Though how well a house is insulated is important…

60.0°F
60

50

Poultry House Tightness 40

Michael Czarick
The University of Georgia
30
30.0°F

This is because house tightness affects a producer’s

How tight a house is actually of greater importance bottom line in many ways…
60.0°F  First and foremost it has a big influence on house heating costs…
60

50

40

30

20
20.0°F

Let’s put the cost of just a one square foot hole during Heat loss per square foot
cold weather in perspective… (90oF inside, 30oF outside)
Heat loss (Btu’s/hr)

Curtain R - 1.5 40

1
Heat loss per square foot Heat loss per square foot
(90oF inside, 30oF outside) (90oF inside, 30oF outside)
Heat loss (Btu’s/hr) Heat loss (Btu’s/hr)

Curtain R - 1.5 40 Curtain R - 1.5 40

Ceiling R - 12 5 Ceiling R - 12 5

Ceiling R - 30 2

Heat loss per square foot Heat loss per square foot
(90oF inside, 30oF outside) (90oF inside, 30oF outside)
Heat loss (Btu’s/hr) Heat loss (Btu’s/hr)

Curtain R - 1.5 40 Curtain R - 1.5 40

Ceiling R - 12 5 Ceiling R - 12 5

Ceiling R - 30 2 Ceiling R - 30 2

1 ft2 hole (1 mph wind) 1,700 1 ft2 hole (1 mph wind) 1,700

1 ft2 hole (3 mph wind) 5,100

Daily heating cost – per square foot

What is a dollar value of this heat loss? (90oF inside, 30oF outside, $2 gal propane)
60.0°F Daily heating cost
60

Curtain R - 1.5 $0.021

50

Ceiling R - 12 $0.003
40
Ceiling R - 30 $0.001
30

Gallon of propane = 92,500 Btu’s 20

Cost = $2.00 per gallon 20.0°F

2
Daily heating cost – per square foot
(90oF inside, 30oF outside, $2 gal propane) Another way to look at it…
Daily heating cost  For a typical 40’ X 500’ totally enclosed broiler house on a day where it is
40oF outside and 80oF inside (3 mph wind)
Curtain R - 1.5 $0.021

Ceiling R - 12 $0.003

Ceiling R - 30 $0.001

1 ft2 hole (1 mph wind) $0.89

1 ft2 hole (3 mph wind) $2.68  Heat loss from ALL building surfaces = 56,700 Btu’s/hr
 Heat loss through JUST 20 ft2 holes/cracks = 54,200 Btu’s/hr

The simple fact is relatively small amounts of cracks can

20 square feet is not as much as you might think… lead to significant increases in heating costs
 Example:
 40’ X 500’ totally enclosed broiler house with tunnel doors
 Outside = 40oF, Inside 80oF, 3 mph wind

19 ft2

Totally enclosed house with no leakage Let’s say the tunnel fan shutters are leaky (3 ft2)
 Surface heat loss in each ¼ of the house

16,000 Btu’s/hr 14,000 Btu’s/hr 14,000 Btu’s/hr 17,000 Btu’s/hr

3
Totally enclosed house with leakage and the tunnel doors are not sealing tightly (2 ft2)
 Surface heat loss in each ¼ of the house + tunnel fan leakage (3 ft2)
95.0°F
+35%
90
16,000 Btu’s/hr 14,000 Btu’s/hr 14,000 Btu’s/hr 17,000 Btu’s/hr
+7,600 Btu’s/hr
80

70
100.0°F
100

90

80

70 65.0°F
65.0°F

Totally enclosed house with leakage Leakage not only affects heating costs…
 Surface heat loss + tunnel fan (3 ft2) and tunnel inlet leakage (2 ft2)
110.0°F
+29% +35%

16,000 Btu’s/hr 14,000 Btu’s/hr 14,000 Btu’s/hr 17,000 Btu’s/hr 100

+5,600 Btu’s/hr +7,600 Btu’s/hr
T

100.0°F

Increase in overall heating costs 80

100.7°F 100
100

95
90

90

85
+20% 80

80
70
75.0°F
75.0°F 65.0°F

Some growers may not see a dramatic increase in heating

But bird performance as well: costs due to poor temperature sensor placement
 Chilled chicks,  But they will see cold spots, poor feed conversions, wet litter, and possible
 Poor feed conversions, bird health issues
 Wet litter 100.0°F
 Make sure sensors are within 20’ of the end walls of a house
100
 Ammonia
 Respiratory issues
S S
 Paw quality 90

