ASHRAE 90.1 sets specific requirements for the building envelope, including meeting all requirements of Section 5.4. Air Leakage, Section 5.4.3, requires sealing, caulking, gaskets and weather stripping of the building envelop to minimize air leakage. For the Barkesdale Dormitory, additional methods were used to minimize air infiltration. Additional barriers, taping, and low leakage panels per ASTM E283-84 (0.06 cfm per square foot of fixed wall at 63.3 mph wind and 1.92 iwg.) were used. Additionally, the building was pressurized to prevent infiltration. A baseline building model is neutral with average construction. With the value added benefit of additional barriers, taping and low leakage panels and pressurization, the Barkesdale Dormitory can be considered a "tight-pressurized construction". These differences could effect the energy calculations. Is this a logical conclusion?
This CIR seeks to use reduced infiltration rates from a superior building envelope as a variable in the energy cost budget calculation for optimizing energy efficiency. The ASHRAE modeling protocol does not allow the infiltration rate to be changed between the budget and the design case. The CIR ruling of 3/11/2003 for EAc1.2 provides some guidelines on how a case might be made for advanced air sealing. The methodology proposed for this project does not address all the issues raised in that ruling and would be insufficient to grant an exception to the modeling protocol. Applicable Internationally.