Retrotec Blower Door & Duct Blaster with Free BPI / LEED training

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by jkaylor

We are currently working on an alliance with the largest LEED training facility in the country. They just introduced their BPI Building Analyst Professional training last week.

We wanted to start this alliance off on a good foot so we are offering free BPI and LEED training with the purchase of our entry level BPI energy auditing package which includes; Retrotec Q46 blower door system, Retrotec Q32 duct blaster, Testo 327-2 o2 & Co2 combustion analyzer for $7,581.25

BPI training including field audit and testing retail price is $1500.00
LEED commercial or residential certification training retail is $595. (add the other for $595)

Other misc meters or devices can be added to this package at the package discount rate, including infrared and level I certification. Call or email for details.

Jason Kaylor – JJ
VP of Specialty Products
877/207-1244
AC Tool Supply
Fluke Thermal Imagers
Testo 880 Infrared Cameras
Fluke TiR4 Thermal Imager
Fluke TiR 1 Resources
Fluke Ti55 Infrared Camera
Retrotec Duct & Blower Door
Energy Audit Talk

Jason,

I'm interested, but then a flight gets involved and losing inspections for a few days would cost me some big dinero.

I'd like to see this course in my neighborhood, and I'd jump all over it.

[Jason Kaylor]

Originally Posted by dvalley

Jason,

I'm interested, but then a flight gets involved and losing inspections for a few days would cost me some big dinero.

I'd like to see this course in my neighborhood, and I'd jump all over it.

Here is the current schedule Clean Edison has going on for the BPI training. http://www.cleanedison.com/BPI-Course-Locations.html . The LEED you will have to wait for anyway because of the way the USGBC has upgraded it. LEED 2.2 ended April 1st, and LEED 3.0 is the new one. I believe that doesn't start until August. I am not completly caught up on the new LEED standard. There are several versions of it. Clean Edison would be better at consulting as to which would be better for you guys.

I am very sure that New Haven is New Haven CT, but it might be New Haven MA, I will find out today. I will ask them today to put up the state with the city, I am pretty sure there are a 100 Patersons out there.

Jason Kaylor – JJ
VP of Specialty Products
877/207-1244
AC Tool Supply
Fluke Thermal Imagers
Testo 880 Infrared Cameras
Fluke TiR4 Thermal Imager
Fluke TiR 1 Resources
Fluke Ti55 Infrared Camera
Retrotec R31 Duct Blaster
Energy Audit Talk

[Jason Kaylor]

I guess I could of just clicked the link. It is New Haven CT, and the Paterson is in NJ.

Jason Kaylor – JJ
VP of Specialty Products
877/207-1244
AC Tool Supply
Fluke Thermal Imagers
Testo 880 Infrared Cameras
Fluke TiR2 Thermal Imager
Fluke TiR Resources
Fluke Ti55 Infrared Camera
Retrotec R31 Duct Blaster
Energy Audit Talk

[Frank Spevak]

Originally Posted by jkaylor

Peter is also correct with the 50 pascals rating. You really need to get to it, but if you cannot you can use a conversion chart. Personally I would rather use a better door and just get to it. The other issue with the Minneapolis door is, 2500 sq ft and you about done. The Q46 and Q4E retrotec doors are expandable with up to 2 additional fans. And you do not need a laptop to run them. The DM-2A guages are computers within them selves. Another benefit to being able to add more fans is the ability to do split tests. In a commercial environment you could pressurize the drop ceiling and negative pressure the main area. With 3 fans you could pressurize both an attic and basement while pressurizing the main structure.

Technically if you just want to get in as cheap as possible, buy an Infiltec. They have a door for $1900. Blower doors are like anything else, you get what you pay for. Then what happens if HERS or LEED or NAHB or whatever else standard comes out and they mandate 50 pascals without conversion.

