Investigation on airtightness of residences in the Yangtze River Basin and its regulations during the heating and cooling period

The airtightness of buildings is an important index to measure the thermal performance of buildings, and it also has impacts on occupants’ health and thermal comfort. With the increase of heating demand in the Yangtze River Basin, the airtightness of buildings in this area has received more attention. This article presents a study of onsite measurements of airtightness on five representative buildings in the area. The older buildings have poor airtightness due to the unskilled construction and installation, the window and door leakages, and the hole for air-conditioner pipes. From the perspectives of building energy conservation, and occupants’ health and comfort, it is confirmed that the appropriate range of infiltration air change rates in the Yangtze River Basin is 0.5 to 0.7 per hour. New buildings in this area can basically meet this air tightness requirement under improved construction and better operation and maintenance.