Air tightness refers to the measure of how well a building prevents the uncontrolled flow of air through its envelope, which includes the floors, walls, roof, windows & doors.
It’s about eliminating all unintended gaps and cracks to create a healthy, comfortable, and energy-efficient living environment.
This is crucial because air leakage through these unintended openings can account for up to 50% of heat loss in a building.
To achieve high levels of air tightness, buildings must be designed and constructed with attention to sealing potential leaks, and then tested to ensure that the air leakage has been minimized.
Proper ventilation systems are also essential to maintain air quality.
In summary, air tightness is a key component in the construction of energy-efficient buildings, ensuring that insulation performs effectively and that the internal environment is both comfortable and cost-effective to maintain.