Basic techniques

to help HVAC
engineers
perform a rough-
cut acoustical
analysis during
the design phase
of a project

Rooftop-Unit Noise: Predicting Problems

ans generate noise. Ultimately, that noise for another day. The intent of this article is to

F dissipates—but, sometimes, not before demonstrate a technique, one that can be applied to
escaping to places it is not wanted. Noise- any set of criteria curves.
sensitive applications, such as theaters and worship
spaces, often dictate the retention of an acoustical UNDERSTANDING THE DECIBEL
consultant, while other applications, such as small Acoustical calculations utilize the decibel. A
rooftop units serving retail shops, decibel simply is 10 times the log
rarely justify the additional By KENNETH M. ELOVITZ, PE, ESQ. of a power ratio. Strictly speak-
expense. This article presents Energy Economics Inc. ing, the word “decibel” is mean-
basic techniques to help HVAC Foxboro, Mass. ingless unless the reference power
engineers perform a rough-cut level is specified.
acoustical analysis during the design phase of a For sound-power level (Lw, PWL, or the amount
project. The goal is to determine whether a noise of noise a machine produces), the reference power
problem is likely to exist and whether the services of is 10-12 w (or 1 pw).
an acoustical consultant are warranted. For sound-pressure level (Lp, SPL, or the noise
Plotting results on a standard octave-band chart people hear), the reference power is 20 µN/m2
(Figure 1) helps engineers visualize those results. (sometimes expressed as 2 x 10-5 N/m2 and for-
Also, it shows which measures have the greatest merly called 0.0002 microbar). The reference level
impact and aids identification of octave bands of 20 µN/m2 was chosen because it is considered
where additional attenuation is needed. The octave- the minimum perceptible level of hearing.
band chart in this article has noise-criteria (NC) Sound pressure is a cyclical wave, with variations
curves superimposed on calculated data. The debate that fluctuate above and below atmospheric pres-
over which acoustical-design or acceptance criteria sure. Because the variations are mirror images above
(noise, room, balanced noise, etc.) to use is a topic and below atmospheric pressure, the arithmetic

Kenneth M. Elovitz, PE, Esq., is an engineering consultant focusing on the function and performance of
energy systems. He received a bachelor’s degree in metallurgy and materials science with highest honors from
Lehigh University and a juris-doctor degree from Suffolk University Law School. He is a member of HPAC
Engineering’s Editorial Advisory Board, as well as the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-
Conditioning Engineers; the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; and the National Fire Protection
Association.

16 August 2003 • HPAC Engineering

 110

100

Power split
90
Octave-band sound-pressure level, dB re 0.0002 microbar

Fan sound
power
80 Fourth-floor
Breakout loss duct

70 NC 70

FAN SOUND POWER

60
50
40
30
20
63
FIGURE 1. Octave-band chart.
average pressure of a sound wave is zero
(just like the arithmetic average of AC
electrical voltage). The meaningful aver-
age magnitude of a cyclical phenomenon
such as sound is its root mean square
(RMS). Like electrical voltage, the RMS
value is 0.707 or (√2)/2 times the peak
amplitude. When discussing sound pres-
sure (or any other cyclical phenomenon),
it is important to specify whether the
quantity under discussion is peak ampli-
tude (the height of the sine wave) or RMS
magnitude (effectively, the area under
the curve).
With AC electricity, power is propor-
The first step in an acoustical analysis
is determining how much noise a fan
NC 60
creates.
The 1984, 1987, and 1991 editions of
the ASHRAE Applications Handbook
NC 50 included tables that engineers could use
Room to predict fan sound power. Those tables
effect
disappeared from the 1995 and 1999
NC 40 editions. Now, the only guidance is a
statement that, “The sound power gener-
ated by a fan performing at a given duty
is best obtained from a manufacturer’s
NC 30 test data taken under approved test
conditions.”1 When using data from a
manufacturer, be sure to read the fine
print. Determine what the manufacturer
125 250 500 1,000 2,000 4,000 8,000
is reporting. The data could be fan sound
Band center frequencies, Hz
power, discharge sound power, or casing-
radiated sound power. For noise traveling
down a duct, discharge noise is the
parameter of interest. Fan sound power
tional to voltage squared (electrical power is considered to divide equally between
= I2R, and voltage = I*R, so I = V/R, and the discharge and inlet openings of a fan.
power = V2/R). Thinking of sound waves To determine discharge (or inlet) sound-
as acoustical voltage waves, it should power level from fan total sound power,
be no surprise that the power associated reduce each octave band by 3 dB.
with sound pressure is proportional to When manufacturer test data is not
the square of its magnitude. Because available or is difficult to obtain, engi-
a decibel is 10 times the log of a power neers need to look elsewhere for informa-
ratio, the decibel relationship for sound tion, not forsake the analysis. One source
pressure is 10 times the log of the pressure is Chapter 11 of the Fans Reference
ratio squared, or 20 times the log of the Guide2 (available at www.energyefficiency
pressure ratio: .org—click on “Product Catalogs”).
Other sources include the 1984, 1987,
dB = 10 log (P/Pref)^2 = 20 log (P/Pref) and 1991 editions of the ASHRAE
Applications Handbook and the Sheet

