Air leakage is one of the clearest examples of why systems perspective matters. It’s often viewed as a specification buried within an equipment submittal: a cabinet leakage rating, a damper leakage class, or a performance percentage reported during testing. In reality, leakage can influence airflow, building pressure, ventilation, humidity control, controls performance, and energy consumption throughout the life of the system.
The amount of leakage matters, but so does where it occurs and how it affects overall system performance.
The sections that follow examine where air leakage occurs, how it influences overall system performance, and how a systems-thinking approach helps engineers evaluate its impact within the complete airside system.