80 95.0°F
100.0°F
100

90
90

80
80

70
70
70.0°F 65.0°F 65.0°F

4
 Leakage will also tend to make the entire side wall to
be cooler than the center of the house Sensor placement
 Do not place temperature sensors along the centerline of a house.
110.0°F
 In general sensors should be within 10’ of the side wall

100
S S S S

100.0°F 100.0°F
95.0°F
80
100 100

95
90
90
90

80
S 85 80

S 70
85.5

92.8
80
S 70 75.0°F
75
65.0°F 73.0°F 65.0°F

To gain optimal control over heating costs AND bird

performance How do we know how tight a house is?
 We need as much air as possible to enter through the inlets and not through  A “blower door” test is used in
cracks… residential structures
 It is only the air that enters through inlets truly benefits the birds  Blower fan is installed in an outside
door way and the speed is increased
until the pressure reaches a positive
0.25” (50 Pa).
100.0°F
100
 The higher cfm required to generate
90
the pressure… the looser the house
40oF
80oF  The is referred to as a houses
50oF 60oF
“CFM/50” rating
80

70

65.0°F

A house’s CFM/50 rating is becoming of greater and

Test goals for moderately sized houses greater importance

 Tight = less than 1,500 cfm to obtain 0.20”  Some areas of the U.S. have building codes that require a certain tightness
 Moderately = between1,500 and 4,000 cfm to obtain 0.20” level.
 Leaky = greater than 4,000 cfm to obtain 0.20”  “Energy Star” homes must have a specific tightness level

5
 Relationship between pressure and leakage using a 20,000
How do we measure poultry house tightness? cfm fan
 In poultry houses we use a exhaust fan to conduct a “negative pressure” 60
tightness test 55
 Traditionally we use a 48” or 2 – 36” fans (roughly 20,000 cfm) 50
45

Leakage area (ft2)

 The higher the negative pressure obtained, the lower the amount of leakage 40
area 35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

0
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06
0.07
0.08
0.09
0.1
0.11
0.12
0.13
0.14
0.15
0.16
0.17
0.18
0.19
0.2
0.21
0.22
0.23
0.24
0.25
0.26
0.27
0.28
0.29
0.3
Historical poultry house tightness goals How much leakage is this?
100.0°F 60
100 55
50
45
Leakage area (ft2)

90
40
35
80 30
25
70 20
69.5°F 15
10
5
 Experience/tradition has indicated that in a typical house (20,000 ft2) a static 0
pressure test value of 0.13” tends to indicate that a house is reasonably tight
0
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06
0.07
0.08
0.09
0.1
0.11
0.12
0.13
0.14
0.15
0.16
0.17
0.18
0.19
0.2
0.21
0.22
0.23
0.24
0.25
0.26
0.27
0.28
0.29
0.3

Historical poultry house tightness goals: Leakage vs. Static pressure test
 Experience has shown that in a typical house (20,000 ft2) a static pressure test 60
value of: 55
 around 0.13”= reasonably tight (14 ft2) 50
45
Leakage area (ft2)

 Acceptable level of environmental control 40

35
30
 0.20” or greater = very tight house (10 ft2 or less) 25
 Very high level of environmental control 20
15
10
 Less than 0.05” = extremely loose (17 ft2 or more) 5
 Very low level of environmental control 0
0
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06
0.07
0.08
0.09
0.1
0.11
0.12
0.13
0.14
0.15
0.16
0.17
0.18
0.19
0.2
0.21
0.22
0.23
0.24
0.25
0.26
0.27
0.28
0.29
0.3

6
How do we compare houses of different sizes? Base the static pressure test fan capacity on house size…
 Use one cfm per square foot of floor space
 40’ X 500’ = 20,000 cfm
 40’ X 300’ = 12,000 cfm
 50’ X 500’ = 25,000 cfm
 60’ X 600’ = 36,000 cfm

