Beginning June 1, 2011, all new homes permitted for construction in the State of Georgia must pass a Duct & Envelope Tightness (DET) Verification test to test for air infiltration in the home.
To receive a certificate of occupancy, the result of the blower door test must be less than 7 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals (ACH50). The 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) also requires that the outside of the building envelope of a new home must be tested for air leakage in unconditioned spaces. The Georgia Energy Code requires that the duct leakage outside the envelope be less than 8 cubic feet per minute per 100 square feet of conditioned floor area if tested after construction. It must be 6 cubic feet per 110 square feet of conditioned floor area if tested after rough-in.
So what does this mean, and how much extra work do builders have to do? The level of air tightness is not hard to achieve, but home builders will need to have their homes verified by a certified DET Verifier.
Loveday & Company is certified to perform a Duct & Envelope Tightness Test and issue a DET Verification Letter for you to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy.
