EN 13141 consists of the following parts, under the general title Ventilation for buildings ― Performance testing of components/products for residential ventilation: — Part 1: External
General
To select the right fan for an installation, it is essential to understand its performance characteristics, which relate the volume flow rate to the fan pressure This knowledge ensures that the fan can effectively supply the required flow rate.
Upstream flow conditions, such as the velocity profile and the presence of swirl and wind, significantly influence fan characteristics While downstream conditions typically do not impact fan operation, the flow nature downstream, particularly swirl, can affect pressure losses in the system and must be considered during installation design.
The four following categories of installations are defined in EN ISO 5801:
— category A: free inlet and free outlet;
— category B: free inlet and ducted outlet;
— category C: ducted inlet and free outlet;
— category D: ducted inlet and ducted outlet
For each category, EN ISO 5801 defines the installation in the immediate proximity of the fan, as well as the position of the pressure measurement
Test installation and conditions are described in EN 13141-4.
External leakage
Pressure method applies to classify external leakage by using Table 2
External leakage tests shall only be applied to products intended to be connected in a category C or category D configuration
Table 2 — External leakage classification – pressure method
Pressurization test External leakage Centralised unit for whole dwelling Single Room
A3 ≤ 10 ≤ 10 not classified > 10 > 10 a Pressure at which the external leakage test is performed at
This test pressure depends on the type of unit tested
The external leakage shall be measured according to Annex D
The external leakage air volume flow, denoted as \$q_{ve}\$, must be measured and reported under both overpressure and underpressure conditions, as outlined in Table 2 Additionally, these measurements should be compared to the unit's declared maximum air volume flow and expressed as a percentage.
If all components (filters, battery, etc.) are situated:
— upstream of the fan, the external leakage should be measured under pressure;
— downstream of the fan, the external leakage shall be measured in over pressure;
— on either side of the fan, the external leakage shall be measured in over and under pressure
During the pressurization tests for external leakage, the fan of the unit under test shall be switched off.
Airflow
Un-ducted room unit
Tests shall be made in accordance with Category A installation (free inlet and outlet) as defined in
EN 13141-4 The fans shall be switched on
To accurately assess air flow with no pressure difference between indoor and outdoor environments, a minimum of three measurements must be conducted These measurements are essential for classifying the maximum deviation of air flow and should be thoroughly reported.
— two measurements at + 20 Pa and - 20 Pa respectively;
— one measurement of the airflow at no pressure (0 Pa), this point shall not be an interpolation between the two measurements at + 20 Pa and - 20 Pa
For units with multiple settings, the following set points shall be measured and reported:
— reference air volume flow (or closest to if possible)
NOTE If the air volume flow rate is not adjustable the measured air volume flow could be the maximum.
Ducted unit
The air flow/pressure characteristic, for supply air flows, shall be determined according to EN 13141-4
Tests must be conducted following the specifications for category B, C, or D installations as outlined in section 6.1 The fans should be activated, and the testing setup and conditions must adhere to EN 13141-4:2011, specifically referencing Figure 2 or Figure 3 for single inlet/outlet units, and Figure 3 for multiple inlets/outlets units.
Each curve must have at least 8 evenly distributed test points measured, with a minimum of 3 curves per unit assessed for minimum, maximum, and intermediate settings that include the reference point If measuring 3 curves is not feasible, such as in the case of a 2-speed motor, only 2 curves will be acceptable.
The total pressure, defined as the difference between the outlet and inlet, of the unit p tu must be documented for various air volume flows (q v) and different fan control settings, specifically at the test voltage.
If a connection box is used, it shall be designed according to EN 13141-4 and shall be described in the test report.
Acoustic characteristic
General
In all cases, the unit shall be installed according to the manufacturer's instructions
For the operating tests, the following parameters shall be determined:
— overall sound power levels L W and A-weighted L WA;
— sound power levels in octave bands between 125 Hz and 8 000 Hz
All sound power level tests shall be realized at the declared maximum air volume flow q
For sound transmitting resistance testing, the unit shall be switched off and the following parameters shall be determined:
— overall sound insulation D n,e,w and D n,e,w + Ctr, by calculation according to EN ISO 717-1;
— sound insulation D n,e in octave bands between 125 Hz and 4 000 Hz and at reference air flow q vref.
Un-ducted unit
The installation of the unit must adhere to the manufacturer's guidelines, and any optional components, such as silencers or additional connection ducts, included in the test should be detailed in the test report This unit is classified as a category A fan.
The parameters to determine are the following:
— noise radiated into the indoor space (user side);
— noise radiated into the outdoor space (neighbour side)
The measurement of radiated sound power shall be made using one of the following methods:
— precision methods as described in EN ISO 3741 (reverberation room) or EN ISO 3745 (anechoic or semi- anechoic room);
— engineering methods as described in EN ISO 3743-1 (hard-walled test room) or EN ISO 3743-2 (special reverberation test room), or EN ISO 3744 (essentially free field over reflecting plane);
— sound intensity methods as described in EN ISO 9614-1, EN ISO 9614-2 or EN ISO 9614-3
Airflow control devices used by laboratories shall not interfere with acoustic measurements
The unit must be installed at least 1 meter away from any wall intersections or room corners, unless it is specifically designed for such placements, as indicated by the manufacturer in the test report It is crucial to ensure that gaps between the unit and the test room walls are properly sealed to maintain air tightness.
