Odor Investigation Using the Blower-Door Method

The resident of an apartment noticed an unpleasant odor that was reminiscent of cigarette smoke, among other things. Given the situation, there was a suspicion that odor-laden air was being carried from the smoker’s apartment below into the affected apartment. To verify this suspicion, negative pressure was deliberately created in the affected apartment using a blower-door measurement system. A non-toxic tracer gas was then released into the apartment below. Using a suitable detector, the tracer gas concentrations were measured at potential entry points in the affected apartment. The measurements revealed significant air leaks in the shared riser area in the kitchen. By properly sealing this riser area, the odor transfer was permanently eliminated.