 Now static pressure test values are roughly comparable…same per square
foot of floor space

Historical poultry house tightness goals for houses of any

size In general this has worked well but…
 One cfm per square foot of floor space:  What if we don’t have a fan or group of fans that matches up with the square
footage of the house
 Around 0.13”= reasonably tight  Furthermore, it’s not terribly scientific
 Acceptable level of environmental control  Can be hard to explain why 0.13 is acceptable and 0.09” is not

 0.20” or greater = very tight

 Very high level of environmental control

 0.09” or less= extremely loose

 Very low level of environmental control

Input house size, test fan capacity, and static pressure

We have developed a spreadsheet to address these issues reading
Poultry House Leakage Estimator - 2016
The University of Georgia - Department of Poultry Science Poultry House Leakage Test:
Michael Czarick (mczarick@uga.edu) House length (ft) 500
Enter Green Values (do not leave blank)
This spreadsheet is intended to illustrate how poultry house tightness can be estimated House width (ft) 40
though the use of a static pressure test. The spreadsheet will also illustrate how poultry
house tightness will determine the amount of fresh air brought in by minimum Total fan capacity used in leakage test (cfm @ 0.10") 20000
ventilation fans(s) that will enter through a houses inlets relative to that entering Static pressure measured (") 0.13
through cracks (unplanned openings). The spreadsheet will not provide precise values,
but rather estimates Relative leakage area (ft2 per 1,000 ft2 of house floor space) 0.65
Total house leakage area (ft2) 13.0
Poultry House Leakage Test:  More than 1.2 ft2 of leakage for every 1,000 ft2 of floor space
House length (ft) 500
House width (ft) 40  Between 1.2 and 0.6
Total fan capacity used in leakage test (cfm @ 0.10")
Static pressure measured (")
20000
0.13
 Between 0.6 and .04
Relative leakage area (ft2 per 1,000 ft2 of house floor space) 0.65  Less than 0.04
Total house leakage area (ft2) 13.0

7
 Poultry House Leakage Estimator - 2018
How does the tightness rating affect inlet system The University of Georgia - Department of Poultry Science
Michael Czarick (mczarick@uga.edu)

performance during minimum ventilation?
 Input details about the fan(s) and inlets to be used for minimum ventilation
Enter Green Values (do not leave blank)
This spreadsheet is intended to illustrate how poultry house tightness can be estimated
though the use of a static pressure test. The spreadsheet will also illustrate how poultry
house tightness will determine the amount of fresh air brought in by minimum
ventilation fans(s) that will enter through a houses inlets relative to that entering
through cracks (unplanned openings). The spreadsheet will not provide precise values,
but rather estimates

Do you want to display equivalent metric values (yes = 1, no = 0)? 0

Poultry House Leakage Test:

House length (ft) 500
House width (ft) 40
Total fan capacity used in leakage test (cfm @ 0.10") 20000
Static pressure measured (") 0.07
Relative leakage area (ft2 per 1,000 ft2 of house floor space) 1.00
Total house leakage area (ft2) 20.0
(For the best accuracy if the static pressure obtained during house testing exceeds 0.25",
consider using fewer or a lower capacity test fans.)

Minimum Ventilation Inlet Opening Requirements:

Minimum ventilation fan capacity (cfm) 20000
Number of air inlets to be used 14
Maximum air inlet height/opening (inches) 6.0
Air inlet length (inches) 48.0
Total side wall air inlet area (ft2) 28.0

Total required opening area for specified fan(s) @ 0.10" (ft2) 26.7
Total house leakage area (ft2) 20.0
Total required inlet area @ 0.10" (ft2) 6.7

Percentage of air that will entering through inlets 25%

Approximate required air inlet opening size/height (inches) 1.43

Minimum ventilation system performance based on the

static pressure test Loose house example

Minimum Ventilation Inlet Opening Requirements:

Minimum ventilation fan capacity (cfm) 20000
Number of air inlets to be used 40
Maximum air inlet height/opening (inches) 6.0
Air inlet length (inches) 48.0
Total side wall air inlet area (ft2) 80.0

