BUILDING CONSTRUCTION VI

SERVICE DUCTS
Prepared by Rajendrasingh Pardeshi
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Although the Electrical supply intake
can be terminated in a meter box
situated within a dwelling, most
supply companies prefer to use the
external meter box to enable the
meter to be read without the need to
enter the premises.

The local company is responsible
for providing electricity up to and
including meter, but the consumer is
responsible for safety and protection
of the companys equipment.

The supplier will install the service
cable up to the meter position where
their termination equipment is
installed
INTRODUCTION
Rewire able systems housed in
horizontal conduits can be cast
into the structural floor slab or
sited within the depth of the floor
screed.

To ensure that such a system is
rewire able, draw in boxes must
be incorporated at regular
intervals and not more than two
right angle boxes to be included
between draw-in points.

Vertical conduit can be surface
mounted or housed in a chase
cut in to a wall provides depth of
the chase is not more than 1/3
rd

of the wall thickness
INTRODUCTION
Gas Service Pipes

1. Whenever possible the service
pipe should enter the building on
the side nearest to the main.
2. A service pipe must not pass
under the foundation of a building.
3. No service pipe must be run
within a cavity but it may pass
through a cavity by the shortest
route.
4. Service pipes passing through a
wall or solid floor must be
enclosed by a sleeve or duct
which is end sealed with mastic.
5. No service pipe shall be housed
in an unventilated void.
6. Suitable material for service pipes
are copper and steel.
Polyethylene is normally used
underground.
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Fire Protection or Service Openings:
Penetration of compartment walls and floors
by service pipes and conduits is very difficult
to avoid. An exception is where purpose built
service ducts can be accommodated.
Wherever a pipe passes through a
compartment interface, it must be provided
with a proprietary seal. Seals are collars of
intumescent material which expands rapidly
when subjected to heat, to form a
carbonaceous charring. Expansion is
sufficient to compress warm plastic and
successfully close a pipe void for up to 4
hours.

In some circumstances fire stopping around
the pipes will be acceptable, providing the
gap around the pipe and hole through the
structure are filled with non combustible
material. Various materials are acceptable,
including reinforced mineral fibre, cement and
plasters, asbestos rope and intumescent
mastics.

Pipes of low heat resistance, such as PVC,
lead, aluminium alloys and fibre cement may
have a protective sleeve of non combustible
material extending at least 1m either side of
the structure
INTRODUCTION
Telephone Installations: Unlike
other services such as water, gas
and electricity, telephones cannot be
connected to a common main supply.
Each telephone requires a pair of
wires connecting it to the telephone
exchange.

The external supply services and
connection to the lead-in socket is
carried out by telecommunication
engineers. Internal extensions can
be installed by the site electrician.
INTRODUCTION
Electronic Installations: In addition to
standard electrical and
telecommunication supplies in to a
buildings, there is a growing demand for
cable TV, security cabling and
broadband access to the internet.

Previous construction practice has not
foreseen the need to accommodate
these services from distribution
networks into buildings, and
retrospective installation through
underground ducting is both costly and
disruptive to the structure and
surrounding area, particularly when
repeated for each different service.
Ideally there should be a common
facility integral with new construction to
permit simple installation of these
communication services at any time. A
typical installation will provide
connection from a common external
terminal chamber via underground
ducting to a terminal distribution box
within the building. Internal distribution
is through service voids within the
structure or attached trunking.
INTRODUCTION

COMMERCIAL, industrial, and
residential air duct system design must
consider

1.space availability
2.space air diffusion
3.noise levels,
4.air distribution system (duct and
equipment)
5.duct heat gains and losses,
6.balancing,
7.fire and smoke control
8.initial investment cost, and
9.system operating cost.
INTRODUCTION
HVAC DESIGN Combining comfort
with efficiency

When defining an HVAC installation,
comfort is the most obvious primary
consideration, as it is invariably the
main reason for installing an HVAC
system in first place.

The air duct distribution network is an
important component of HVAC
installations, helping to significantly
reduce energy costs and reduce noise
nuisance generated by the systems
equipment.

An HVAC installation is designed to
ensure the thermal and acoustic comfort
of a buildings occupants, use energy
efficiency and comply fully with safety
requirements.

The shape of ducts usually installed as
rectangular, because dimensions can
easily be changed to maintain the
required area

INTRODUCTION
Advantages of Installation HVAC
Duct work

Installing an HVAC duct work system
during a buildings construction often
means reduced costs in the long run, as
it avoids any future necessary structural
modifications.

Installation typically consists of
designing space for the distribution
network and the location of AHUs.
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
Space Pressure Relationship

Space pressure is determined by fan location and duct system arrangement.