An example of a test installation for reverberant room method is given in Figure 2
Figure 2 — Reverberant room method: test rooms — Cross section
The insulating box described in 6.4.2.1.3 can also be used in the reverberation room
6.4.2.1.3 Anechoic or semi-anechoic room or free field method
The unit must be installed within a sound insulating box as outlined in Annex B, ensuring that all gaps between the unit and the box are sealed for air tightness and effective vibration decoupling Test installation examples include a) the semi-anechoic room or free field method, and b) the anechoic room method, as illustrated in Figure 3.
1 semi-anechoic room 4 anechoic room
2 unit under test 5 unit under test
3 sound insulating box 6 sound insulating box
Figure 3 — Set-up for semi-anechoic room or free field method and anechoic room method: cross section 6.4.2.2 Airborne sound insulation
Acoustic measurement shall be carried out according to the engineering method described in
The installation of the unit must follow the manufacturer's guidelines, and any optional components, such as silencers or additional connection ducts, should be detailed in the test report If the unit is designed for corner or surface intersection mounting, this must be specified by the manufacturer and included in the report It is crucial to ensure that gaps between the unit and the test room wall are properly sealed.
The fans shall be switched off but the dampers, if integrated, shall be forced open The example of the double reverberation room test installation is given in Figure 4
Ducted unit
6.4.3.1 Noise radiated through the casing
The primary concern in this setup is the noise emitted by the duct To prevent interference with the noise from the casing, it is essential to utilize rigid insulated ducts with a double-layer design.
Airflow control devices used by laboratories shall not interfere with acoustic measurements
An example of a test installation in reverberant (or anechoic) room is given in Figure 5
Figure 5 — Example of test installation for measuring the noise production through the casing of the unit 6.4.3.2 Sound power level in duct connections
The acoustic measurements shall be carried out according to EN ISO 5135 by identifying the inlets/outlets unit as a terminal unit or in duct according to EN ISO 5136
Airflow control devices used by laboratories shall not interfere with acoustic measurements
Connecting ducts must be rigid and insulated to minimize transmission losses, maintaining the same diameter as the spigot Additionally, sound-absorptive materials should not be included in the duct being measured.
Sound power levels shall be determined at each duct connection of the unit
Figure 6 gives an example of test installation for measuring the sound power level at the spigots of the unit
2 insulated rigid duct which is the same diameter as the spigot (to reduce noise emission), length = 1,5 m
4 distance 1 m minimum from all surfaces
Figure 6 — Example of test installation for measuring the sound power level at the spigots of the unit
For units featuring multiple outlets of the same diameter, a single measurement should be taken for all duct connections leading to the room Subsequently, the sound power level at each duct connection can be calculated based on the overall result, under the assumption that the connections are equivalent.
For multiple outlets units with several diameters of spigot, one test shall be made for each type of outlet
An example of a test installation for a unit with outlets with identical diameter is given in Figure 7
2 insulated rigid duct which is the same diameter as the spigot (to reduce noise emission) length = 1,5 m
4 distance 1 m minimum from all surfaces
Figure 7 — Example of a test installation for a unit with two outlets with identical diameters
Regardless of the number of outlets, if they share the same diameter, the sound power level for a single duct connection can be determined from the overall sound power level of the N identical duct connections using a specific formula.
The duct end correction shall be applied using the single connection section and not the sum of sections discharging in the reverberation room
The fan unit must be installed in the test room following the manufacturer's specifications, ensuring that the noise source is positioned as far as possible from the room's axes of symmetry and walls If the manufacturer recommends using anti-vibration materials, they must be included in the installation Additionally, the installation details of the fan unit should be documented in the test report.
NOTE Most usually the fan unit is suspended.
Electrical power input
The electric power input P E of a unit shall be measured in several settings when possible
In an active setting, the unit is linked to the mains power supply, ensuring it delivers the intended service This indicates that the control system is functioning properly, allowing the unit to maintain appropriate ventilation rates in accordance with the established control strategy.
The electric power input P E shall be measured according to EN 13141-4 during the test specified in 6.3 and shall be reported
In cases where the unit features a setting with inactive fans while control components remain operational, it is essential to measure the electric power input in this configuration to ensure proper functionality of both internal and external components.
The electric power input must be measured with the mains power in operation if the unit can be manually switched off or controlled via a remote system, and if the setting is concluded by a manual action.
Presentation of results
Fan performance results shall be presented according to EN ISO 5801.
General information
The test report must include essential information such as the name and address of the testing laboratory, unique identification for the report and each page, and the client's details It should describe the test item, including the dates of receipt and testing, and specify the test procedures and any relevant sampling methods Additionally, the report must note any deviations from the test specifications, identify non-standard methods used, and present measurements and results with supporting visuals It should also include a statement on measurement uncertainty, the signature of the responsible person, and clarify that results pertain only to the tested items, along with a reference to the relevant European Standard (EN 13141-11).
