Transcript Air Sealing Mixed Use Buildings: Exterior Shell and Unit-to

Air Sealing Mixed Use &
Multifamily Buildings: Exterior
Shell & Unit-to-Unit
Compartmentalization
Steven Winter Associates
Erica Brabon,
BPI MFBA, LEED AP O+M
307 7th Ave, Suite 1701, NY, NY
[email protected]
Efficiency Vermont is a Registered Provider with The American
Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems
(AIA/CES). Credit(s) earned on completion of this program will be
reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for
both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.
This program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional
education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed
or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any
material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using,
distributing, or dealing in any material or product.
Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be
addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this program, participants will be able to:
 Discuss the concept of air sealing and how it affects stack
effect and leads to energy savings
 Understand how we evaluate mid-rise buildings for this
measure and what we look for
 Understand how air sealing is not only an energy saver but
helps with indoor air quality (smoke and smell migration),
pest problems, and sound issues
 Understand how air movement in a multifamily building
greatly affects energy usage
Course Evaluations
In order to maintain high-quality learning experiences, please access
the evaluation for this course by logging into CES Discovery and
clicking on the Course Evaluation link on the left side of the page.
Who We Are
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Steven Winter Associates, Inc. (SWA) is a 38 yearold architecture and engineering consulting firm
specializing in building performance.
SWA has trained over 2000 managers, architects,
engineers and maintenance staff on how to run and
maintain multi-family buildings in the last five years
SWA works with many other types of high
performance buildings including Energy Star, LEED,
Building America, PATH, and numerous regional
performance specifications.
Offices: NYC; Norwalk, CT; Washington DC
Air Leakage – Basic Ideas
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Where is the air coming in?
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How does it move through the building?
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How does it leave?
Whole Building Energy Loss:
Infiltration & Ventilation
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Air
movement in
and out of
conditioned
spaces
Stack and
wind effects,
shafts & bypasses
Exhaust &
supply fans
It’s all in the
envelope
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Unit to Unit Infiltration
• Majority of MF apartment enclosures are adjacent to other units
Infiltration & Stack Effect
What is “Stack Effect”?
Stack effect occurs naturally
in buildings as air which is
warmer and more buoyant
tends to rise above cooler,
denser air. The greater
difference between inside
and outside temperature
and the taller the building,
the greater the stack effect.
Source: American ALDES
Infiltration – Data Collection
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Unit air leakage vs
whole building
Equipment and
procedure
What is acceptable
leakage?
How is this number
different with MF?
What do you do with
this number?
Blower Door Disco
Infiltration – Certification Criteria
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EPA National Energy Star
Multifamily High Rise Program
will require 1.75 ELA square
inches ELA @ 4 pascals/100 SF
Enclosure (0.315 CFM50/SF)
EPA Energy Star Labeled
Homes requires 3 ACH50
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LEED NC, EB, etc requires 1.25
square inches ELA @ 4
pascals/100 SF Enclosure
LEED Homes requires 7
ACH50, 4 gets you a point
Air Leakage – Basic Ideas
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Where is the air coming in?
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How does it move through the building?
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How does it leave?
Sample Air Sealing Checklist
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Pipe Insulation
Framing layout, demising walls and
interior
Window to rough opening
Window to interior gypsum board
Air conditioner sleeve sealed to drywall
(cover is installed if A/Cs provided by
building)
Outlet/Electrical Box - Exterior and
Demising Walls
Gypsum board to concrete floor plank
connection - Exterior walls and all
interior partition walls
Gypboard to bottom track of demising
wall
Heating pipe penetrations through
exterior walls
Heating pipe penetrations through
interior partitions
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Plumbing / Sprinkler Pipe
Penetration
Range Gas Line Penetration
Gypsum board to concrete ceiling
plank connection - Exterior walls
and all interior partition walls
Gap between take off duct and
gypsum board
Electrical Panel
HVAC Access Doors
Thermostats
Intercoms
Lighting Fixtures
Door Latch Hole
Medicine Cabinet
Air Sealing and Health & Safety
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Air leakage pathways are also
pathways for:
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Smoke
Pests
Moisture
Sound
VOCs and Other Indoor
Pollutants
Air sealing not only saves
energy but prevents the
spread of pollutants and pests
Air Sealing & Asthma Attacks
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Things that cause asthma attacks are called
“triggers”.
“Triggers” include:
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Secondhand smoke
Cockroaches (and their remains)
Dust mites (and their remains)
Rodents (and their remains)
Pets with fur
Nitrogen dioxide
Mold
Air Sealing to Control Moisture
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Controlling indoor MOISTURE is a major
step for controlling:
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Mold
Cockroaches
Rodents
Rust
Bacteria
Building degradation
Air sealing can help control
Primary Air Infiltration Sites
5% Fans & Vents
12% Windows
Floors, walls,
and Ceilings 36%
13% Doors
Electric Outlets 2%
15% Plumbing
Penetrations
Central Shafts 16%
Data Source: California Energy Commission
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Common Air Sealing Opportunities
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Electrical penetrations
Plumbing penetrations
Window framing
Wall to floor connection
Doors and vestibules
Basement ceiling
In unit ventilation grills
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Radon…?