For example, a supply fan that pumps air into a space increases space pressure; an
exhaust fan reduces space pressure.

If both supply and exhaust fans are used, space pressure depends on the relative
capacity of the fans. Space pressure is positive if supply exceeds exhaust and
negative if exhaust exceeds supply .

System pressure variations caused by wind can be minimized or eliminated by careful
selection of intake air and exhaust vent locations


DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
Fire and Smoke Management

Because duct systems can convey smoke, hot gases, and fire from one area to
another and can accelerate a fire within the system, fire protection is an essential part
of air-conditioning and ventilation system design. Generally, fire safety codes require
compliance with the standards of national organizations. fire safety requirements for

1.ducts, connectors, and appurtenances;
2.plenums and corridors;
3.air outlets, air inlets, and fresh air intakes;
4.air filters
5.fans;
6.electric wiring and equipment;
7.air-cooling and -heating equipment;
8.Building construction, including protection of penetrations; and
9.Controls , including smoke control.
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
Duct Insulation

In all new construction (except low-rise residential buildings), air-handling ducts and
plenums that are part of an HVAC air distribution system should be thermally
insulated in accordance with ASHRAE Standard 90.1. Duct insulation for new low-rise
residential buildings should comply with ASHRAE Standard 90.2. Existing buildings
should meet requirements of ASHRAE Standard 100.

In all cases, thermal insulation should meet local code requirements. Insulation
thicknesses in these standards are minimum values; economic and thermal
considerations may justify higher insulation levels. Additional insulation, vapour
retarders, or both may be required to limit vapour transmission and condensation.
Duct heat gains or losses must be known to calculate supply air quantities, supply air
temperatures, and coil loads.

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
Duct System Leakage

It is recommended that all transverse joints, longitudinal seams, and ductwork
penetrations be sealed. Longitudinal seams are joints oriented in the direction of
airflow. Duct wall penetrations are openings made by screws, non-self-sealing
fasteners, pipe, tubing, rods, and wire. All other connections are considered
transverse joints, which are connections of two duct or fitting elements oriented
perpendicular to flow. System (ductwork and equipment) leakage should be tested to
verify the installing contractors workmanship and sealing practices.

Leakage in all unsealed ducts varies considerably with
the fabricating machinery used,
material thickness,
assembly methods, and
installation workmanship.

For sealed ducts, a wide variety of sealing methods and products exists
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
System and Duct Noise

The major sources of noise from air-conditioning systems are diffusers, grilles, fans,
ducts, fittings, and vibrations. Sound control for terminal devices consists of selecting
devices that meet the design goal under all operating conditions and installing them
properly so that no additional sound is generated.

The sound power output of a fan is determined by the type of fan, airflow, and
pressure. Sound control in the duct system requires proper duct layout, sizing, and
provision for installing duct attenuators, if required. Noise generated by a system
increases with both duct velocity and system pressure.
DUCT DESIGN PROCEDURES
The general procedure for HVAC system duct design is as follows:

1.Study the building plans, and arrange supply and return outlets to provide proper
distribution of air in each space. Adjust calculated air quantities for duct heat gains or
losses and duct leakage. Also, adjust supply, return, and/or exhaust air quantities to
meet space pressurization requirements.
2.Select outlet sizes from manufacturers data
3.Sketch the duct system, connecting supply outlets and return intakes with the air-
handling units/air conditioners. Use rigid round ducts, minimize the number of fittings,
and avoid close-coupled fittings because little is known about the resulting loss
coefficients. If space is restricted and a properly designed round duct is too large, the
next best option to minimize leakage and pressure losses is to use flat oval ductwork.
Multiple runs of round duct should also be considered. Limit flexible duct to the final 5
ft of connections to diffusers and terminal boxes, with no more than 5% compression.
4.Divide the system into sections and number each section. A duct system should be
divided at all points where flow, size, or shape changes. Assign fittings to the section
toward the supply and return (or exhaust) terminals.
5.Size ducts by the selected design method.
6.Lay out the system in detail. If duct routing and fittings vary significantly from the
original design, recalculate pressure losses. Reselect the fan if necessary
7.Resize duct sections to approximately balance pressures at each junction
8.Analyse the design for objectionable noise levels, and specify lined duct, double-
wall duct, and sound attenuators as necessary.
DUCT INSULATION
The need for duct insulation is influenced by the

1.Duct location (e.g., indoors or outdoors; conditioned, semi conditioned, or
unconditioned space)
2.Effect of heat loss or gain on equipment size and operating cost
3.Need to prevent condensation on low-temperature ducts
4.Need to control temperature change in long duct lengths
5.Need to control noise transmitted within the duct or through the duct wall

All HVAC ducts exposed to outdoor conditions, as well as those passing through
unconditioned or semi conditioned spaces, should be insulated. Analyses of
temperature change, heat loss or gain and other factors affecting the economics of
thermal insulation are essential for large commercial and industrial projects.

