Airtightness Training for Homeowners

Airtightness plays an important role in creating a comfortable, energy-efficient and durable home. By reducing uncontrolled air leakage through gaps and junctions in the building fabric, good airtightness can help reduce heat loss, improve comfort and support the overall performance of your insulation.

This practical training day is designed for homeowners planning a new build or retrofit who would like to better understand airtightness, vapour control and weather protection, and how these principles are applied in practice. Through demonstrations and hands-on workshops, you’ll see how membranes, tapes and liquid airtightness products are installed and learn what good airtightness detailing should look like on your own project.

World Green Building Week Offer: To mark World Green Building Week, we have reduced the cost of this training day from €75 to €50 per person. The promotional price is available for bookings made by 3rd September 2026.

Date and time

4th September 2026
9:30am - 2:00pm

Location

Ecological Training Centre, Upper Bridge Street, Athboy C15 Y678

Ideal for

Homeowners
Self-builders

Key learning

What airtightness is, why it matters and how it contributes to a comfortable, energy-efficient home
The differences between airtightness, vapour control and weather protection
How uncontrolled air leakage can affect the performance and durability of a building
The materials and techniques used to create a continuous airtight layer
How airtight membranes, tapes and liquid airtightness products are applied in practice
Common airtightness details and potential air leakage points
How airtightness is tested using a blower door test
What good airtightness detailing and installation should look like on a new build or retrofit project

Description

Who it is for?

This training day is designed for homeowners who are planning a new build or retrofit project and would like to better understand airtightness and how it is achieved in practice. No previous technical knowledge or experience is required.

What will you learn?

The training will introduce the fundamentals of airtightness, vapour control and weather protection, helping you understand the role each plays in the performance and durability of your home.

You’ll also learn about the materials and techniques used to create a continuous airtight layer and see how common details are approached in practice.

What will you do?

Alongside the introductory training, you’ll take part in practical workshops covering membrane application, airtight taping and liquid membrane technology.

The group will also work through timber frame sealing before seeing a blower door test in action, helping demonstrate how air leakage can be identified and why careful airtightness detailing matters.

Agenda

09:30am - Tea/Coffee
10:00am - Introduction to event
10:15am to 11:30am - Airtight, Vapour tight & Weathertight fundamentals
11:30am to 11:40am - Tea/Coffee
11:45am to 13:00pm - Workshop 1:
Membrane application, taping exercise and liquid membrane technology
13:-00am to 13:45pm - Workshop 2:
Timber frame sealing and door blower test (Group participation)
14:00pm - Finish and lunch at nearby hotel provided by Ecological Building Systems

Questions are welcome throughout the workshop. Our expert team will be on hand to answer any questions you have.

Speakers

Joe Fitzgerald

Technical Manager

Joe is a Passivhaus Contractor with Degree qualifications in Sustainable Construction and Energy Management. He also completed Postgraduate Diplomas in Green Engineering and Advanced Thermal Modelling and a Postgraduate Certificate in Hygrothermal Risk Assessment.

Cronan Kennedy

Technical Specification Advisor

Cronan has over 15 years’ experience in the construction sector across multiple technical roles. Having originally started out as a Tradesman, Cronan gained considerable experience on numerous large-scale projects before progressing to Specification Manager - a role that led him to working alongside Architects, Engineers, County Councils and local businesses for the past decade. Cronan was also heavily involved in providing on-site technical installation training to contractors and external sales representatives as a method of improving their product knowledge, efficiency and understanding of building materials.

Stjepan Palfi

Technical Executive

Stjepan is one of the newest members of Ecological Building Systems and works as a Technical Sales Executive. Stjepan’s passion for construction and interior design started from a young age when he worked alongside his father as a tradesman. Stjepan spent over a decade in the building sector in various roles and learned a great deal while working with different trades. Stjepan also has over 10 years’ experience in client focused roles in the commercial retail and has a strong background in customer service.