Introduction
If you’ve ever tried to pressure test a 36-story tower with a cranky elevator and a temperamental exhaust fan, you know that commercial air tightness testing is a different animal entirely. In the latest episode of The Flow Lab, we welcomed Denali Jones, Technical Director at the Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA) to talk about what it really takes to test large buildings, why it matters, and how the industry is (finally) catching up.
From Retrotec Rookie to ABAA Authority
Denali’s journey into building science started the way a lot of ours did by accident. Fresh out of UBC with a passion for fluid dynamics, he joined Retrotec as his first gig post-college. What followed was a hands-on crash course in blower doors, gauge development, and calibration systems, back when the DM32 was still cutting-edge.
But Denali didn’t stop at blower doors. He went on to RDH Building Science, where he shifted from tech development to the field testing hundreds of large buildings and refining his understanding of air barriers under real-world conditions. These days, he’s leading the charge at ABAA, building a certification program for large building testing that’s changing the game.
What's So Hard About Testing a Giant Box?
Testing large buildings isn’t just more of the same, it’s exponentially more complex. You’re dealing with:
Multiple fan locations (not just the front door)
Airflow bottlenecks from stairwells, mechanical shafts, and even penthouses
Pressure balancing across 20, 30, even 40 floors
And yes, the dreaded stack effect that laughs at your carefully balanced gauges
Denali’s seen it all: leaky soffits, unsealed garage penetrations, forgotten duct boots, and “mystery” fans that kick on mid-test like a horror movie jump scare. His golden rule? Always check the power switch before you go running around looking for phantom holes.
ABAA’s Training: Not Just for Nerds
One of the biggest takeaways from the episode is just how impactful ABAA’s training has become. Their whole building air tightness program is:
ISO 17024 accredited
Manufacturer-neutral (TEC and Retrotec welcome)
Designed to combine theory with hands-on practice, including full-building tests at real facilities in Seattle, Daytona, and now Chicago
Whether you’re new to the space or have 100+ tests under your belt, Denali emphasizes that proper training is what separates a technician from a building scientist.
Why ASTM E3158 Is the Standard the Industry Needed
Forget the dusty legacy of ASTM E779. For large buildings, E3158 is where it’s at:
Designed specifically for commercial-scale testing
Built from the Army Corps and ABAA protocols
Validated with round-robin testing across firms and equipment types
Offers much-needed guidance on prep, bias pressures, stack effect, and real-world variability
It’s not just “a better fit”. it’s the future of performance-based building codes.
So... Are New Buildings Getting Better?
Yes—and no. The buildings that have a consultant involved from day one? They’re almost always passing easily. Denali’s field data (and that of RDH) suggests that 0.35 CFM/sqft is a very attainable target, if teams are paying attention.
But wait until you hear the stories from existing buildings… Let’s just say not every 1980s brick box is winning awards for envelope continuity. Still, some surprises perform better than expected, which just proves the importance of testing over guessing.
Looking Ahead: More Tight Buildings, Fewer Loose Ends
Denali predicts continued (if slow) progress in commercial testing adoption across the U.S. With Washington State as the early guinea pig, more states are now requiring testing with fewer exceptions. And as the ABAA certification gains visibility in specs and energy codes, we’re entering a new era of accountability and building performance.
“If you’ve done your homework, the whole building test is just the final exam,” Denali says. “And if you haven’t… well, you’ll find out soon enough.”
Want to Learn More or Get Certified?
Head to airbarrier.org
Check out upcoming training sessions in Seattle, Florida, and Chicago
Follow Denali on LinkedIn for updates (we’ll link his profile in the show notes)
And don’t forget to catch the full episode of The Flow Lab for more war stories, best practices, and behind-the-scenes banter from the front lines of building science.
