In standards specifying test methods for determining a ventilation unit’s airtightness in relation to air leakage, there are no standardised methods as yet for decentralised ventilation units such as Airmaster’s. Airmaster has therefore chosen to test according to two standards, and to disclose both results.
One standard, EN 1886:2007, is used for central systems that operate with high system pressure. The second, EN 13141-7:2010, is a standard typically used for smaller central systems that operate with lower system pressure, e.g. for residential ventilation.
According to EN 1886:2007, the air handling unit is tested at 700 Pa pressure difference. This is intended for larger central ventilation systems and is therefore not as relevant for smaller decentralised units, which operate under significantly lower pressure conditions. What’s more, the test only looks at external leakage and not internal leakage, which is also important. Leakage is rated in relation to the surface area of the unit.
|
Air leakage classification according to standards |
|
Air handling unit |
EN 1886:2007 |
EN 13141-7:2010 |
AM 150 |
L1 |
A1 |
AM 300 |
L2 |
A1 |
AM 500 |
L2 |
A2 |
AM 800 |
L2 |
A1 |
AM 1000 |
L2 |
A1 |
EN 13141-7:2010 is the standard that TÜV-SÜD has found most relevant to our type of unit. It was originally intended for residential ventilation systems, which have pressure conditions corresponding largely to Airmaster ventilation units. EN 13141-7:2010 furthermore looks at both external and internal leakage. Leakage is rated in relation to nominal airflow, which we find relevant.
Allowable air leakage rate in relation to leakage class for air handling units operating under both negative and positive pressure [EN 1886:2007, section 6.1.2, table 5]:
Air leakage class for air handling units |
Allowable air leakage at 700 Pa positive pressure |
L1 |
0.22 l/s per m² unit surface |
L2 |
0.63 l/s per m² unit surface |
L3 |
1.90 l/s per m² unit surface |
Allowable air leakage in relation to leakage class for air handling units with recuperative heat exchanger (e.g. countercurrent heat exchanger) [EN 13141-7:2010, section 6.2.1.2 Table 2]:
Air leakage class of air handling unit |
Internal leakage |
|
External leakage (at 250 Pa) |
A1 |
≤ 2% |
and |
≤ 2% |
A2 |
≤ 5% |
and |
≤ 5% |
A3 |
≤ 10 % |
and |
≤ 10 % |
Not classified |
> 10 % |
and |
> 10 % |
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