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COST GUIDE · PART 3 BUILDINGS
How much does a large building airtightness test cost in Toronto?
Testing ranges from a few thousand dollars for a small commercial building to about $50,000 for a very large, complex one. In Enbridge territory, a program pays up to 80% of it.
THE SHORT ANSWER
- $500 to $5,000 for low-rise commercial buildings up to three storeys
- Up to about $50,000 for very large or complex buildings
- Up to 80% back from Enbridge Gas, to $30,000 per project, for new buildings of 25,000 sq ft or more
What drives the price
- Enclosure area and volume: bigger buildings need more fans to reach the 75 Pa test pressure
- Whole-building or guarded tests: towers that can't be tested in one go are tested in sections, and each test is a separate set-up
- Preparation: sealing HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) openings, overhead doors and dock levellers, and putting equipment into test mode
- Retests and leak-finding: smoke tracing or thermography if the building misses the target
Toronto: why tall buildings need several tests
Toronto Green Standard Tier 2 projects test to the City's protocol, read with ASTM E3158-18, against a target of 2.0 L/s per m² at 75 Pa. A whole-building test is preferred. When that isn't practical, guarded tests must sample the podium, the base and top of the tower, any unique floors, and two contiguous floors for every ten. An 18-storey tower with a podium needs at least five tests, and each must meet the target on its own.
The Enbridge program that pays most of it
| Enbridge Gas pays | Maximum | |
|---|---|---|
| Airtightness testing | Up to 80% of testing costs | $30,000 per project ($0.50 per sq ft) |
| Sealing the leaks found | Up to 50% of costs | $15,000 per project |
Eligible: commercial, institutional and multi-residential new construction of 25,000 sq ft or more in Enbridge Gas territory, built under Part 3, 10 or 11 of the Ontario Building Code, and tested to ASTM E3158-18 before the envelope is fully constructed. Talk to Enbridge before the project starts; terms and conditions apply.
Example: a 100,000 sq ft mid-rise whose testing costs $20,000 could receive up to $16,000 (80%), well under the $30,000 cap.
Planning a test? Use the test-day checklist, or see our large building airtightness testing service.
Sources: REMI Network: Canada wavers on airtightness testing (cost estimates from the national code change rationale) · Enbridge Gas: Commercial Airtightness Testing Program · City of Toronto: Whole Building Air Leakage Testing Protocol · Toronto Green Standard v4: Buildings, energy, emissions and resilience.
Quick answers
How much does whole-building airtightness testing cost?
Code-change research estimated $500 to $5,000 for low-rise commercial buildings up to three storeys, and up to about $50,000 for very large, complicated buildings. The number of tests, fans and preparation work drive the price.
Is there an incentive for airtightness testing in Ontario?
Yes. Enbridge Gas pays up to 80% of testing costs, to $30,000 per project ($0.50 per sq ft), plus up to 50% of the cost of sealing leaks, to $15,000, for new commercial, institutional and multi-residential buildings of 25,000 sq ft or more tested before the envelope is complete.
Why do tall buildings need more than one test?
Under Toronto's testing protocol, if a whole-building test isn't practical, guarded tests must sample the podium, the base and top of the tower, unique floors, and two floors for every ten. An 18-storey tower with a podium needs at least five tests.