Total required opening area for specified fan(s) @ 0.10" (ft2) 26.7
Total house leakage area (ft2) 13.0
Total required inlet area @ 0.10" (ft2) 13.7

Percentage of air that will entering through inlets 51%

Approximate required air inlet opening size/height (inches) 1.03

0.04” pressure – Loose house 0.04” pressure – Loose house

Poultry House Leakage Test: Minimum Ventilation Inlet Opening Requirements:

House length (ft) 500 Minimum ventilation fan capacity (cfm) 20000
House width (ft) 40 Number of air inlets to be used 40
Total fan capacity used in leakage test (cfm @ 0.10") 20000 Maximum air inlet height/opening (inches) 6.0
Static pressure measured (") 0.04 Air inlet length (inches) 48.0
Relative leakage area (ft2 per 1,000 ft2 of house floor space) 1.32 Total side wall air inlet area (ft2) 80.0
Total house leakage area (ft2) 26.4
Total required opening area for specified fan(s) @ 0.10" (ft2) 26.7
Total house leakage area (ft2) 26.5
Total required inlet area @ 0.10" (ft2) 0.2

Percentage of air that will entering through inlets 1%

Approximate required air inlet opening size/height (inches) 0.01

8
0.15” pressure – moderately tight 0.15” pressure – moderately tight

Poultry House Leakage Test:

House length (ft) 500
House width (ft) 40
Total fan capacity used in leakage test (cfm @ 0.10") 20000
Static pressure measured (") 0.15
Relative leakage area (ft2 per 1,000 ft2 of house floor space) 0.60
Total house leakage area (ft2) 12.0

0.15” pressure – moderately tight Extremely tight house (0.26”)

Minimum Ventilation Inlet Opening Requirements:

Minimum ventilation fan capacity (cfm) 20000
Number of air inlets to be used 40
Maximum air inlet height/opening (inches) 6.0
Air inlet length (inches) 48.0
Total side wall air inlet area (ft2) 80.0

Total required opening area for specified fan(s) @ 0.10" (ft2) 26.7
Total house leakage area (ft2) 11.7
Total required inlet area @ 0.10" (ft2) 15.0

Percentage of air that will entering through inlets 56%

Approximate required air inlet opening size/height (inches) 1.12

Extremely tight house (0.26”) Extremely tight house (0.26”)

Poultry House Leakage Test: Minimum Ventilation Inlet Opening Requirements:

House length (ft) 500 Minimum ventilation fan capacity (cfm) 20000
House width (ft) 40 Number of air inlets to be used 40
Total fan capacity used in leakage test (cfm @ 0.10") 20000 Maximum air inlet height/opening (inches) 6.0
Static pressure measured (") 0.26 Air inlet length (inches) 48.0
Relative leakage area (ft2 per 1,000 ft2 of house floor space) 0.30 Total side wall air inlet area (ft2) 80.0
Total house leakage area (ft2) 6.0
Total required opening area for specified fan(s) @ 0.10" (ft2) 26.7
Total house leakage area (ft2) 6.7
Total required inlet area @ 0.10" (ft2) 20.0

Percentage of air that will entering through inlets 75%

Approximate required air inlet opening size/height (inches) 1.50

9
Static pressure test ratings…what do they really mean? How do we increase house tightness?
 very poor More than 1.2 ft2 /1,000 ft2 (0.05” or lower)  Focus on the side wall curtains…if the house has them
 less than 20% air enters through inlets
 marginal Between 1.2 and 0.6 ft2 /1,000 ft2 (0.06” – 0.13”) 100.0°F
100

 20% - 50% air enters through inlets

95
 good Between 0.6 and 0.4 ft2 /1,000 ft2 (0.14” – 0.22”)
90
 51% - 70% air enters through inlets
85
 outstanding Less than 0.4 ft2 /1,000 ft2 (0.23” or higher)
80
 71% or more air enters through inlets
75.0°F

1/8” cracks along the top of the curtains in a 500’ long

house = 10 ft2 Curtain pockets/flaps
80.0°F  Has been shown to dramatically reduce leakage
80

70

60

50.0°F

Wooden strips also help to reduce/prevent ice formation at

With and without curtain pocket the bottom of the curtain…and increase overall tightness

10
The side wall curtains are not the only curtains we have to
be concerned about. Tunnel curtain leakage
Tunnel 94.8 100.0°F
curtain 100

90

87.6
80

Brooding 70

curtain 70.3 48.8

60.0°F

We would like to see at least a one foot tunnel curtain

Tunnel curtain leakage overlap

100.0°F
100

80

65.0°F

Tunnel curtain pocket is a better option Adding an interior tunnel curtain?

