1998
AuthorsWalker, Iain S., David J. Wilson, and Max H. Sherman
JournalEnergy and Buildings
Volume27
Start PageChapter
Pagination293-299
Abstract

Although the power law has been broadly accepted in measurement and air infiltration standards, and in many air infiltration calculation methods, the assumption that the power law is true over the range of pressures that a building envelope experiences has not been well documented. In this paper, we examine the validity of the power law through theoretical analysis, laboratory measurements of crack flow and detailed field tests of building envelopes. The results of the theoretical considerations, and field and laboratory measurements indicate that the power law is valid for low pressure building envelope leakage.

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