Considerable attention has been paid to airtightness in timber-framed dwellings over the last 15 years. As a result it is now possible routinely to construct timber framed houses with air leakages below 3 ac h-I at 50 Pa. Less attention has been paid to airtightness in masonry dwellings, particularly in the UK. This paper presents results of laboratory work whcih confirms the very high airtightness of wet-plastered masonry, and identifies a significant weakness in the construction of conventional load-bearing masonry dwellings. Field experience with airtightness in masonry dwellings is described, including the construction of a new detached house with a leakage of less than 3 ac h-I at 50 Pa.
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