Product specifications
The product specification shall be given in the test report as follows:
— maximum air volume flow: q vd in m 3 ⋅s −1 or l⋅s −1
External leakage
The test report shall include the following:
— all operating details not specified in this European Standard, or regarded as optional, together with details of any incidents which may have influenced the test result(s);
— any unusual features (anomalies) observed during the test;
— external leakage air volume flow q ve at over and/or under pressure;
— comparison of q ve to the declared maximum air volume flow of the unit as a percentage.
Airflow
The test report shall include the following: a) general:
— all operating details not specified in this European Standard, or regarded as optional, together with details of any incidents which may have influenced the test result(s);
— any unusual features (anomalies) observed during the test; b) un-ducted room unit:
— measurements at + 20 Pa and - 20 Pa;
— measurement of the airflow at no pressure (0 Pa);
— reference air volume flow (or closest to if possible); c) ducted unit:
— total pressure of the unit p tu at different air volume flows q v and at different fan control adjustments for at least the test voltage;
— description of the connection box if relevant.
Acoustic characteristics
The test installation and conditions shall be clearly described in the test report
All the information concerning the measurements shall be recorded according to the specifications of the standard chosen for the tests
According to the measured characteristics, the test report shall include the following:
— overall sound power levels L W and A-weighted L WA;
— sound power levels in octave bands between 125 Hz and 8 000 Hz;
— declared maximum air volume flow q vd and/or the following:
— overall sound insulation D n,e,w and D n,e,w + Ctr, calculated according to EN ISO 717-1;
— sound insulation D n,e in octave bands between 125 Hz and 4 000 Hz.
Electrical power input
The test report shall include the following:
— all operating details not specified in this European Standard, or regarded as optional, together with details of any incidents which may have influenced the test result(s);
— any unusual features (anomalies) observed during the test;
Figure A.1 to Figure A.3 give examples of typical applications
Figure A.1 illustrates common uses of single room supply ventilation units, with part a) depicting whole dwelling ventilation achieved by installing these units in habitable rooms, while part b) focuses on a unit specifically designed to ventilate a single room.
2 wet room 6 internally mounted air transfer device
3 habitable room 7 externally mounted air transfer device
Figure A.1 — Example of typical applications for supply ventilation unit
Figure A.2 illustrates a centralized supply ventilation unit that effectively ventilates multiple rooms within a dwelling This unit directly supplies fresh air to habitable spaces, ensuring comprehensive ventilation throughout the entire home.
2 wet room 6 internally mounted air transfer device
3 habitable room 7 externally mounted air transfer device
Figure A.2 — Example of a typical application for multiple room supply ventilation unit
Figure A.3 gives an example of a centralised supply ventilation unit installed in the roof void of a house, providing whole dwelling ventilation
2 internally mounted air transfer device
Figure A.3 — Example of typical application for roof void and whole house ventilation
To effectively eliminate external noise interference, the sound insulating box must be lined with sound absorbing material It is crucial to ensure that all gaps between the test unit and the box are properly sealed.
The insulating walls of the box must achieve a minimum insertion loss of 15 dB across each one-third octave band to effectively minimize sound radiation To assess the insertion loss, compare the sound power measurements of a sound source in the test room both with and without the insulating box, ensuring the sound source, such as a loudspeaker, is placed inside the sealed box Sound power measurements should adhere to the relevant standards for the test room.
The acoustic insulation box is designed to reduce sound emitted from the discharge or suction side of an un-ducted unit during measurements.
The insulating walls of the box must achieve a minimum insertion loss of 15 dB across each one-third octave band to effectively minimize sound radiation from the walls The evaluation of the box's insertion loss can be conducted in accordance with EN ISO 11546-1.
The design must facilitate airflow in and out of the box, and incorporating chicanes is advisable to maintain a high level of sound insulation while accommodating the air openings.
The external leakage test shall be carried out by blanking off and sealing all ducts and connecting a fan to the supply side of the device as shown in Figure D.1
Static pressure tappings are positioned on a blanking off plate on the device's inlet side and linked to a pressure measuring instrument Suitable air flow measuring equipment is used to determine the external leakage flow rates in the casing under both overpressure and underpressure conditions.
The accuracy of the measured values shall be kept within ± 5 % for the flow rates and ± 3 % for the static pressure of the casing
Measurement device shall comply with EN 306
Figure D.1 — Test setup for leakage
[1] EN 13141-7, Ventilation for buildings - Performance testing of components/products for residential ventilation - Part 7: Performance testing of a mechanical supply and exhaust ventilation units
(including heat recovery) for mechanical ventilation systems intended for single family dwellings
[2] EN 60335-2-80:2003 and its A2:2009, Household and similar electrical appliances — Safety — Part 2-
80: Particular requirements for fans (IEC 60335-2-80:2002+A2:2008)
[3] EN ISO 11546-1, Acoustics - Determination of sound insulation performances of enclosures - Part 1:
Measurements under laboratory conditions (for declaration purposes) (ISO 11546-1)