ASHRAE Standard 90.1 and building codes set minimum standards for thermal
efficiency, but economic thickness is often greater than the minimum. Additionally, the
standards and codes do not address surface condensation issues. These
considerations are often the primary driver of minimum thickness in unconditioned or
semi conditioned locations subject to moderate or greater relative humidity
INSULATION MATERIAL FOR HVAC
DUCTS
Insulated ducts in buildings can consist of insulated sheet metal, fibrous glass, or
insulated flexible ducts, all of which provide :
combined air barrier
Thermal insulation, and
some degree of sound absorption.

Ducts embedded in or below floor slabs may be of compressed fiber, ceramic tile, or
other rigid materials. Depending on the insulation material, there are a number of
standards that specify the material requirements.

Duct insulations include semirigid boards and flexible blanket types, composed of
organic and inorganic materials in fibrous, cellular, or bonded particle forms.
Insulations for exterior surfaces may have attached vapor retarders or facings, or
vapor retarders may be applied separately.

When applied to the duct interior as a liner, insulation both insulates thermally and
absorbs sound. Duct liner insulations have sound-permeable surfaces on the side
facing the airstream capable of withstanding duct design air velocities or duct cleaning
without deterioration.
INSULATION MATERIAL FOR HVAC
DUCTS
Abuse Resistance

One important consideration in the choice of external insulations for air ducts is abuse
resistance. Some insulation materials have more abuse resistance than others, but
most rigid insulations will not withstand high abuse such as foot traffic. In high-traffic
locations, a combination of insulation and protective jacketings is required.

In areas where the insulation is generally inaccessible to human contact, less rigid
insulations are acceptable. One important consideration for internal insulation abuse
resistance is that, in large commercial units, it is common for maintenance personnel
to enter and move around. In these instances, it is critical that structural elements be
provided to keep foot traffic off the insulation.
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
Space Pressure Relationship

Space pressure is determined by fan
location and duct system arrangement.

For example, a supply fan that pumps
air into a space increases space
pressure; an exhaust fan reduces space
pressure.

If both supply and exhaust fans are
used, space pressure depends on the
relative capacity of the fans. Space
pressure is positive if supply exceeds
exhaust and negative if exhaust
exceeds supply .

System pressure variations caused by
wind can be minimized or eliminated by
careful selection of intake air and
exhaust vent locations
DUCT TYPES
Types of duct are:

1.Metal ducts
2.Glass wool duct boards
3.Plastic ducts
4.Flexible ducts


Metal Duct work

Such ducts are made from sheet metal (galvanized or stainless steel, copper,
aluminium), cut and shaped to the required geometry for the air distribution system.

Since metal is a good thermal conductor, such ducts require thermal insulation, the
commonest material for which is glass wool, usually in roll form (known as wraps or
wrapped insulation), wrapped around the outer duct wall. Wraps incorporate an
aluminium foil facing that acts as a vapour barrier.

Insulation can also be installed on the inner wall of the duct (duct liners), as glass
wool duct wraps or duct slabs faced with a glass matting or mesh providing acoustic
insulation and strengthening the inner face of the duct.
DUCT TYPES
Glass wool duct boards

These are ducts made from high density glass wool board. Ducts are shaped from the
boards, by cutting and folding in These are ducts made from high density glass wool
board. Ducts are shaped from the boards, by cutting and folding in order, to obtain the
required geometry required.

The face of the original board in contact with the air stream when assembled as a
duct is called the internal face, i.e. inside the duct. The other surface of the original
board is called the external face.

Panels are supplied with double facing such that:
The external face of the duct is faced with a robust reinforced aluminium foil which
acts as a vapour barrier and confers air tightness on the duct.
The internal face of the duct has either an aluminium coating, a glass mat or fabric
layer, depending on the properties required of the duct

Flexible ducts

These usually consist of two aluminium and polyester concentric tubes. A glass wool
layer is inserted between the two tubes as thermal insulation.

Their use is generally limited to short lengths, due to high pressure drop-off and the
acoustic problems they create: they are mainly used to connect main air duct and
terminal units (diffusers, grids). In most countries the regulations do not permit their
use in lengths greater than 1.5 m.
DUCT TYPES
Plastic ducts

This category includes ducts made from plastic or foam boards, shaped by cutting
and folded to produce the required cross-sectional geometry. Boards are faced
usually with an aluminium coating both internally and external.

The main drawback of this type of ducting is their fire classification. Even if they
comply with local standards, when exposed to fire they often exhibit poor performance
in terms of the production of both smoke and flaming droplets.