ᐅ Blower Door Test Result (n50 = 1.13)

Our ancestors still remember frost patterns on the windows and having a warm bath only once a week; otherwise, just quick washing using water from a bowl. Not that long ago. Just ask the generation aged 70 and above about their childhood.

That is not the topic here. The test (whether it makes sense or not) is not good. According to our general contractors, plaster and insulation must no longer alter anything in this regard. That’s why we had two tests: one for airtightness and one for the KfW (German development bank) requirements.
The difference in our case was around 0.0x.

hampshire schrieb:

I am skeptical about these airtight houses, sealed like Tupperware, that are then "opened up" again with ventilation systems or trickle vents in window frames. I wouldn’t be surprised if this building method one day ends up being seen as just a fad in construction history.

How did you manage to get an exemption from this regulation for your new build?

hampshire schrieb:

I find these airtight houses, which are then "opened" again with ventilation systems or trickle vents, rather questionable. I wouldn’t be surprised if this construction method eventually goes down as a passing trend in building history.

Why should that be? It’s simply about controlling airflow. Our ancestors tried this as well, but they were limited by the technology and materials of their time, and it didn’t last long.
Car comparisons are often easier to relate to: In the past, air flowed into cars while driving, more or less intentionally, and if it wasn’t enough, you just rolled down the windows. Lovely in winter, when you had to wipe the windows clear with a sponge while driving; warm air came from one vent and freezing cold air from three others… yes, those were the days. The trend of making cars airtight and precisely controlling the amount, location, and temperature of the air—often automatically by the car itself—will probably fade again.

guckuck2 schrieb:

How did you get an exemption from this law for your new build?

I didn’t get an exemption; I just built outside the KfW standards. We like living with fresh air that smells of the forest from outside. We didn’t do a blower door test. Much more grows on the property than we need for heating.

Energy-saving regulations in construction also mean airtightness

Just because a test wasn’t done doesn’t mean the house isn’t airtight. It would also imply that the construction company, in your case the carpentry firm, works less precisely than on a parallel construction site with KfW standards.

The person who conducted the test for us said that carpenters here usually achieve 0.6 or better. This is well below the KfW requirement and corresponds to Passive House standards.