HPAC Engineering • August 2003 17

 R O O F T O P - U N I T N O I S E

Hertz 63 125 250 500 1,000 2,000 4,000

Metal and Air Conditioning Contrac-
tors’ National Association’s (SMACNA’s) Fan-specific
47 43 39 33 28 25 23
sound power
HVAC Systems—Duct Design manual.3
The data from these sources generally 10 Log Q 44 44 44 44 44 44 44
are within a few decibels of each other, 20 Log Q 14 14 14 14 14 14 14
excluding a table in the 1991 ASHRAE
Applications Handbook, in which the Correction for
operating point 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
sound-power levels of centrifugal fans
are noticeably higher. BFI 2
Estimates of fan sound-power level Total 105 101 97 93 86 83 81
using any of the aforementioned data
Notes:
sources utilize the following equation: Q = airflow in cfm
P = fan total static pressure in inches of water
BFI = Blade Frequency Index
Lw = Kw + 10 log Q + 20 log p + C
TABLE 1. Fan sound-power estimate.
where:
Lw = estimated fan sound-power level ing point under consideration Fan-specific sound-power level and the
(dB re 1 pw) C = correction for point of operation operating-point correction factor come
Kw = specific sound-power level (Lw (dB). C ranges from 0 dB when the from the selected data source.
for the fan moving 1 cfm at 1 in. TSP) operating point is at 90 percent or more Consider a 65-ton package rooftop
Q = cfm at operating point under of fan peak efficiency to 15 dB when the unit (gas heat/electric cool) with a
consideration operating point is at 50 percent of fan forward-curved centrifugal supply fan.
p = fan total static pressure at operat- peak efficiency. The unit serves a portion of a four-story

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18 August 2003 • HPAC Engineering

suburban office building. The fan has
a 30-hp drive motor and a design operat-
ing point of 23,195 cfm at 5 in. wg TSP.
Table 1 estimates the fan sound-power
level using data from the Fans Reference
Guide.2 This estimate is plotted on the
octave-band chart (Figure 1).
Each fan system has two primary
noise paths: noise traveling down a duct
and noise passing through a duct (break-
out). Roof-mounted equipment also
generates noise that radiates outward.
That noise can disturb neighbors or pen-
etrate the roof deck and annoy building
occupants.
Each path is analyzed separately. This
article covers only the duct-noise paths.
However, outdoor noise cannot be
ignored, especially if a HVAC system is a
rooftop unit or other compressorized
product. Vibration and resulting struc-
ture-borne noise are other potential
problems that might deserve analysis.
R O O F T O P - U N I T N O I S E
Difference between Add to the
two levels (dB) higher level (dB) sound power traveling down a duct
divides approximately in proportion to
0 3 the duct cross-sectional areas. Table 17 in
the 1999 Handbook (Table 19 in the
1 2.5
1991 Handbook) lists decibel losses
2 to 3 2
for various duct-area ratios. The 1991
Handbook (Page 42.15) explains that
4 1.5 the values in the table are 10 times the
log of the area ratio. The main supply
5 to 7 1 duct in our example is 44 in. by 38 in.,
with a unit total airflow of 23,195 cfm.
8 to 9 0.5
The fourth-floor branch duct is 30 in. by
10 or more 0
16 in., with a total airflow of 7,610 cfm.
The branch area is 28.7 percent of the
TABLE 2. Rules for combining decibels. main, so from Table 17, the power split
results in a 5-dB reduction in fan sound
NOISE TRAVELING DOWN THE DUCT power in the fourth-floor branch duct.
The acoustical question for our exam- The 5-dB reduction is plotted on the
ple system is whether the rooftop-unit octave-band chart (Figure 1).
fan will create objectionable noise on the At first glance, a reduction of 5 dB in
fourth floor. fan sound power in the fourth-floor
Page 46.16 of the 1999 ASHRAE branch duct seems rather meager. You
Applications Handbook explains that fan start with a 94-dB-A fan, send two-thirds
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HPAC Engineering • August 2003 19
 R O O F T O P - U N I T N O I S E

