Determination and assessment of the possible air infiltration on exterior wall component of the building envelope through a field study

'Air infiltration' through the exterior wall component of the building envelope is an issue that needs to be investigated in terms of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, economy and user health, comfort and safety. The possibility of air infiltration has negative impact on the hygrothermal performance, fire safety, noise control, and indoor air quality of the building. In this thesis study, it is aimed to determine the air infiltration that causes the heat losses and gains by convection through the building envelope by means of a field study; making decisions about air infiltration in design and construction phases of building and evaluating the preventions in order to improve the quality of newly built buildings as well as existing structures in use; producing data to contribute the studies about development of building envelope solutions by minimizing air infiltration. The thesis consists of seven chapters. The first chapter is introduction that gives information about subject, aim and scope of the study and methods used to achieve the aim. Second chapter involves some definitions gathered from the literature search about air infiltration and a comprehensive description is made by using these definitions. In this section, exterior wall is classified which is the main component of building envelope that air infiltration occur mostly since it is exposed to the environmental conditions especially the horizontal movement of wind. Third chapter explains the mechanism of air infiltration activated by the wind effect, stack effect and the mechanical air-conditioning devices in buildings. Forth chapter examines the studies about this subject on national and international platforms and expresses the methods that are used in field studies and laboratory research in order to determine the air infiltration. In this study, 'visual inspection' and 'infrared thermal imaging' methods known as the most effective and non-destructive methods were used for detecting air infiltration on the exterior walls. Fifth chapter gives information about the field study, in the scope of this thesis. Sixth chapter reviews the field study with a general assessment on the obtained results of case studies in terms of damages, incorrect and incomplete applications causing air infiltration on the building components and joints. The last chapter is conclusion, in which a general assessment of the thesis is presented. This thesis study provides a basis in terms of its aim, scope and results for the comprehensive scientific studies that are suggested to be done in the future.