Clarity in the Cloud: Rapid Fog Testing of Air Barrier Assemblies
Fog testing is a practical method for verifying air barrier performance and identifying leakage pathways. By combining a fog generator and variable-speed fan into a single portable system, testing can be performed quickly without a dedicated enclosure, allowing 8–12 air barrier details or assemblies to be evaluated per day. This approach enables early testing of mockups, complex transitions, and assemblies at any stage of construction, providing immediate feedback before details are replicated throughout a project. Early detection allows teams to correct design or installation issues, meet airtightness targets, and reduce the risk of condensation, rot, and corrosion caused by air leakage. Fog testing is also an effective diagnostic tool for new and existing buildings because it can reveal both the entry and exit points of an air leak. This presentation will demonstrate the testing process, discuss its strengths and limitations and share case studies from 15 years of rapid fog testing in building enclosure commissioning and diagnostics.
Learning Objectives:
- Compare the rapid air tightness verification method with other air tightness verification methods
- Describe our rapid fog testing machine and how it works
- Provide case studies with rapid air tightness verification on new construction
- Provide case studies with rapid air tightness testing in diagnosing envelope failures
Presenters: Jon Haehnel, CEI, BPI- BA-T BA-P, CABS, Director of Envelope Services, Salas O'Brien, Quinn Treadgold, CEI, Building Envelope Testing Manager, Salas O'Brien
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