Hertz 63 125 250 500 1,000 2,000 4,000 analysis this article illustrates. Before
selecting that size, however, consider that
Breakout loss 20 23 26 29 32 37 43
duct breakout loss is a function of duct-
TABLE 3. Duct-breakout-loss estimate for 24-in.-by-24-in. rectangular duct. wall stiffness. For the same construction
or SMACNA pressure class, wider panels
of the air (and, presumably, two-thirds of ASHRAE Applications Handbook lists are less stiff and, therefore, have more
the sound energy) down the duct to the breakout-loss data for various rectangu- breakout than smaller panels. To avoid
lower floors, and still have 89 dB-A in the lar-duct sizes. overstating breakout loss, use the data
fourth-floor duct. The numbers seem to The supply duct in our example build- for the 24-in.-by-24-in. duct shown
in Table 3, and plot the results on the
Hertz 63 125 250 500 1,000 2,000 4,000 8,000 octave-band chart (Figure 1).
Converting the octave-band analysis
Factor -26 -16 -9 -3 0 +1 +1 -1
to dB-A is a convenient way to compare
TABLE 4. A-weighting adjustment factors. sound-energy levels. DB-A is a weighted
average that recognizes that the human
defy the law of conservation of energy. ing passes through a roof curb and into a ear is less sensitive to low frequencies
They make more sense when you remem- shaft. Noise that breaks out of the duct than to high frequencies. To convert a
ber that decibels are a logarithmic func- wall inside the roof curb and shaft sound spectrum to dB-A, first apply
tion. Using the rules for combining deci- reduces the sound-power level in the the adjustment factors in Table 4. Then
bels (Table 2), the 89-dB-A sound-power fourth-floor branch duct. The difference add decibels using the rules from Table 2.
level in the fourth-floor duct and the
93 dB-A remaining in the main going
Hertz 80 73 66 59 49 41 33
down the shaft (a difference of 4 dB)
produce the 94.5-dB-A fan sound-power Fourth-floor
80 73 66 59 49 41 33
duct dB
level (1.5 is added to the higher level).
Stated more scientifically, the 94.5-dB-A dB-A factor -26 -16 -9 -3 0 +1 +1
fan sound power represents 109.45 pw, or db-A 54 57 57 56 49 42 34
2.8 x 10-3 w, of sound power, while the
89 dB-A of fan sound power in the 54+57 59 57+56 58.5 49+42 50
fourth-floor duct represents 108.9 pw, or 59+58.5 62 50+34 50
0.79 x 10-3 w, of sound power. The num-
62+50 62 dB-A
bers confirm that the sound power in
the fourth-floor duct is approximately How the A-weighting technique applies to the sound level in the fourth-floor branch duct.
one-third of the total fan sound power.
in breakout loss from one duct size to After the breakout loss (the noise lost
NOISE PASSING THROUGH DUCT WALLS another is only a few decibels. Therefore, to the shaft) is deducted, the sound-
(BREAKOUT) data for the 24-in.-by-48-in. duct in power level in the fourth-floor branch
Rectangular sheet-metal ductwork Table 20, which is the closest in size to the duct drops from 89 dB-A to 62 dB-A.
does not contain sound very well. This 44-in.-by-38-in. main supply duct in our That 27-dB-A reduction sounds big—
can be a blessing or a curse. It can be example, are suitable for the preliminary and is. It represents a reduction from
a blessing when the duct passes through
an area where noise is not a concern, as Hertz 63 125 250 500 1,000 2,000 4,000
any sound energy that escapes through
the duct walls is sound energy no longer 5 log V 21 21 21 21 21 21 21
available to create problems in an occu- 3 log f 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
pied space. It can be a curse, obviously, 10 log r 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
when the duct passes through, or the
sound energy that escapes otherwise Room effect 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
reaches, a sensitive area. Example: In the 250-Hz octave band, room-effect factor is -5 log V - 3 log f - 10 log r + 25, which is
Acoustical engineers call noise that -21 - 7 - 7 + 25 = -10 dB. The resulting sound level in the room, Lp, is Lw - room effect, which is
66 dB in the fourth-floor duct - 10 = 56 in the 250-Hz octave band.
escapes through duct walls breakout loss.
Table 20 on Page 46.19 of the 1999 TABLE 5. Room-effect-factor calculation.