Jason Kaylor – JJ
VP of Specialty Products
877/207-1244
AC Tool Supply
Fluke Thermal Imagers
Testo 880 Infrared Cameras
Fluke TiR4 Thermal Imager
Fluke TiR 1 Resources
Fluke Ti55 Infrared Camera
Retrotec Q46 Blower Door
Energy Audit Talk

I would like to correct a statement made above. All Blower Doors/Infiltrometers are rated on the amount of air that they move through the fan not on the size of the building. The Energy Conservatory fan is rated at 6,000 CFM at 50 Pa. This could be more than adequate for a newly built, tight home of 8,000 sq ft. Or might not be enough for a 1,200 sq ft home that has huge leaks to the outside. Each of the manufacturers of Blower Doors have the ability to add more fans and gauges to work on large commercial buildings. Fans can be stacked in a single frame and will work with a building that has a simple footprint. With complex, multi-floor structures it might be better to use the Blower Doors as singles in multiple doorways to help ensure even pressure distribution.

You can see pictures of multi-fan systems at www.energyconservatory.com.

Hope this information helps.

Frank Spevak
Marketing & Sales Manager
The Energy Conservatory

[Jason Kaylor]

Originally Posted by Frank Spevak

The Energy Conservatory fan is rated at 6,000 CFM at 50 Pa.

Frank Spevak
Marketing & Sales Manager
The Energy Conservatory

http://www.energyconservatory.com/pr.../products1.htm


Component Specifications | Model 3 Blower Door Fan:Maximum Flow:6,300 CFM (free air), 5,300 CFM (at 50 Pa).Minimum Flow:300 CFM (Ring B), 85 CFM (Ring C), 30 CFM (Ring D), 11 CFM (Ring E).Dimensions:20" inlet diameter, 10.25" length.Weight:33 lbs.Flow Accuracy:+/- 3% (using DG-700 or APT system). Rings D and E +/- 4% or 1 CFM, whichever is greater.Calibration:Meets ASTM Standard E779-03, CGSB-149.10-M86, EN 13829 and ATTMA TS1.Power:110V or 220V.Adjustable Frame Material:Extruded Aluminum.Width:24" - 40".Height:48" - 94".Seal:EPDM flexible gasket.Panel Material:Nylon w/ built-in vinyl window.DG-700, APT System:See Specifications on Digital Pressure Gauges and Automated Performance Testing System pages.

Whats 700cfm amongest friends, hehe.

Frank is absolutely correct with the sq footage numbers. It depends on the situation. My numbers are based on averages, and what an energy auditor will most likely come across. There will be situations where 10k sq ft can be done by any blower door and situations where 1k sq ft would have too much leakage. On the flip side of that, I doubt anyone with a 10k sq ft house that you could get to 50pa with a single fan system probably has a super low energy bill relative to the size of the structure and wouldn't be calling an energy auditor in the first place. The 1k sq ft structure probably has bigger concerns than air leakage.



Jason Kaylor

[Darren Spencer]

After all of my research the Energy Conservatory fan is the best choice and recommended by the training I had from my State. Is what they use and have programs setup to use as well, also what they use to do QA on your test. Check with your State before buying one, glad I did





.

[David Sorge]

Originally Posted by dandersen

This is only about air infiltration. Do not confuse it with the conduction effect due to improper insulation R Value.

I am struggling with your very question, watching and waiting.

Blower doors tell you how much leakage, IR tells you where.

I'm watching and waiting as well. I think we're going to find moving forward that blower door testing is a technology that wasn't well thought out. Now there's too much money invested in it to bow out gracefully.

Homes leak. We all know that. We also know where they leak from. Quantifying that leakage seems pretty pointless.

[Frank Spevak]

Originally Posted by dsorge

I'm watching and waiting as well. I think we're going to find moving forward that blower door testing is a technology that wasn't well thought out. Now there's too much money invested in it to bow out gracefully.

Homes leak. We all know that. We also know where they leak from. Quantifying that leakage seems pretty pointless.

On the surface, quantifying the leakage amount does not seem important if you are going to spend several hours and just seal up everything.

The point of quantifying the number is in verifying performance. In order for a home to qualify for an energy efficient mortgage the house must have a HERS rating. Part of that HERS rating is the airtightness level. For low-income weatherization programs the number is used to show that an improvement was made and must be verified. For homes to qualify for energy star labeling they must be tested based on the HERS rating.

The blower door test is a snapshot of performance just as an infrared camera image is a snapshot of the perfromance of the wall or structure.

Frank Spevak
The Energy Conservatory

[Peter C. Russell]

I heard a rumor that NH may change it's energy code to include blower door testing on all new homes and any renovations that includes a change to the building envelope.

I'll keep you posted, I hope to know more by this time next month.