T&C Document for ACMV System BIOGARD ASIA (M) SDN. BHD.

Method Statement for Duct Leakage Test

Compliance for SMACNA Class A Leakage Rate

The engineering community has traditionally specified SMACNA’s three distinct duct sealing
classes (A, B, or C), which differ in their requirements for sealing the transverse joint,
longitudinal seams, and duct penetrations. Typically the designer will specify a Seal Class and a
percentage of the design airflow as an acceptable air leakage rate.

As reported in the SMACNA 1990 HVAC Systems Duct Design Manual, duct leakage
previously specified as an arbitrarily established percentage of the airflow was impossible to
attain by the installing contractor. Joint research conducted by SMACNA and the American
Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has since
developed a methodology used to relate the amount of ductwork leakage to the ductwork surface
area and the design static pressure independent of the actual airflow in the ductwork.

SMACNA publishes a table (Table 1) that correlates the Seal Class (A, B, or C) and the Leakage
Class (typically 3, 6, 12, or 48). Obviously, this assumes a superior application of sealants to the
ductwork system.

Seal Class A B C
Leakage Class – Rectangular 24 12 6
Leakage Class – Round 12 6 3
Table 1

ASHRAE’s Energy Standard 90.1 recognizes the Leakage Class method for

Lmax = CLP0.65

where:
Lmax = maximum permitted leakage in cfm/100 ft2 ductwork surface area
CL = duct leakage class, cfm/100ft2 at 1 inch water gauge
P = test pressure, which shall be equal to the design duct pressure class rating in inches water
column

In addition, the leakage class recognizes that under the best conditions, rectangular ductwork will
leak air at a rate twice greater than round.

For Bio-Containment and Hazardous discharge exhaust ducting system, SMACNA Class A
Sealing Rating is assigned.

Lmax = CLP0.65 (CL = 24) (P = 6 inch static pressure)

= (24) (6) 0.65
= 76.915 cfm/100ft2
Lmax = 76.915 ( Duct Area ft2) cfm
100 ft2
Duct Area = Total area of the ducting material (from Diffuser to HEPA Housing)

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T&C Document for ACMV System BIOGARD ASIA (M) SDN. BHD.

Duct Leakage Testing – Exhaust System

To perform a proper duct leakage test using an orifice duct leakage tester, perform the following
steps:
1. Use the orifice plate with the recommended leakage range for your job. Refer to the test
equipment manual for selection procedure to help determine which plate(s) you can use
with your testers.
2. Make sure you have adequate electrical power for the fan. DO NOT OVERLOAD
extension cords. Make sure you use one with the proper gauge.
3. Cover all open end of the duct with isolation valve, plate clamp or other adequate method..
4. Allow all joints and seams that were sealed with duct sealer to cure for at least 24 hours or
the required cure time by the manufacturer, whichever is greater.
5. If possible, position the orifice duct leakage tester in a location where there will be a
straight path from the orifice tube outlet to the location where you will feed air into the
system.
6. Select a test pressure not in excess of the pressure class rating of the duct. The test pressure
should be the working static pressure of the exhaust duct system.
7. Calculate the allowable or allocated leakage (in cfm) using the ASHRAE’s Energy
Standard 90.1 recognizes the Leakage Class method.
8. Connect the blower and flow meter to the duct section and provide temporary seals at all
open ends of the ductwork.
9. Close the fan's inlet damper so the duct system does not get over pressurized by the tester.
10. Turn on the tester blower.
11. Adjust inlet damper until the reading on the gauge marked "Duct System" is at the system
pressure required for performing the leakage test.
12. Once the duct system pressure has been reached and stabilized, note the reading on the
gauge marked "Orifice Tube". This pressure drop reading will correspond to the amount of
air you're feeding into the duct system, which is the amount of air that is leaking out.
13. Refer to the calibration table that came with your test rig. Find the pressure reading and
note the corresponding leakage rate.

Troubleshooting:

If the "Orifice Tube" gauge exceeds the maximum range, the system is probably leaking too
much air.
Investigate system for missed outlets or unsealed joints. You can also use a larger orifice or a
gauge
with a larger range.

If you cannot obtain any pressure (or very little pressure) with the blower on and the inlet
damper wide
open, it could be due to one of the following problems:

Method Statement for Duct Leakage Test Page 2/5

T&C Document for ACMV System BIOGARD ASIA (M) SDN. BHD.

1. Using too small of an orifice plate

If pressure drop across orifice plate is more than 2 in.wg., use the next greater sized
orifice plate. Use our online program to determine which orifice plate you should
use based on the maximum allowable leakage. You can also refer to graphs for each
tester/plate combination.

2. System has more leakage at test pressure than is allowed

When using the Cobra or Lynx tester, use the 4-inch plate to pressurize your system
and refer to the following table to determine if your system is leaking more than the
maximum capacity of the tester.
Also check your flex-duct connections Wrap duct tape tightly around the joint and
feel for leaks. Rectangular duct joint corners can be typical leaky points. If fire
damper and/or heater coils are part of the system you are testing, they also can be
significant leak contributors. A smoke machine may be used to help locate leaks;
contact us for more information.

3. Equipment not working properly

Make sure the equipment is working properly by doing the following steps:
• turn off blower.
• observe blower wheel rotation direction when it slows down (view from looking
through inlet safety screen); it should be rotating clockwise (if not, contact us).
• completely close inlet damper.
• disconnect the flex-duct from the tester.
• turn on blower.
• Slowly open inlet damper and verify that you can feel air coming out of the orifice
tube.
• the orifice tube gauge pressure drop reading should be maxed out.
• you can verify gauges are working properly by removing pressure tubing and
carefully apply pressure by gently blowing into tube end as if trying to inflate a
balloon.

Method Statement for Duct Leakage Test Page 3/5

T&C Document for ACMV System BIOGARD ASIA (M) SDN. BHD.

TEST REPORT (Part 1/2)

Date :
____________________________________________

Time :
____________________________________________

Test Location :
____________________________________________

Test Conducted By :

____________________________________________
(Name) (Organization) (Signature)
Test Witnessed By :

____________________________________________
(Name) (Organization) (Signature)
Test Verified By :

____________________________________________
(Name) (Organization) (Signature)
Laboratory Type / Class
____________________________________________

Owner Details :
____________________________________________

Test Pressure :
____________________________________________

Leakage Classification
____________________________________________

Total Duct Surface Area :

_____________________________________________
(Attached duct surface calculation with M&E
Consultant verification)
Leakage Test Equipment :
____________________________________________
(Model and Specification)
Calibration Validity :
____________________________________________
(Attached calibration certificate for tester equipment)

Method Statement for Duct Leakage Test Page 4/5

T&C Document for ACMV System BIOGARD ASIA (M) SDN. BHD.

TEST REPORT (Part 2/2)

Test Duct Pressure Class Allowable Measure

Sequence Leakage Rate Leakage

Test Summary :
______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Test Conducted By : ____________________________________________________________

(Name) (Organization) (Signature) (Date)

Test Witnessed By : ____________________________________________________________

(Name) (Organization) (Signature) (Date)

Test Conducted By : ____________________________________________________________

(Name) (Organization) (Signature) (Date)

Method Statement for Duct Leakage Test Page 5/5