Why TAB (Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing) Companies Recommend AeroBarrier for Building Envelope Leakage Q&A
When HVAC systems can’t maintain proper building pressure, testing, adjusting, and balancing (TAB) companies often trace the root cause back to envelope leakage. These questions show how TAB testing connects directly to airtightness issues.
Q1. Why would a TAB company be involved in building envelope testing?TAB firms are called when the building’s envelope performance interferes with the HVAC system’s ability to maintain pressure, temperature, and humidity. If infiltration or exfiltration through the walls, roof, or windows is too high, the HVAC system cannot establish balance. TAB companies often run blower door tests to measure envelope leakage against code requirements.
Q2. What does it mean when a building has a severe negative pressure problem?When a building exhausts more air than it brings in, the resulting negative pressure can cause major issues. TAB firms often diagnose cases where doors are hard to open, drafts whistle through windows, or sewer gas smells come from drains. In many cases, the root problem is excessive envelope leakage, which acts like an uncontrolled air intake that the HVAC system cannot compensate for.
Q3. How does excessive envelope leakage show up in pressure tests or daily operation?During a blower door test, a TAB company may measure leakage rates above the code threshold (for example, 0.7 CFM per square foot when the limit is 0.4). In operation, the same leakage shows up as comfort complaints, energy waste, and pressure instability. TAB reports document these failures and recommend air sealing before compliance or performance goals can be met.
Q4. What solutions are available to fix excessive leakage?Traditionally, contractors attempt to manually seal leaks, but locating them across an entire building envelope is costly and time-consuming. TAB companies increasingly recommend technologies like AeroBarrier® by Aeroseal, which seals leaks from the inside of the structure by pressurizing the building and applying an aerosolized sealant. The process is fast, non-destructive, and produces verified results that TAB firms can use to confirm improvements in pressure and performance.
Aeroseal for TAB and EnvelopeAeroBarrier provides TAB companies with a way to transform failed pressure tests into passing ones. By temporarily pressurizing the entire building, the system distributes a safe sealant into gaps and cracks that would otherwise be impossible to reach. The process reduces leakage dramatically and delivers computer-verified results, giving TAB firms the confidence to certify pressure balance and compliance with energy codes.
Watch the Aeroseal envelope sealing process in action.
Ready to get started?Contact us to learn how Aeroseal Envelope can help your building pass pressure tests, solve negative pressure problems, and support TAB certification.
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