Whole Building Air Barrier Testing in Chewelah, Washington

We recently performing a whole building air barrier test at the new Mistequa Casino Hotel project in Chewelah, Washington. Located in the scenic northeastern region of Washington State, this exciting new hospitality development represents a major investment in tourism, economic growth, and community development for the area. As construction continues toward completion, QED LAB is proud to support the project through professional building envelope testing and AAMA-accredited field window testing services designed to verify long-term building performance and energy efficiency.

The new Mistequa Casino Hotel will offer a wide range of modern amenities for guests visiting Chewelah and the surrounding North-Eastern Washington region. The hotel includes 69 guest rooms along with banquet and special event spaces, conference rooms, an indoor swimming pool and hot tub, patio seating areas, a fitness center, and ski lockers for visitors enjoying nearby winter recreation opportunities. The project is expected to become an important destination for tourism and hospitality in Washington while also creating long-term economic benefits for the region.

As part of the construction quality assurance process, QED LAB is performing a whole building air barrier test to evaluate the airtightness and overall performance of the building envelope. Whole building air leakage testing is an essential component of modern commercial construction and helps ensure the hotel meets project specifications, energy code requirements, and long-term durability expectations. In climates like Eastern Washington, where buildings experience seasonal temperature swings, snow, wind, and varying weather conditions, proper air barrier performance is critical for maintaining energy efficiency and occupant comfort.

Whole building air barrier testing is commonly performed in accordance with ASTM E3158, ASTM E779, and ASTM E1827 standards. During testing, large calibrated blower door fan systems are installed into the structure to pressurize and depressurize the building while measuring the amount of uncontrolled air leakage through the building envelope. This process helps identify leakage pathways around windows, doors, roof systems, penetrations, and exterior wall assemblies before the building is occupied.

In addition to the whole building air barrier test, QED LAB also performed AAMA-accredited field window testing during the construction process. Field window testing helps verify that installed window systems are properly resisting water penetration and air leakage under real-world conditions. This type of testing is especially important for hospitality projects where guest comfort, moisture protection, and long-term building performance are top priorities. Testing procedures commonly include ASTM E1105 water penetration testing, ASTM E783 air leakage testing, and AAMA field testing standards designed to confirm installation quality and envelope integrity.

Projects like the Mistequa Casino Hotel highlight the growing importance of building envelope testing in Washington commercial construction. Hospitality developments require careful coordination between contractors, architects, consultants, and testing agencies to ensure the building performs as intended throughout all seasons.

QED LAB is proud to support projects throughout Washington with professional whole building air barrier testing, window testing, and building envelope performance verification services that help ensure long-lasting, energy-efficient, and code-compliant buildings.