 Supplemental interior tunnel curtain only works if the exterior curtain is tight
100.0°F

90

80

70

60.0°F

11
 14 mph
A negative pressure generates a “wind” force on a house
0.2
0.18
Wind pressure (in)

0.16
0.14
0.12
0.1
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.10”
0.02
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Wind speed (mph)

14 mph
Loose exterior tunnel curtain
100.0°F
100

90

80

0.10”
70

60

55.0°F

Supplemental interior tunnel curtain with tight exterior

14 mph
tunnel curtain
100.0°F
100

90

80

0.10”
70

60

55.0°F

12
As you might suspect… How do we increase house tightness?
 The effectiveness of an supplemental interior side wall curtains depends  Curtain pockets, stripped curtain
on the tightness of the external curtain as well.  Covering fans with plastic
105.0°F

100

90

80

75.0°F

Placing plastic behind tunnel fan shutter Without plastic

100.0°F
100

90

80

70

60.0°F

With plastic behind tunnel fan shutter Fuel usage before and after installing plastic
100.0°F $45.00
Heat Zone Operating Cost

100 $40.00
$35.00
$30.00
90
$25.00
$20.00
80 $15.00
$10.00
$5.00
70 $0.00
2-Jan

3-Jan

4-Jan

5-Jan

6-Jan

7-Jan

8-Jan

9-Jan

10-Jan

11-Jan

60.0°F Date

13
Loose interior curtain not very effective in negative pressure Negative pressure pushes interior curtain away from side
house wall
100.0°F

90

80

70

65.0°F

Insulated interior panels? Must seal tightly to be effective

Tunnel fans with butterfly shutters can be difficult to make

Fans off/on tight
100.0°F
100

100.0°F
100

90
90

80 80

70

70
65.0°F

65.0°F

14
Exterior fan covers can help reduce leakage Exterior mount fan with butterfly shutter

Side wall fan leakage can be a problem.. More side wall fans…more potential leakage spots
110.0°F

100

80
100.0°F
100
65.0°F

80

65.0°F

How do we increase house tightness? Loose brooding curtain

 Curtain pockets, stripped curtain 90.0°F
90
 Covering fans with plastic
 Keep half house curtain tight
80

70

60.0°F

15
Loose brooding curtain House temperatures in house with loose brooding curtain
90
88
86
84
82
80
78
76

11:00

12:30

14:00

15:30

17:00

18:30

20:00

21:30

23:00

0:30

2:00

3:30

5:00

6:30

8:00

9:30
brood end wall center brood brood curtain end

House temperatures in house with loose brooding curtain Half house curtain leakage
90 95.0°F
95
88 102.9

86 90

84 88.4
80.4
74.0 85
82
80
80
78
76 75
11:00

12:30

14:00

15:30

17:00

18:30

20:00

21:30

23:00

0:30

2:00

3:30

5:00

6:30

8:00

9:30

brood end wall center brood brood curtain end floor brood curtain 70.0°F

How do we increase house tightness? Loose sill plate

 Curtain pockets, stripped curtain
 Covering fans with plastic
 Keep half house curtain tight
 Seal sill plate

16
Traditional sill sealer Darkling beetles can easily damage traditional sill sealer

Better option How do we increase house tightness?

