The Mixed-Up IAQ and Infiltration Blues

I’ve been on the road this week. I flew to Chicago on Tuesday and gave two presentations at the Better Buildings: Better Business conference put on by the Energy Center of Wisconsin. After I was done there on Wednesday, I flew to Massachusetts, where I attended the second day of Building Science Corporation’s Experts’ Session. (Click the link to download the presentations.) Joe Lstiburek spoke the whole day about ventilation. At the end of the day, though, we got a little surprise.

Eric Werling got up and gave a little presentation, making some recommendations on reconciling the differences between Joe and the ASHRAE 62.2 committee (more on that later, after I get a copy of his presentation). He also performed a great little song about the ventilation wars. Here it is, with the lyrics below.

 

Mixed up IAQ and Infiltration Blues

by Eric Werling

Well ASHRAE standard 62-89 was really fine

way back in nineteen hundred eighty nine.

Then Max and Joe they came along

and ever since I been singing this song.

Got those mixed up IAQ and infiltration blues.

 

One thing led to another

now houses are really tight.

Test and seal all day long

till there ain’t a leak in sight.

 

Just be careful when you’re caulking in it

Not to pass that building tightness limit

I got those mixed up IAQ and infiltration blues.

 

Now Max and Joe started getting rough

Pretty soon they were slinging stuff

about a lousy 2 cfm per hundred square foot credit.

A hundred times I think I’ve read it

and I’ll be damned I still don’t get it.

I got those mixed up IAQ and infiltration blues.

 

But now I don’t feel so bad

I don’t feel like I’ve been had

Because my building science buddies are all confused too.

 

Just be careful when you’re caulking in it

Not to pass that building tightness limit

I got those mixed up IAQ and infiltration blues.

I said I got those mixed-up IAQ and infiltration blues.

I got those mixed up IAQ mixed-up abba dab blues.

 

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