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HVAC Air Duct Leakage
HVAC Air Duct Leakage
F = C LP N
Duct Leakage is Related to Duct
Surface Area
F = CLPN Where:
Seam:
Joining two longitudinally (in the
direction of airflow) oriented edges of
duct surface between two joints. Helical
(spiral) lock seams are exempt from
sealing requirements.
Definitions
Joints: All other duct surface connections
made on the perimeter are deemed to be
joints including:
– Girth Joints
– Branch & Sub-Branch Intersections
– Duct Collar Tap-ins
– Fitting Subsections
Definitions
Joints: (Continued)
– Louver and Air Terminal Connections to
Ducts
– Control Rods/Levers
– Pressure Taps
Duct System Designer
Liquids
– Recommended for Slip Type Joints where
the Sealant Fills a Small Space Between
Overlapping Pieces of Metal
SEAL CLASS C B A
LEAKAGE CLASS
RECTANGULAR
24 12 6
METAL
ROUND METAL 12 6 3
DUCT LEAKAGE CLASSIFICATION – FIGURE 4-1
Test Procedures
1. Select a section of duct to be tested.
2. Select a test pressure not in excess of
the pressure class rating of the duct.
(Usually the actual operating pressure.)
3. Calculate the allowable leakage using
leakage factors for the duct surface
area.
Test Procedures
4. Select the blower and orifice suitable
for the test airflow requirements.
5. Connect the blower and flowmeter to
the duct section.
6. Provide temporary seals at all ends of
the ductwork.
Test Procedures
7. Start the blower at a low airflow
capacity, increasing the airflow until
the test pressure is reached.
0.12 32.1 132.6 1.32 29.8 105.5 426.5 4.60 55.3 196.2 789
0.14 34.6 142.8 1.34 30.1 106.3 429.7 4.70 55.9 198.3 797
0.16 37.0 152.3 1.36 30.3 107.1 432.9 4.80 56.5 200.4 806
0.18 39.2 161.2 1.38 30.5 107.9 436.0 4.90 57.1 202.4 814
0.20 41.3 169.6 1.40 30.7 108.6 439.1 5.00 57.6 204.4 822
0.22 43.3 177.6 1.42 30.9 109.4 442.2 5.10 58.2 206.5 830
0.24 45.2 185.2 1.44 31.2 110.2 445.2 5.20 58.8 208.5 838
0.26 47.0 192.6 1.46 31.4 110.9 448.3 5.30 59.3 210.4 846
0.28 48.8 199.6 1.48 31.6 111.7 451.3 5.40 59.9 212.4 854
0.30 50.5 206.5 1.50 31.8 112.4 454.3 5.50 60.4 214.3 862
0.32 52.1 213.0 1.52 32.0 113.2 457.2 5.60 61.0 216.3 869
0.34 53.7 219.4 1.54 32.2 113.9 460.2 5.70 61.5 218.2 877
0.36 55.3 225.6 1.56 32.4 114.6 463.1 5.80 62.0 220.0 884
0.38 56.8 231.6 1.58 32.6 115.4 466.0 5.90 62.6 221.9 892
0.40 58.3 237.5 1.60 32.8 116.1 468.9 6.00 63.1 223.8 899
0.42 59.7 243.2 1.62 33.0 116.8 471.8 6.10 63.6 225.6 907
0.44 61.1 248.8 1.64 33.2 117.5 474.7 6.20 64.1 227.4 914
0.46 62.4 254.3 1.66 33.4 118.2 477.5 6.30 64.6 229.2 921
0.48 63.8 259.6 1.68 33.6 118.9 480.3 6.40 65.1 231.0 928
0.50 18.5 65.1 264.9 1.70 33.8 119.6 483.1 6.50 65.6 232.8 935
0.52 18.8 66.4 270.0 1.72 34.0 120.3 485.9 6.60 66.1 234.6 942
0.54 19.2 67.6 275.0 1.74 34.2 121.0 488.7 6.70 66.6 236.3 949
0.56 19.5 68.9 280.0 1.76 34.4 121.7 491.5 6.80 67.1 238.1 956
0.58 19.9 70.1 284.8 1.78 34.6 122.4 494.2 6.90 67.6 239.8 963
0.60 20.2 71.3 289.6 1.80 34.8 123.1 496.9 7.00 68.1 241.4 970
GIVEN: ASSUME:
From Fig. 4-1 Fan CFM = 16000
Leakage Class = CL6 Duct Area = 4000 sf.
Operating Pressure = 3.5” w.g. Fan CFM = 16000 = 4
Duct Area 4000
Leakage Factor = 13.6 CFM/100 sf.
CALCULATION:
% of flow = Leakage Factor = 13.6 = 3.40
Fan CFM 4
Duct Area
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