Which qualification covers air-leakage testing of ventilation ducts?

Definition: As of 17 October 2026, Qualibat qualification 8721 covers preparing ventilation ductwork, setting up an air-permeability measurement system, locating leaks and measuring duct air leakage for a client. Qualification 8711 covers air-permeability measurements of the building envelope.

Key facts

• Qualibat's technical documentation lists separate qualifications for duct air-permeability testing, building envelope testing and residential mechanical ventilation checks.
• The 8721 assessment reference requires qualified companies to communicate measurement results to their clients.
• The 8711 assessment reference covers preparing a building, setting up envelope measurement equipment, detecting envelope leaks and measuring envelope air permeability.
• The ministry's recognition guidance assigns the Qualibat qualification to the company and ministerial authorization to the individual measurement operator.

What does qualification 8721 cover in practice?

The 8721 reference, version 04, applicable from 1 January 2024, defines work carried out for a third party. The company prepares the duct network and installs the measurement system before locating leaks and measuring air permeability. Its qualification applies to a specified list of measurement operators.

The equipment requirements explain the test's scope. The company must have equipment capable of putting ductwork under positive and negative pressure. It also needs instruments for measuring airflow, temperature, pressure and distance. Preparation equipment must allow temporary sealing of extraction and supply terminals, connection to the ductwork and division of the network into sections. The reference gives inflatable rubber bladders, plugs, plates and airtight adhesive tape as examples.

Test control software is optional: the reference accepts a fully manual approach. Measurement equipment must undergo regular calibration, and calibration certificates must be retained for at least four years.

How does this differ from building envelope testing?

The building envelope is the object of measurement under qualification 8711. Its reference describes preparing the building, measuring the envelope's air permeability and detecting leaks through that envelope. Under 8721, those operations concern the ventilation duct network.

The ministry's guidance also identifies different technical references for examining applications. For 8711, it names NF EN ISO 9972 and its application guide FD P50-784. For 8721, it names FD E51-767, the documentation booklet for duct air-tightness measurements.

Qualibat's documentation separately identifies 8741 as checks and measurements of mechanical ventilation systems in residential buildings.

How can a provider's scope be checked?

The identifier for a duct air-permeability qualification search is:

8721

Under the 8721 reference, the annual certificate identifies the company and its specified operators. It is valid for one year, date to date, and records the qualification's award and expiry dates, authorized operators and scope. The decision notification informs the company; the annual certificate serves as official evidence for third parties.

The ministry's recognition page publishes separate downloadable lists of authorized operators for 8711 and 8721, updated after each commission. For regulatory measurements, its guidance requires an authorized operator belonging to a company legally independent of the constructor and organizations involved in the project's construction, design management or project ownership.

Related terms

• What do the work codes on a contractor's Qualibat certificate identify?
• Which Qualibat qualification covers building envelope air-tightness testing?

FAQ

Which code should I look for when commissioning a duct leakage test?

Look for 8721. Qualibat's documentation identifies it as setting up a measurement system and measuring the air permeability of duct networks.

Is the company's qualification enough to identify the operator?

Check the named operator as well. The ministry's guidance distinguishes the company's qualification from the individual's ministerial authorization and publishes a list for duct measurement operators.

What evidence can I request from the provider?

Request the current annual certificate. The 8721 reference specifies the qualification's scope, expiry date and list of authorized measurement operators among its contents.

Sources

1. Qualibat, "Documentation", undated
2. Qualibat, "Référentiel pour l’attribution et le suivi de la qualification professionnelle de Mesurage 8721", version 04, January 2024
3. Qualibat, "Référentiel pour l’attribution et le suivi de la qualification professionnelle de Mesurage 8711", version 05, January 2024
4. RT-RE bâtiment, "Reconnaissance des mesureurs de perméabilité à l’air", updated 16 October 2026

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