Frequently Asked Questions
What is Awaab’s Law?
Awaab’s Law is a housing law introduced following the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died in 2020 from a respiratory condition caused by prolonged exposure to mould in his family’s social housing home. Awaab’s Law is widely seen as a positive change because it puts people’s health and safety first and prevents serious housing problems from being ignored.
In Scotland, the Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026 came into force on 6 October 2026 and place legal duties on landlords to investigate and address reports of damp and mould within specific timescales.
Who does Awaab’s Law apply to in Scotland?
The regulations apply to both social and private landlords in Scotland. This includes councils, housing associations, and private landlords responsible for maintaining rented homes. The rules apply where damp or mould relates to parts of the building for which the landlord is responsible.
How can RTRFIT support landlords with Awaab’s Law compliance?
RTRFIT carries out airtightness testing and air leakage diagnostics to help identify uncontrolled air leakage within buildings. Understanding a property’s airtightness can provide valuable information when investigating building performance issues and planning remedial works.
Why builders across Scotland choose RTRFIT
We help builders, developers, landlords, architects and homeowners meet Scottish Building Standards requirements quickly and efficiently.
Scotland-Wide Coverage – Based in Dundee, we provide testing and compliance support across Scotland.
Independent, Expert Support – We offer straightforward advice, clear reporting and certification to support compliance and project sign-off.
Save Time and Avoid Costly Delays – Early testing can identify issues before completion, helping avoid remedial work, failed tests and construction delays.
One Point of Contact – Airtightness testing and acoustic compliance testing through our specialist partners, we simplify the compliance process.
What is Pulse Airtightness Testing?
Pulse Airtightness Testing is a fast and non-invasive method used to measure how airtight a building is. It uses a small pressure pulse (a short burst of air) to assess air leakage, helping identify how well a building retains heat and prevents draughts.
How is it different from traditional blower door testing?
Pulse testing takes only a few seconds to measure, is less disruptive, can be carried out at multiple stages of construction and is fully compliant with building regulations. Most domestic tests take under an hour on site. Larger or more complex buildings may take longer, but Pulse is generally faster than traditional blower door methods.
Is Pulse testing accepted for Scottish building regulations?
Yes. Pulse testing is fully compliant with Section 6 (Energy) of the Scottish Building Standards and is accepted by verifiers across Scotland. We provide all necessary documentation for your building warrant.
What do I receive after the test?
You’ll get a full test report including:
- Measured air permeability (m³/h·m² @ 4 Pa or equivalent at 50 Pa)
- Pass/fail status against your target
- Observations and photographs of any leakage paths identified (if required)
- Documentation suitable for submission to your local authority verifier