Since the RT2012 (French 2012 thermal regulation), every new house has had to pass an airtightness test before the completion certificate. This is all the more true under the RE2020 (French 2020 environmental regulation). This is often when owners discover the subject, and the first question is almost always the same: how much does it cost?
The price of a test for a single-family house
At Exp'Air 67, an airtightness test for a single-family house starts at €400 incl. VAT, travel included, whether it is an intermediate test or the final test. This starting price applies to a small house under 75 m², or is the price per house when several houses are tested on the same day on the same site. It includes the blower door measurement according to NF EN ISO 9972, the leak search during the test and the report, delivered within 24 to 48 hours.
The final test report is the document used to issue the RE2020 certificate attached to the declaration of completion of works (DAACT).
What makes the price vary
- The size and complexity of the building: a 75 m² single-storey house does not require the same preparation as a house with one or more upper floors, a basement or a converted attic.
- The number of tests: an intermediate test (before finishing works) followed by a final test, or only the final test.
- The type of building: in apartment buildings, testing is carried out by regulatory sampling (a minimum number of flats is tested depending on the size of the buildings in the project). For commercial buildings and large volumes, we use several fans at the same time. These services are quoted individually.
- Ventilation ductwork testing: the airtightness of the ventilation ducts can be measured during the same visit.
The real cost of a failed test
The price of the test is rarely the most expensive part. Under RE2020, a single-family house must achieve an air permeability Q4Pa-surf of 0.6 m³/(h.m²) or less (1.0 for apartment buildings). If the final test does not reach this value, the leaks have to be found, the contractors called back and the test repeated. Once the plasterboard is up and the painting is done, every repair is expensive and delays the handover.
That is why we recommend an intermediate test once the building is weathertight, before the internal linings are installed. Leaks are then visible and easy to fix: cable and pipe penetrations, windows and doors, attic hatch, wall-floor junction. On a recent project for a municipality in the Bas-Rhin, three successive tests made it possible to reach a very demanding target of 0.28, with a final result of 0.27.
How to prepare for your test
- All external windows and doors must be installed and adjusted.
- On the day of the test, we seal the air inlets, the ventilation vents and all the elements included in the regulatory thermal calculation. However, an opening to the outside that is not included in this calculation is not sealed: it counts as a leak. It is therefore best to check before the test that everything is finished.
- Service penetrations (electrical, plumbing, ventilation) must be completed and sealed.
- Make sure there is a power supply on site.
Why choose a local operator
Exp'Air 67 has been carrying out airtightness tests for more than 15 years, with two addresses in the Bas-Rhin (Flexbourg and Reichstett). We are Qualibat 8711 certified for the building envelope and 8721 for ductwork. We can be on site within 48 hours anywhere in the Grand Est region, and we stay on site to show you the leaks, not just to measure.