20 August 2003 • HPAC Engineering

R O O F T O P - U N I T N O I S E

108.9 pw, or 0.79 x 10-3 w, of sound power to 106.2 pw, or 1.6 x

10-6 w, of sound power, which is a reduction of more than
99 percent of the sound energy leaving the fan.
The sound energy that breaks out of the duct escapes to
the shaft. Because it leaves the duct, the breakout noise does
not pose a problem in the open-plan office area on the fourth
floor in our example. However, analysis might be needed to
determine if that breakout noise will pass through the shaft wall
to aggravate people in the conference room next to the shaft.

CONVERTING TO SOUND PRESSURE

So far, this article has considered noise energy generated
at fans and how that energy dissipates in a duct system. Ceiling
diffusers broadcast noise energy that remains in a duct system
to occupied space.
As noise enters a space, its intensity decreases with distance
from the diffuser. The walls, floor, and ceiling of the room
reflect some noise and absorb some noise. Furnishings also
reflect and absorb noise, in addition to diffracting some of
the sound waves. Equation 12 on Page 7.6 of the 2001
ASHRAE Applications Handbook presents a relationship
between sound power entering a space and the resulting sound
pressure that occupants hear. The Handbook describes
the equation as an empirical relationship developed from
research. The equation is:

Lp = Lw - 5 log V - 3 log f - 10 log r + 25

where:
Lp = room sound-pressure level, dB re 20 µPa
Lw = source sound-power level, dB re 10-12 w (in this case,
duct sound power)
V = room volume, cubic feet
f = octave-band center frequency, Hz
r = distance from source to receiver, feet

The fourth-floor open-plan office area is 40 ft by 40 ft by

8-ft high, so its volume is 12,800 cu ft, and 5 log V is 21 dB.
The distance between a diffuser and a typical listener seated at
a desk is 5 ft, so 10 log r is 7 dB. Table 5 lists the frequency
factor and the resulting room-effect factor for converting sound
power at the diffuser to sound pressure that the occupant hears.
The results are plotted on the octave-band chart (Figure 1) and
noted as “room effect.”

WHAT IT MEANS AND WORDS OF CAUTION

The NC 50 curve on the octave-band chart (Figure 1) is the
highest NC curve lying entirely below the predicted room-
noise spectrum. Therefore, the room is considered to achieve
NC 50. The noise in the low-frequency (63 Hz and 125 Hz)
octave bands is several decibels higher than the noise in
the nearby 250-Hz and 500-Hz octave bands. Unless the

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HPAC Engineering • August 2003 21
R O O F T O P - U N I T N O I S E

