Calculate duct leakage from duct blaster test data. Report leakage as CFM25 total, CFM25 to outside, percentage of system flow, and compare against Energy Star and NBC code limits.
Analyse blower door test results. Calculate ACH50, EqLA, CFM50, and natural ACH, and compare against NBC 2.5 ACH50, Energy Star 1.5 ACH50, and Net Zero 0.6 ACH50 targets.
Calculate airflow from pitot tube traverses, flow hood readings, and temperature rise methods. Convert between measurement methods and apply correction factors for non-standard conditions.
Calculate total airflow from a multi-point pitot tube traverse in round or rectangular ducts. Uses the log-Tchebycheff method for accurate average velocity from any number of traverse points.
Document smoke pencil and smoke stick test results for duct leak tracing and building pressure diagnostics. Log leak locations and estimate airflow paths across zones.
Calculate leak rate from a pressure decay test on sealed ductwork, refrigerant circuits, or gas piping. Convert pressure drop over time into an estimated leakage rate.
Verify refrigerant charge against manufacturer nameplate weight using superheat or subcooling method. Track recovered and added refrigerant for CSA B52 and Section 608 documentation.
Compile startup readings, test results, and design specifications into a formatted commissioning report ready for handover to the building owner or general contractor.
Calculate TAB results for HVAC systems. Document measured versus design airflows, water flows, and temperatures, and generate summary tables for commissioning records.
Interpret infrared thermal images for insulation gaps, air leakage, and moisture intrusion. Estimate surface temperature differentials against ambient conditions for report documentation.
Calculate combustion efficiency, excess air, CO2 percentage, and flue gas temperature from combustion analyser readings. Verify against combustion safety standards for gas appliances.
Calculate allowable pressure drop for a gas piping leak test per CSA B149 test durations and pipe volumes. Confirm pass or fail against code-required holding times.
Calculate voltage imbalance, amperage draw versus nameplate, and insulation resistance from field electrical tests on HVAC motors, compressors, and control circuits.
Interpret vibration readings from fans, motors, and compressors against ISO 10816 severity zones. Flag equipment approaching bearing failure or alignment issues.
Convert field sound level meter readings into NC or dBA ratings for occupied space compliance checks. Compare equipment sound levels against manufacturer specifications.
Interpret CO2, PM2.5, and VOC field meter readings against Health Canada indoor air quality guidance. Flag zones needing additional ventilation or filtration.
Calculate pressure drop across a filter bank at measured airflow and compare against MERV rating specifications. Estimate remaining filter life from trending pressure readings.
Calculate sensible and total capacity delivered by a coil from measured entering and leaving air conditions and airflow. Compare field performance to rated capacity.
Verify installed HVAC system efficiency against design specifications using field-measured airflow, temperature split, and power draw at startup for commissioning and warranty records.
Assemble field test data, including airflow, pressure, temperature, and electrical readings, into a formatted test report ready to attach to a commissioning package.
About HVAC Lab & Testing Tools
Design calculations tell you what an HVAC system should do. Field testing tells you what it actually does. The gap between those 2 numbers is where problems live. Blower door and duct blaster testing, combustion analysis, and airflow measurement are the core field skills that separate good HVAC work from guesswork.
Blower Door Testing in Canada
NBC 2020 requires residential construction to meet 2.5 ACH50 airtightness. Energy Star for New Homes targets 1.5 ACH50, and Net Zero Ready homes target 0.6 ACH50. A blower door test at 50 pascals pressure differential measures the building's total air leakage. The blower door calculator converts your CFM50 reading to ACH50, equivalent leakage area, and estimated natural infiltration rate. Pair it with the smoke test calculator and pressure decay test calculator to pinpoint specific leak locations.
Duct Blaster Testing: Where the Energy Goes
Leaky ducts in unconditioned spaces can waste 20 to 30 percent of heating and cooling energy. The duct blaster test pressurizes the duct system to 25 pascals and measures leakage flow. You want total leakage below 6 percent of system flow and outside leakage, meaning leakage to unconditioned space, below 4 percent. The duct blaster calculator processes the raw CFM25 reading into the metrics that codes and energy programs actually use. Combine it with the airflow measurement calculator and pitot tube traverse calculator for a complete airflow picture.
Combustion Safety and Gas Testing
A combustion analyzer measures O2 or CO2, CO, and flue gas temperature in the exhaust stream. From those 3 numbers you can calculate steady-state efficiency, excess air percentage, and CO safety level. Canadian gas fitting codes require CO in the flue below 100 ppm air-free for most gas appliances. The combustion analyzer calculator interprets your readings against these limits, and the gas leak test calculator verifies piping integrity per CSA B149 test durations.
Commissioning and Documentation
Every commissioning project needs a paper trail. The test, adjust, and balance calculator documents measured versus design airflows and temperatures, while the refrigerant charge verification tool confirms nameplate charge accuracy. Once testing wraps up, use the commissioning report generator or HVAC test report generator to compile everything into a formatted handover package.
Related Tools You May Need
- Before field testing, confirm design airflow with the duct sizing calculator and CFM calculator.
- For airtightness code compliance, check the airtightness calculator and duct leakage compliance checker.
- Verify ventilation rates with the ASHRAE 62.1 calculator.
- Diagnose ongoing issues with the refrigerant leak finder and static pressure test tool.
- Estimate energy savings from testing results with the energy efficiency blower door tool and air leakage calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
A blower door test uses a calibrated fan mounted in an exterior doorway to pressurize or depressurize a building to 50 pascals, then measures the airflow needed to hold that pressure difference. The result converts to ACH50, the standard airtightness metric used across Canada to verify NBC compliance, Energy Star targets, and Net Zero Ready performance. Our blower door calculator handles the conversion automatically.
A duct blaster test pressurizes the duct system to a set pressure, usually 25 pascals, and measures the airflow required to hold that pressure. The reading quantifies duct leakage as a percentage of total system airflow, which helps identify wasted heating and cooling energy before it shows up on a utility bill. Use the duct blaster calculator to process your raw CFM25 reading into code-ready metrics.
Design calculations predict what a system should deliver, but only field testing confirms what it actually delivers. Commissioning tests verify airflow, temperature split, static pressure, combustion safety, and electrical readings against design intent before a project is signed off. The test, adjust, and balance calculator and system efficiency test calculator document that verification for warranty and permit records.
Canadian gas fitting codes generally require air-free CO readings below 100 ppm for residential gas appliances, with lower limits often applied by manufacturers and inspection authorities. Readings above this threshold indicate incomplete combustion and a potential safety hazard requiring immediate attention. The combustion analyzer calculator compares your readings against these safety limits and flags out-of-range results.
Yes. All AskHVAC.ca tools are fully responsive and work on any smartphone or tablet without an app install. They run entirely in your browser, so you can enter field readings directly from the mechanical room, log rooftop unit data, or complete a commissioning checklist without carrying a laptop. Results can be exported for your commissioning report or test documentation.