The Air Tightness Testing & Measurement Association (ATTMA) has announced the availability of Japanese translations of its Technical Standards TSL1, TSL2, TSL3 and TSL4, marking an important step in improving international access to established air tightness testing methodologies. The translations form part of a structured project undertaken by a Japanese working group operating under the direction of the Japanese government and were facilitated by Sayo Okada, Director of Cube Zero Sustainability Design Consulting, working with industry stakeholders in Japan.
Why choose ATTMA Technical Standards for the Japanese Translations
The decision to translate ATTMA’s standards was informed by several factors highlighted by the working group. These included ATTMA’s long‑standing track record and extensive practical experience developed within the UK, the ability to publicly release a translated version of a well‑established standard free of charge, and the clarity of the documents themselves, noting the well‑structured technical presentation, supported by graphical figures and worked calculation examples, which contribute to the clarity and accessibility of the testing methodologies.
It’s more than translation. It is about ensuring that the intent, rigour and practical application of air tightness testing are understood consistently, regardless of language or location.
A key consideration in the selection of ATTMA’s standards was their treatment of larger and more complex buildings. While airtightness testing standards in Japan currently focus primarily on detached housing, ATTMA’s standards include detailed methodologies for testing large‑scale and complex buildings. These include approaches such as dividing buildings into multiple test zones and the use of multiple distributed fan systems, which were described by the working group as particularly informative and educational. These aspects were seen as providing valuable insight into testing scenarios that have seen limited application in Japan to date and as supporting the development of practical experience in this area.
The translated standards are expected to support a broader understanding of air tightness testing practices across different building types and scales, contributing to improved consistency and technical capability within the Japanese market. By making established methodologies more accessible in the local language, the project aims to support engineers, researchers and testing organisations in gaining practical familiarity with approaches that have been successfully applied elsewhere.
The Process
The translation process was undertaken with a strong emphasis on technical accuracy and quality assurance. The documents were not treated as simple linguistic conversions but were subject to controlled verification aligned with ISO 17100, the international standard for translation services, to ensure that the intent, technical meaning and rigour of the original standards have been maintained.
In addition to improving technical accessibility, the initiative reflects wider efforts to support improved building performance and energy efficiency. By enabling the use of established air tightness testing methodologies across different international contexts, the translations are intended to contribute to broader objectives relating to climate change mitigation, building quality and indoor environmental performance.
The Japanese translations of ATTMA Technical Standards TSL1–4 are now available to download via the ATTMA website.
Paul Carling, Technical Manager at ATTMA, commented:
“Making the ATTMA Technical Standards available in Japanese is about more than translation. It is about ensuring that the intent, rigour and practical application of air tightness testing are understood consistently, regardless of language or location.”
In addition to improving accessibility, the initiative is also intended to support broader efforts to address climate change. By enabling the use of established air tightness testing methodologies across different markets, ATTMA is helping to promote improved building performance, energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality on a global scale.
Click the links below to head straight to the download pages for each Technical Standard
