Scotland-Wide

Airtightness Testing
Across Scotland

Professional air permeability testing to BS EN ISO 9972 for Building Standards compliance, Passivhaus certification, and retrofit assessment. From Glasgow to Inverness, we help Scotland's buildings perform better.

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Overview

Why airtightness matters

Airtightness is one of the most important factors in building performance. Uncontrolled air leakage accounts for up to 40% of heat loss in typical Scottish buildings — far more than most people realise. Poor airtightness means higher energy bills, uncomfortable draughts, condensation risk, and difficulty maintaining indoor temperatures.

Testing measures how much air escapes through gaps, cracks, and poorly sealed junctions in the building envelope. The result — air permeability — tells us how leaky the building is and where improvements could be made. For new builds, testing demonstrates compliance with Scottish Building Standards. For existing buildings, it establishes a baseline for retrofit planning.

Combined with thermal imaging surveys, airtightness testing gives a complete picture of where your building is losing heat. We offer both services together for clients planning comprehensive building performance assessments.

Applications

Types of airtightness testing

New Build Compliance

Air permeability testing to demonstrate Building Standards compliance for new construction

Retrofit Assessment

Pre and post-retrofit testing to measure improvement and verify intervention effectiveness

Social Housing Surveys

Stock condition testing for housing associations planning upgrade programmes

BREEAM/Passivhaus

Certification testing to meet enhanced airtightness standards for sustainable buildings

Coverage

Scotland-wide testing

Based in Glasgow, we provide airtightness testing throughout Scotland. Our regular coverage includes the Central Belt, Aberdeen and the North East, Dundee and Tayside, Inverness and the Highlands, and the Scottish Borders.

For housing associations and developers with multiple properties, we offer volume testing programmes with reduced per-dwelling costs. We can test multiple units in a single visit, making large-scale compliance or retrofit assessment cost-effective.

Glasgow Edinburgh Aberdeen Dundee Inverness Stirling Perth Highlands Central Belt
Scotland Coverage Map

Process

How we test

01

Preparation

We arrive on site and prepare the building — sealing temporary openings, checking doors and windows are closed, and setting up our calibrated blower door equipment.

02

Pressurisation

We pressurise the building to 50 Pascals (about the pressure of a 20mph wind) and measure the airflow required to maintain that pressure.

03

Detection

While pressurised, we can walk the building identifying air leakage paths. Smoke pencils or thermal imaging reveal exactly where air is escaping.

04

Reporting

You receive a full test report with the air permeability result, compliance certificate, and recommendations for remediation if issues are found.

Related

Combine with other services

Thermal Imaging

Combine airtightness testing with thermal imaging surveys to see exactly where heat is escaping and air is infiltrating.

Learn more →

Measured Survey

For retrofit planning, combine performance testing with a measured building survey to inform design decisions.

Learn more →

Full Performance Package

Our complete building performance service combines testing with analysis and recommendations.

Learn more →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is airtightness testing mandatory in Scotland? +
Yes, airtightness testing is mandatory for new dwellings in Scotland under Section 6 of the Building Standards. Since 2015, all new homes must be tested to demonstrate compliance with air permeability targets. The current target is 10 m³/h/m² at 50Pa for standard new builds, with tighter requirements for enhanced sustainability standards.
What airtightness standards apply in Scotland? +
Scottish Building Standards require air permeability testing to BS EN ISO 9972 (replacing the older BS EN 13829). The default target is 10 m³/h/m² at 50Pa. Passivhaus certification requires 0.6 ACH at 50Pa (approximately 0.6 m³/h/m² depending on building geometry). BREEAM and other certification schemes have their own enhanced targets.
When should airtightness testing be done? +
For compliance testing, we test when the building envelope is complete — after windows, doors, and the membrane/barrier are installed, but before finishes cover potential air leakage paths. This allows issues to be identified and remediated before handover. For retrofit assessment, we test before and after improvements to measure the impact of interventions.
Do you cover all of Scotland? +
Yes, we provide airtightness testing throughout Scotland from our Glasgow base. We regularly work in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness, and across the Highlands. Travel is included in quotes for most locations. For remote sites, we can often combine multiple tests to reduce per-dwelling costs.
What do I receive after the test? +
You receive a full test report including the measured air permeability result, test conditions, certificate of compliance (for building control), and recommendations for improvement if issues are identified. Our reports meet Scottish Building Standards requirements and are accepted by building control bodies across Scotland.

Need airtightness testing in Scotland?

Get in touch for a quote. We cover the whole country from our Glasgow base.

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