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Outlet
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Plumbing
Penetration
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Check concentration
before sealing
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Where is air coming into the building?
Vented Mechanical Rooms
AC Sleeves
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Not always a perfect fit
Even when sealed still
leak
Interior cover is one
solution
AC Sleeves - IR
AC Sleeves - IR
Leaky Windows
Leaky Windows
Leaky Windows - IR
Interior Framing Layout –
Demising Wall
Framing at Perimeter
Wall Floor Connection
Wall Ceiling Connection
Heating Pipe Penetrations
Outlets
Holes From Pipe
and Plumbing
Penetrations
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Sealing Below Bathtub
Before
After
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Sprinkler and Plumbing Penetrations
Plumbing Penetrations - IR
Door Latch Hole
Light Fixtures - IR
Leakage at Sheetrock Connection
Leakage at Sheetrock Connection
Leakage Pathway
Assuming a 1/16” gap along perimeter (red):
8 x 8 duct  2.0 square inches of leakage area
per exhaust grille
6 x 6 duct  1.5 square inches of leakage area
per exhaust grille
How does air leave the building?
Roof Curb Leakage
Roof Curb Leakage
Ice Damming
Ice Damming
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Inadequate insulation and
leakage lead to a warm
roof
Melting snow hits the cold
roof edge and freezes
Once enough ice and
pooling forms, ice backs
up into the wall and
shingles
Moisture damage leads to
mold, which is an indoor
air quality issue and can
cause asthma attacks
Ice Damming Solutions
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If you already have moisture damage,
those materials (sheetrock and insulation)
must be removed
Air seal the attic to prevent further heat
from escaping to the roof
Insulate the attic
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You must air seal BEFORE you insulate
PROPERLY
General Air Sealing Guidelines
The Daily Green
GAPS ≤ 1/4”
Caulk
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Energy Blast Services
GAPS 1/4” – 3”
Spray foam
OTHER
Foam board,
fiberglass in
plastic bags, etc.
Yorktown Square
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Two story buildings
comprised of one
and two bedroom
flats
Constructed in early
70’s – renovation
2007
Slab on grade, stick
built, wood cladding
Occupants are
families and
individuals receiving
housing and utility
subsidies
Tenants directly
metered for all utility
consumption
SAVE ON AVG $130 A YEAR PER UNIT
excluding water
IN ELECTRIC COSTS
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Scope of Work
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High Efficiency
Heating and Cooling
Equipment
 New air source
heat pumps
 Cleaning of units
Sealing of duct work
Replacement in-unit
water heaters
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Adding attic insulation
Low-Emissivity
coating for the
windows
Energy Star
refrigerators and
dishwashers
Whole building air
sealing
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Jennings Hall
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150 units, 7story west wing
and 9-story east
wing
19 BTU/sf/HDD!
Steam boilers w/
heat complaints
Old windows 20
Old elevators 15
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No roof
5
insulation
0
Central
ventilation
Energy Usage of 1050 Amsterdam Avenue
Compared to Similar Buildings in New York City
Relatively Inefficient NY
Building with Oil Heat*
Jennings Hall - Existing
Conditions
Typical NYBuilding with Oil
Heat*
Relatively Efficient NY
Building with Oil Heat*
BTU/Sq. Ft./HDD
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Scope of Work
Measure
Cost
Upgrade the boiler and controls
Install low-flow water fixtures
Whole Building Air Sealing
Seal & Balance Ventilation System
Window Upgrade
Roof Insulation
Common Are Lighting Upgrade
Clothes Washer Upgrade
Elevator Upgrade
New Refrigerators
TOTAL
$ 200,000
$ 3,500
$ 75,000
$ 70,000
$ 240,000
$ 78,404
$ 98,000
$ 1,800
$ 1,000
$ 37,500
$ 926,240
MMBtu
Savings
2366
200
970
809
88
235
-225
1
0
-114
4330
kWh
Savings
-3408
0
176
-703
1209
-565
73872
1044
100
53676
125401
$ Savings Payback
$ 36,009
$ 3,044
$ 14,763
$ 12,312
$ 1,339
$ 3,577
$ 10,342
$ 250
$
14
$ 11,272
$ 92,922
24% Total Energy Usage Savings!
5.55
1.15
5.08
5.69
179.2
21.92
9.48
7.2
71.43
3.3
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Ashes to Green: Cambridge MA Energy
Retrofit
Building Envelope
• Walls Polyicynene R-19 in walls
• Roof – R40
• Low E Glass windows
• HERS 34
• PV & Solar Domestic Hot Water
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Retrofit (Blue Line) Achieves Reductions
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Conclusion
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Compartmentalization from floor to floor greatly
decreases stack effect and leads to energy savings
Use a checklist when evaluating for air sealing
opportunities
Closing off these unseen pathways not only saves
energy but stops migration of moisture, pests,
smoke, sound and indoor pollutants
Air movement in a mixed use or multifamily building
is hard to control but can be done when the whole
building is looked at as a system
Thank You
Questions?
Erica Brabon
[email protected]