environment has other significant noise sources, there is a

substantial risk that low-frequency rumble will be distinct
enough to cause complaints. On the other hand, the problem
does not seem to be severe—a few-decibel reduction in the
low-frequency octave bands would bring the room-noise
spectrum down to the NC-45 range, which many people find
acceptable for areas that are not noise-sensitive. A sound
attenuator might be one way to achieve that reduction and
satisfy the HVAC engineer that the services of an acoustical
consultant are not needed. But if the area is noise-sensitive,
further analysis and noise-reduction measures probably will
be required.
The predicted noise levels in the mid-frequencies suggest
the space will be OK (NC 45), unless it is noise-sensitive.
Offices typically achieve NC 40, while concert-hall and
worship-space designs often strive for NC 25. Open-plan
offices with a lot of office equipment and food-service
areas often seem to be acceptable at NC 45. A few-decibel
reduction might nevertheless improve the acoustic quality
of the space.
The predicted low noise levels in the upper frequencies
(above 1,000 Hz) are not realistic. The low levels on the
octave-band chart (Figure 1) mean only that the fan is not a
significant noise source at the high frequencies. With so little
noise from the fan left in the duct, diffuser noise and noise
generated in duct fittings become significant. For purposes of
this analysis, the low noise levels on the octave-band chart
mean that the supply fan does not present a high-frequency
noise problem.
The analysis presented here is not precise enough to predict
noise levels in the room. It includes some short cuts and
approximations. It overlooks some noise sources, such as
diffusers and variable-air-volume boxes, and breakout noise
from ducts in the plenum above. However, it identifies the
likely problem areas (low-frequency rumble and, in sensitive
applications, mid-frequency noise). That information gives the
HVAC engineer a better idea of where to focus noise-reduction
measures. It also provides a basis for quantifying the risk
of noise problems requiring difficult or expensive remediation
after occupancy.

AVOIDING PROBLEMS
When the rough-cut analysis described in this article
predicts a noise problem, acoustical remediation likely will
be appropriate. Even when the analysis predicts no noise
problem, the HVAC engineer might be well-advised to
incorporate prophylactic measures into his or her design, as
it always is easier and less expensive to make these part of
an original installation than to add them as a retrofit. Such
measures, distilled from acoustical engineers’ recommenda-
tions to remedy noise problems, include:
• Constructing the ductwork from the rooftop unit

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HPAC Engineering • August 2003 23
R O O F T O P - U N I T N O I S E

within—and have it extend 10 ft beyond—the shaft to at

least the SMACNA 4-in.-wg pressure class. The purpose of
this recommendation is to increase duct stiffness to reduce
troublesome low-frequency breakout noise, which can become
a problem for rooms next to the shaft.
• Lining the inside of the ductwork from the rooftop unit
with 2-in.-thick fiberglass lining for sound control. Two-inch-
thick lining (rather than 1 in.) improves low-frequency attenu-
ation. Duct-liner manufacturers have responded to engineers’
concerns about moisture and dirt penetration and the shedding
of fibers by developing improved coatings for lining surfaces
exposed to airflow. Today’s coatings are smooth, cleanable, and
fire-resistant. They provide a barrier against dust and dirt and
do not support microbial growth.
• Filling the entire column bay under the rooftop unit with
a concrete pad, if the roof construction is a lightweight deck.
The concrete pad adds mass and stiffens the roof deck under
the rooftop unit to reduce vibration transmission to the struc-
ture below. The concrete pad also provides a barrier to airborne
noise that can penetrate the roof deck. It helps to recommend
this early in the design process so the structural engineer can
design the roof supports to accommodate the weight of the
concrete pad.
• Lining the return-air duct with 2-in. lining. Configure the
opening to the plenum as a tee rather than a single elbow.
Arrange the tee so there is no line of sight from the plenum to
the roof curb and so sound waves have to strike the walls of
the lined tee at least twice before exiting to the return plenum.
Multiple return-duct branches, longer lined ducts, or even
sound attenuators might be required.
For more recommendations and design guidance, see
“Controlling Noise From Large Rooftop Units” by Dave
Guckelberger in the May 2000 issue of ASHRAE Journal.
A final thought: It is important to note that a thorough
rooftop-unit noise analysis would have to include condenser-
fan and compressor noise. For the most part, these noises do
not travel down ductwork, but enter a building through
the roof structure. Because they represent a different part of
the overall noise problem, they require different analysis.

REFERENCES
1) ASHRAE. (1999). 1999 ASHRAE applications handbook
(p. 46.4). Atlanta, GA: American Society of Heating, Refriger-
ating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
2) Culham, R.G. (2001). Fans reference guide (4th ed.).
Canada: Ontario Power Generation.
3) SMACNA. (1990). HVAC systems—duct design (3rd ed.).
Chantilly, VA: Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’
National Association.

For HPAC Engineering feature articles dating back to January

1992, visit www.hpac.com.

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