- Tecnica di misurazione della tenuta all’aria
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- 30 anni BlowerDoor

30 Years of Minneapolis BlowerDoor
In 1989, Robert Borsch-Laaks imported one of the first two Minneapolis BlowerDoor Measuring Systems to Germany and thus laid the foundation for the success story of the Minneapolis BlowerDoor of now 30 years and in more than 30 European countries.
Today, BlowerDoor GmbH is an internationally sought-after expert in the field of air tightness. Customers in many parts of Europe benefit from qualified consulting and the distribution of state-of-the-art measurement technology. The calibration of the measuring systems, an extensive range of seminars and the continuous further development of hardware and software are services for which our customers appreciate us.
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to all our business partners and friends. Thank you all for 30 great years during which the Minneapolis BlowerDoor has become the leading measuring system for airtightness on the market!
In keeping with the words of Albert Einstein, we will continue to do our work promoting airtight building layers with great passion and dedication:
"I am more interested in the future than in the past, because the future is where I intend to live."
30 Applications and Testing Methods
Starting on March 30, 2019 we will be publishing 30 instructive abstracts on various airtightness applications and measuring methods in PDF format on this page, one every week for 30 weeks.
We will explain BlowerDoor Measurements in new buildings and during modernizations, the particularities of airtightness tests in large buildings, different methods of leakage detection, and quality assurance using one-point measurements. We will show a wide range of different building types and constructional damages caused by faulty airtight layers. Further topics include the so-called guard zone test, measurements of building components, airtightness testing of clean rooms, as well as testing of ventilation systems. The list of topics continues with driving rain impermeability of post-and-beam constructions, determining extinction gas holding times, radon measurements, airtightness tests of hollow floors, and many more. We will also provide information on interesting research projects.
Overview of all presentations
Pioneers and companions
General Themes:
Illustration of different kind of buildings and applications
The way to good air tightness: the air barrier design
BlowerDoor measurements with different tasks:
The BlowerDoor test in a single family home during construction
The BlowerDoor test according to EN 13829/ISO 9972 in a single family home with one BlowerDoor fan
The airtightness test before rehabilitation
Examination during construction in large buildings
The airtightness measurement in large buildings
BlowerDoor Test in very airtight buildings
The airtightness measurement for damage analysis
Leckage detection:
Leakage detection with the thermal anemometer
DG-1000:
Long-term measurements of pressure differences at buildings due to external influences
Ventilation systems:
Testing of ventilation duct systems
Determination of the airflow at exhaust and supply air valves
Testing windows, doors, and components
Testing of air permeability through window and door joints
Testing components in a test chamber or on site
Testing the tightness against driving rain
BlowerDoor special measurements:
Determination of extinction gas holding times
The airtightness measurement in clean rooms
Radon measurement at negative pressure (Rn50-Test)
Examination of the airtightness of hollow floors
Testing the relative humidity because of mechanical ventilation in a bathroom
"Twenty years ago, our institute purchased probably the first blower door in the Czech Republic. It was a Minneapolis Blower Door supplied by the Blower Door GmbH. I do not remember my first personal encounter with the representatives of the Blower Door GmbH company. On the other hand, I do remember very well that they were ready to help me every time when I did not know how to deal with an issue concerning the equipment or measurement technique. The answers came promptly and were always very friendly and helpful. I do remember as well our lively discussions and exchanges of experience during the Buildair Symposia. The wide knowledge shared in this way allowed not only me but also a large number of my colleagues from the Czech Republic to enhance our competence of airtightness testers. We are very grateful for it! And we are also proud that we had the opportunity to share our experience concerning the round-robin testing of technicians and equipment with Stefanie Rolfsmeier during the joint workshop held in the Czech Republic this year. For your 30th anniversary, I would like to wish you, in the name of our local network, a successful continuation in you unflagging endeavour of making the airtightness measurement widespread, easy and reliable!"
Jiri Novak, Czech Technical University in Prague
Association Blower Door CZ
"Als wir (Johannes Werner und ich) im Oktober 1988 zum Bauplatz eines der ersten Niedrigenergiehäuser in Deutschland aufbrachen, hatten wir seltsame Fracht auf dem Dachgepäckträger: Eine eigens zugeschnittene, mit eingelassenen Dichtlippen versehene Spanplatte, ein langes Ofenrohr mit selbst eingelöteten Schlauchanschlussnippeln – auf dem Rücksitz dann ein dicker Industrieventilator, ein Regeltrafo und zwei Manometer mit Zeigeranzeige. Richtig geraten – das sollte ein Gebäudedrucktest werden, nach schwedischer Norm (eine andere gab es noch nicht), und er sollte auch gelingen. „n50-Werte“ von um 3 h-1, das galt damals noch als „gut“; wir fingen ja auch gerade erst an.
Ein Jahr später spürte ich bei meinem Vortrag vor einigen Hundert Bauexperten in Kassel heftigen Widerstand, als ich die Notwendigkeit verbesserter Luftdichtheit erklärte (um nicht zu sagen, die hätten mich fast ge“stein“igt). Nur wenige Jahre später, 1991, konnte der erste Drucktest in einem Passivhaus, bereits professionell mit einer „BlowerDoor“ durchgeführt werden – und erst so waren die heute selbstverständlichen Messgenauigkeiten möglich und damit auch erst die für uns heute standardmäßigen Ergebnisse zwischen 0,2 und 0,5 h-1. Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum 30jährigen BlowerDoor-Jubiläum! Herzlichen Dank für die unermessliche Mühe, die Ihr Euch gegeben habt und die große Hilfe, die diese Entwicklung für das energieeffiziente Bauen ermöglicht hat! Gerade heute, wo es dringend erforderlich wird, dass hohe Energieeffizienz zu einer Selbstverständlichkeit wird – wünschen wir Euch den gebotenen Erfolg und freuen uns auf weitere Hilfe bei der Umsetzung!
Mit sonnigen Grüßen von
Wolfgang Feist"
Prof. i.R., Prof. E.H., Gründer des Passivhaus Institutes

"Congratulations and thank you to BlowerDoor GmbH for your 30 years of dedicated work toward our common mission of making buildings more healthy, comfortable, durable, and energy efficient. When we first met, the science of building and ventilating tight buildings was very new and you took on the task of educating people about why it is important and how to do it. As a result of your courses, conferences, technical support, and mentoring there are now thousands of people designing, building, and testing buildings that are much better for their occupants and the environment. Thank you for all you do and for your friendship. I hope to work with you for many years to come."
Gary Nelson, The Energy Conservatory

We look forward to receiving your feedback at info@blowerdoor.com !
Your favorite topics will later be further explored in seminars or free webinars. Join in!
Your interest is our motivation. We preciate a lively discussion and thank you for your statements in advance.
With best regards, your team at BlowerDoor GmbH