Where Can I Train as an Airtightness Tester in New Zealand?
Airtightness testing is a growth area in New Zealand. Passive House certification, Green Star credits, increasingly demanding contract specifications, and a building industry that is slowly waking up to the relationship between air leakage, energy use, and indoor air quality — all of it is pushing demand for qualified testers faster than the supply of training has historically kept up with.
If you want to become an accredited airtightness tester in New Zealand, or if you work in construction and need to understand airtightness well enough to build to a target, there is one training provider in the Southern Hemisphere with ATTMA accreditation: BEO Buildingscience.
ATTMA — the Air Tightness Testing and Measurement Association — is the internationally recognised accreditation body for airtightness testers. ATTMA-accredited testing is accepted for Passive House certification, Green Star, and major commercial specifications across New Zealand. BEO is New Zealand's only ATTMA-accredited training provider.
Why ATTMA Accreditation Matters
Anyone can buy a blower door fan and call themselves an airtightness tester. The question is whether the test result will be accepted by the programme or client requiring it. ATTMA accreditation is the recognised standard for:
- Passive House Institute (PHI) certification — PHI accepts airtightness test results from ATTMA-accredited testers, among other recognised bodies
- Green Star NZ — Green Star airtightness credits require an ATTMA L2-accredited tester
- Commercial and government specifications — an increasing number of NZ projects specify ATTMA accreditation for airtightness testing as part of the contract
- ISO 9972 compliance — ATTMA's technical standard (TS1) is aligned with ISO 9972, the international standard for air permeability testing of buildings
Holding ATTMA accreditation means your results are defensible. It means you've demonstrated competency through examination, not just bought equipment. And increasingly in the NZ market, it's the difference between being able to offer a certifiable test and simply offering a number.
The BEO Training Courses
BEO offers four training pathways, covering everything from site-level understanding for builders through to large-scale commercial testing and Passive House-specific airtightness assessment. All courses are delivered by Denise Martin, ATTMA Accredited Tester and ATTMA-accredited Training Provider.
ATTMA Level 1 — Residential Airtightness Tester
For practitioners seeking accreditation to test residential buildings to ISO 9972- Principles of building airtightness and the ISO 9972 test method
- Equipment setup, calibration, and test procedure
- Leakage detection techniques — smoke pencils, anemometers, thermal imaging
- Test report preparation and result interpretation
- Boundary conditions: what's in and out of the test envelope, temporary sealing protocol
- Passive House airtightness targets and how they relate to L1 testing
- Written and practical assessment; online exam through BEO's digital assessment platform
ATTMA Level 2 — Large Building Airtightness Tester
For practitioners working on commercial, industrial, and large-scale residential projects- Multi-fan testing methodology for large and subdivided buildings
- Fan sizing and selection for high-volume enclosures
- Testing to Green Star and commercial specification requirements
- Reporting for large-building programmes including result normalisation
- Complex boundary conditions: mixed-use buildings, multi-tenancy, pressurisation zones
- Room integrity testing fundamentals (ISO 14520, AS 4214) — scope extension
- Written and practical assessment
Passive House+ Airtightness (PH+)
Specialist training for Passive House projects and PHI certification requirements- PHI certification requirements for airtightness testing and documentation
- The 0.6 ACH₅₀ target: what it means in practice and how to achieve it reliably
- Airtightness layer design — membranes, tapes, junctions, and construction sequencing
- Shakedown testing strategy: when to test, what to look for, how to direct remediation
- PHPP airtightness inputs and their effect on heating demand calculation
- Common failure modes on NZ Passive House builds and how to prevent them
- Documentation requirements for PHI certification submission
Contractor Airtightness Course
For builders and contractors who need to build to an airtightness target — not conduct accredited tests- Why airtightness matters — energy, moisture, and air quality explained for site teams
- The airtightness layer: where it is, what it's made of, and how to keep it continuous
- Junction details: top plate, floor-wall, window perimeter, penetrations
- What kills airtightness: the most common trades-related failure modes
- How to use a shakedown test to find and fix leaks before linings go on
- Reading a blower door result: what the number means for your project's target
- No examination — practical workshop format
Which Course Is Right for You?
Start with L1 if you are a...
- Builder wanting to offer airtightness testing as a service
- Energy assessor or building scientist adding testing to your scope
- Passive House practitioner who needs to be able to test your own projects
- Building inspector or consultant seeking an additional technical credential
Add L2 if you are working on...
- Commercial or large-scale residential buildings
- Green Star projects with airtightness credits
- Multi-fan testing scenarios
- Buildings requiring room integrity testing alongside airtightness
Take PH+ if you are...
- A Passive House designer or certifier working closely with site teams
- An L1 tester whose work is predominantly on Passive House projects
- Anyone responsible for PHI certification documentation
Take the Contractor course if you are...
- A site supervisor or foreman on a high-performance or Passive House build
- A subcontractor (framer, insulator, plasterer) whose work affects airtightness
- A builder who wants to understand what the tester is measuring without becoming a tester
Training Delivery and Locations
BEO courses are delivered in-person across New Zealand, with locations rotating between Queenstown, Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland. Courses can also be delivered on-site for builders or contractors working on specific projects where whole-team training is more practical than sending individuals to a scheduled course.
All formal assessments (L1 and L2 written exams) are conducted through BEO's digital assessment platform, allowing candidates to complete the examination component at a scheduled time following the training day. Practical assessments are conducted on site with real equipment.
After Accreditation: Maintaining Your ATTMA Status
ATTMA accreditation requires periodic renewal, including continued professional development and evidence of ongoing testing activity. BEO supports accredited testers through the renewal process and can advise on the CPD requirements relevant to your accreditation level. If you are approaching renewal or have let your accreditation lapse, get in touch — the pathway back to active status is usually more straightforward than starting from scratch.
Train with BEO — New Zealand's ATTMA Training Provider
BEO Buildingscience is New Zealand's only ATTMA-accredited training provider. Whether you're starting with L1, extending to L2, or bringing your whole site team up to speed with the Contractor course, get in touch to find out when the next course is running in your region.
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