What should be the induced pressure if both directions of testing are employed according to USACE 2012?

In the context of whole-building airtightness testing as outlined by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in 2012, the standard induced pressure for conducting tests in both directions is set at 40 Pa. This pressure level is essential for ensuring a consistent and reliable measurement of the airtightness of a building envelope. Testing at this specified pressure allows for assessments that can effectively be compared against performance requirements and benchmarks.

Employing a pressure of 40 Pa means that the test can adequately simulate realistic wind and pressure conditions that a building might experience in actual environmental scenarios. The choice of this pressure is critical to ensure that results are meaningful and applicable to real-world conditions, and to maintain compliance with established standards in the field of building performance testing. Other pressures listed in the options, such as 50 Pa, 60 Pa, or 70 Pa, do not align with USACE guidance for this specific context of testing, which emphasizes the importance of adhering to established protocols for accurate evaluation.