A Blower Door Test measures how much air leaks through a home’s building envelope. It is one of the most important diagnostics for determining energy efficiency, comfort, and code compliance in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Blower Door testing is required for new homes, major renovations, and most energy-efficiency incentive programs. Energy Geeks provides certified Blower Door testing that meets RESNET standards and state energy code requirements.
Why Blower Door Testing Matters
Air leakage affects:
- Heating and cooling costs
- Indoor comfort
- Moisture management
- HERS Scores
- Energy code compliance
- Eligibility for Mass Save & RI RNC incentives
Learn how Blower Door Test results impact your HERS Rating:
Why Airtightness Matters for Your HERS Score
How a Blower Door Test Works
A blower door test uses:
- A calibrated fan
- A pressure-sensitive frame
- Digital manometer readings
We depressurize the home to –50 Pascals and measure the rate of uncontrolled air leakage.
Results are expressed as:
- ACH50 — Air Changes per Hour at 50 Pascals
- CFM50 — Cubic Feet per Minute of leakage
These results flow directly into your
HERS Rating Process.
Required Thresholds in MA & RI
Homes must meet:
- Massachusetts Base Code: ≤ 3 ACH50
- MA Stretch Code: ≤ 3 ACH50 (often lower for high-performance homes)
- RI IECC 2024: ≤ 3 ACH50 for new construction
Learn more:
Blower Door Testing for Code Compliance
When Blower Door Testing Is Required
- New construction
- Major renovations
- Stretch Code communities
- RI IECC 2024 compliance
- HERS Rating certification
- Mass Save / RI RNC participation
Program connections explained here:
Mass Save & RI RNC Integration
Related Pages
Ready to Schedule?
Schedule a Blower Door Test
Certified testing for MA & RI code compliance.