 Curtain pockets, stripped curtain
 Covering fans with plastic
 Keep half house curtain tight
 Seal sill plate
 Manage your darkling beetle population

How do we increase house tightness? Loose fitting tunnel doors

 Curtain pockets, stripped curtain
110.0°F
 Covering fans with plastic
 Keep half house curtain tight
100
 Seal sill plate 100.0°F
100
 Manage your darkling beetle population
 Make sure tunnel doors seal tightly 90
80
80

70
65.0°F
60

55.0°F

17
How do we increase house tightness?
 Curtain pockets, stripped curtain
 Covering fans with plastic
 Keep half house curtain tight
 Seal sill plate
 Manage your darkling beetle population
 Make sure tunnel doors seal tightly
 Don’t use string…use cable and steel rod
How do we increase house tightness?
 Curtain pockets, stripped curtain
 Covering fans with plastic
 Keep half house curtain tight
 Seal sill plate
 Manage your darkling beetle population
 Make sure tunnel doors seal tightly
 Don’t use string…use cable and steel rod
 Make sure the gasket is thick enough

Worn-out gasket Very tight tunnel door…fans on

100.0°F
100

90

80

70

60

55.0°F

How do we increase house tightness? End wall door leakage

 Curtain pockets, stripped curtain 105.0°F

 Covering fans with plastic 88.0 100

 Keep half house curtain tight 90

 Seal sill plate

80 86.3°F
 Manage your darkling beetle population 57.5
86

76.4
 Make sure tunnel doors seal tightly 70 85.3 84

 Make sure end wall doors seal tightly 83.3

65.0°F 82

58.0
80

78

76

75.4°F

18
A little end wall leakage…can make the end walls very cool
and wet Better doors

Better doors How do we increase house tightness?

 Curtain pockets, stripped curtain
 Covering fans with plastic
 Keep half house curtain tight
 Seal sill plate
 Manage your darkling beetle population
 Make sure tunnel doors seal tightly
 Make sure end wall doors seal tightly
 Make sure side wall inlets seal tightly

Side wall inlet leakage How do we increase house tightness?

60.0°F  Curtain pockets, stripped curtain
60
 Covering fans with plastic
 Keep half house curtain tight
50
 Seal sill plate
 Manage your darkling beetle population
 Make sure tunnel doors seal tightly
40  Make sure end wall doors seal tightly
 Make sure side wall inlets seal tightly
 When building a new house make sure you install a proper vapor barrier
30
30.0°F

19
Vapor barriers help to keep insulation dry and increase house tightness
105.0°F

100

53.4

90

80

56.4
70
60.6
65.0°F

High density polyethylene siding…

No vapor barrier without vapor barrier
105.0°F

85.6 100

90

80
70.9
118.1
75.9
70

65.0°F

High density polyethylene siding…

without vapor barrier How do we increase house tightness?
100.0°F  Curtain pockets, stripped curtain
100
 Covering fans with plastic
95  Keep half house curtain tight
90
 Seal sill plate
100.0°F  Manage your darkling beetle population
100
 Make sure tunnel doors seal tightly
85.0°F
95  Make sure end wall doors seal tightly
 Make sure side wall inlets seal tightly
90
 When building a new house make sure you install a proper vapor
 Seal the top of the side wall/ridge in open ceiling houses
85.0°F

20
Open ceiling Commercial spray foam
 Pressure increased from 0.05 to 0.15”

93.0°F

90

85

80

78.0°F

How do we increase house tightness? Side by side houses – with and without spray foam
 Curtain pockets, stripped curtain
 Covering fans with plastic
 Keep half house curtain tight
 Seal sill plate
 Manage your darkling beetle population
 Make sure tunnel doors seal tightly
 Make sure end wall doors seal tightly
 Make sure side wall inlets seal tightly
 When building a new house make sure you install a proper vapor
 Seal the top of the side wall/ridge in open ceiling houses
 Spray foam side walls

Best ways of finding leakage? Dust on interior curtain surface

 Dust accumulation

21
Finding leakage Exterior/interior condensation cloud
 Dust accumulation
 Condensation clouds (exterior/interior) during cold weather

Finding leakage Checking for leakage

 Dust accumulation
 Condensation cloud
 Smoke generator
 insect fogger – mineral oil

How do we find leakage The best ways to find leakage…

 Dust accumulation  Is to look at the birds,
 Condensation cloud
 Smoke generator 100.0°F
100

 Thermal camera
90

80

77.7 70

60

84.0
55.0°F

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The best ways to find leakage… The best ways to find leakage…
 Is to look at the birds,  Is to look at the birds, and at the litter

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