Florida's Blower Door testing requirement for building code has been in place since July 1st, 2017. All new residential homes in Florida must pass a Blower Door or envelope leakage test to meet the current 2020 Energy Conservation Code.
This test consists of pressurizing and/or depressurizing a building and measure its leakage rate or how much air infiltrates or exfiltrates around doors, windows, ceiling lights, etc. The result MUST be between 3 and 7 ACH (air changes per hour) to meet code without doing anything. Over 7 ACH, the building is too leaky and needs to be tightened, and under 3 ACH, some sort of approved mechanical ventilation has to be used.
A duct leakage test is a diagnostic designed to measure the airtightness of forced air heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning ductwork. A duct leakage test consists of a calibrated fan for measuring an airflow rate and a pressure sensing device to measure the pressure created by the fan flow.
A duct leakage test is not yet required by code in Florida but has to be performed IF the credit was taken to meet the current 2020 Energy Conservation Code. It is also good insurance to measure the duct system's leakiness and if it should be sealed and/or repaired. This test will ensure that the air goes where it is supposed to go, especially when the ducts are in the hot attic.
Installation of R-7.8 using foil-faced polyiso foam board
