What is the accuracy requirement margin for airflow measurement devices specified in the standards?

In the context of airflow measurement devices as detailed in the standards for Whole-Building Airtightness Testing, the accuracy requirement margin is established to ensure that the measurements taken are reliable and reflect the true level of airtightness in a building. An accuracy margin of 5% indicates that the measurements obtained from the flow devices can vary from the actual airflow by up to 5%.

This level of precision is critical for national standards aimed at achieving quality assurance in tests and ensuring that building performance meets specific energy efficiency and safety requirements. The 5% accuracy requirement allows for some degree of variance that accounts for the inherent limitations of measurement technologies, such as calibration errors or environmental factors during testing.

A tighter accuracy margin, such as 3%, might be ideal but is often not feasible with the typical range of devices used, while margins larger than 5% could lead to significant discrepancies in evaluating building performance, resulting in misinformed decisions regarding energy conservation and indoor air quality strategies.