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How Large Buildings Fail Air Tightness Tests for Contractors to Fix with ASTM E3158 – Denali Jones
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In this episode of The Flow Lab Podcast, hosts Ben Walker and Sam Myers sit down with Denali Jones, Technical Director at the Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA), to talk about how large buildings are tested for air tightness and where things often go wrong.Denali walks us through his journey from starting out at Retrotec to leading airtightness training across the country. He explains what makes these tests challenging, how contractors can avoid common mistakes, and why having the right training and tools really matters.
Whether you work in building science, test commercial properties, or just want to understand how building air leaks affect energy use and comfort, this episode breaks it all down from spotting hidden gaps to troubleshooting test-day problems like faulty fans or even elevator issues.
What You’ll Learn:
- Why some parts of new and old buildings are often forgotten and how that affects test results.
- How Denali helped create the first nationally recognized training for testing large buildings.
- What to check when test results don’t make sense like unplugged equipment or bad setup.
- How testing two floors at a time helps deal with tall buildings and air pressure issues.
- What makes this new standard better than the old ones and how it helps testers and builders do the job right.
In This Episode:
[00:00] - Denali’s background and how he got started
[04:50] - First testing jobs and early lessons
[08:00] - Where buildings leak and why
[13:08] - Testing tall buildings and working with city codes
[19:28] - How the ABAA training program came together
[26:49] - The most common mistakes testers make
[33:52] - What’s next for airtightness testing
[37:37] - Why it’s better to bring in testers early
[44:44] - Tips for using fans and setting up safely
[50:12] - Real-world testing results and future research plans
Connect with Denali Jones:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denali-jones-4b6b8375/
Connect with Company:
Website: https://airbarrier.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/air-barrier-association/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaa_airbarrierassociation/
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/airbarrierassociation/?_rdc=1&_rdr#
X (twitter): https://x.com/ABAA_AirBarrier
Follow Hosts:
Ben Walker (Co-CEO, Retrotec) LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-walker-4a05901/
Sam Myers (Building Science Specialist & Trainer) LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-myers-ms-a9a4a546/
Website: https://retrotec.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/retrotec/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrotec/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RetrotecEnergy/
Listen on:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3xMDAhIttUTHWK41DH7KhB
Don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes on HVAC innovations, sales strategies, and building performance. Share your thoughts in the comments below!
#HVAC #BuildingScience #Airtightness #CommercialTesting #HVACEducation #E3058 #RetroTech #AirLeakage #BuildingPerformance #ABA #Certification
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