HVAC Duct Construction

Bob Wasilewski
Project Manager, Technical Resources
SMACNA
HVAC Duct Construction
Standards
O WHAT?

O WHY?

O HOW?
 Today's Program

O 1st– 2nd Edition HVAC-DCS

O Review Joints and Limitations
O Transverse Joints & Reinforcements
O Use of the Pressure Class Tables
O Tie Rod Addendum
 Documents Preceding 2nd Edition
HVAC-DCS
O Low Velocity Systems Duct Manual
– First Edition 1959
– Second Edition 1963
– Third Edition 1967
O Low Velocity Duct Construction Standard
– 1969
 Documents Preceding 2nd Edition
HVAC-DCS
O Low Pressure Duct Construction Standard
– Fifth Edition 1976
O High Velocity Duct Systems Manual
– First Edition 1965
O High Velocity Duct Construction Standards
– Second Edition 1969
 Documents Preceding 2nd Edition
HVAC-DCS

O High Pressure Duct Construction Standards

– Third Edition 1975

O Duct Liner Application Standard

– First Edition 1971
– Second Edition 1975
Documents Preceding 2nd Edition
HVAC-DCS
O Flexible Duct Installation Standards
– First Edition 1979
– Second Edition 1980

O HVAC Duct Construction Standards --

Metal and Flexible
– First Edition 1985
Major Changes from First Edition

GENERAL
O Text edited to be more reader-friendly
O Reading aids added
O Static pressure only as the basis for duct
construction classification -- velocity
levels deleted (Table 1-1)
 Major Changes from First Edition

O Chapter 7 revised to facilitate use for

equivalent and comparable tests and ratings
O Model project specification added
O Reminders to designers to show all required
fire, smoke, radiation and volume control
dampers on contract drawings are accented
Major Changes from First Edition

O Boiler breeching omitted

O Volume damper construction is more
specific
O Lead radiation shielding added
O Metrics are included
O Air terminal runouts and supports are
revised
Major Changes from First Edition

RECTANGULAR DUCT REVISIONS

O Negative pressure construction given for
4", 6", and 10" w.g.
O Six feet reinforcement schedules added
O Reinforcement schedules extended to 120"
width
Major Changes from First Edition

O Tie rod alternatives expanded for both

positive and negative pressures
O TDC and TDF joint systems included and
rated as T-25a and T-25b joints
O T-24a joint added as a modification of T-24
Major Changes from First Edition

O Use of 26 gage added for 4", 6" and 10"

pressures
O Trapeze hanger tables expanded to cover
the 120" width range
O Duct liner pin schedule adjusted
O Infrequently used joints (T-4, 8, 17, 18,
19, 20 and 23) omitted
 Major Changes from First Edition

Round, Flexible and Oval Duct Revisions

O Duct pressure classes revised to be positive
and negative at 2", 4" and 10" w.g.
O Crimped joint connection length changed
from 1" to 2"
O Rectangular branch taps into round added
for straight or 45 degree lead-in-entry
Major Changes from First Edition

O Type 1 reinforcement of oval duct now has

an internal tie rod (based on ASHRAE test
program)
O Maximum support spacing for round
flexible duct and connector changed from
10 feet to 5 feet
O Additional riser support details are
provided
DUCT SYSTEMS

SIZINGS FIRE/SMOKE CODE

FITTINGS, ETC. PROTECTION COMPLIANCE

CODE
DUCT COMPLIANCE
CONSTRUCTION

SMACNA
HVAC-DCS
2ND ED. 1995

INSPECTION CODE
COMPLIANCE
 DUCT SYSTEMS

ENGINEER CONTRACTOR
Design Considerations: Construction Considerations:
CFM Panel Thickness (Gage)
Static Pressure Pressure Class (as specified)
Duct Size Panel Width/Height
Fitting Type Joint Type/Spacing
Construction Pressure Intermediate Reinforcement
Class Type/Spacing
DEPENDENT VARIABLES
 REGULAR DUCTS

Maximum Deflection Maximum Test

Pressure
Joint and Reinf. Sheet: Lab:
1/4" on 48" w. 3/8" on 12" Dn. Class Rating + 50%
W/200 on 1/2" on 13"-18"
49"-120" 5/8"on 19"-24" Field:
3/4" on 25"-84" Class Rating + 25%
1" on 85"-120"

Tolerance: Tolerance:
+7.5% +10%
 Duct Systems
O Used for the movement of air in
HVAC/Exhaust systems
O Ducts are classified based on maximum
operating pressure
– 0.5" w.g. positive or negative
– 1.0" w.g. positive or negative
– 2.0" w.g. positive or negative
 Duct Systems (Continued)
O Ducts are classified based on maximum
operating pressure
– 3.0" w.g. positive or negative
– 4.0" w.g. positive or negative
– 6.0" w.g. positive or negative
– 10.0" w.g. positive or negative
 TABLE 1-2
STANDARD DUCT SEALING REQUIREMENTS
 EXAMPLE 1

O Duct Size 24" x 24"

O Pressure Class 2" w.g.
O Sheet Stock
O Joints/Reinforcements 8 ft / 4 ft
O Standing S
 EXAMPLE 2

O Duct Size 42" x 24"

O Pressure Class 3" w.g.
O 5 ft Coil Line
O Joints/Reinforcements 5 ft / 2 ½ ft
O TDC or TDF
MIDPANEL TIE ROD (MPT)

O ½" w.g. - 6" w.g.

O 37" - 96"
Duct Dimension
O Rectangular Duct
Mid Panel Tie Rod Addendum
O Joints – All

O Tie Rods – Threaded Rod or

Tubing/Conduit with Threaded Insert

O Additional Application Tables,

Qualifications and Reader Aids Included
FIGURE 1-3 TIE ROD ATTACHMENTS
FIGURE 1-4 TRANSVERSE (GIRTH) JOINTS
FIGURE 1-4 TRANSVERSE (GIRTH) JOINTS
FIGURE 1-4A SPECIAL JOINT PROFILES
FIGURE 1-5 LONGITUDINAL SEAMS –
RECTANGULAR DUCT
TABLE 1-24 UNREINFORCED DUCT (WALL THICKNESS)
 TABLE 1-25
T-1 FLAT DRIVE ACCEPTED AS REINFORCEMENT
FIGURE 1-7 UNREINFORCED DUCT
FIGURE 1-8 CROSSBROKEN DUCT & BEADED DUCT
FIGURE 1-9 DUCT REINFORCED ON TWO SIDES
FIGURE 1-10 DUCT REINFORCED ON ALL SIDES
FIGURE 1-12 DUCT OVER 120" (3048 MM) WIDE
FIGURE 1-15 CORNER CLOSURES - FLANGES
FIGURE 2-22 DUCT LINER INTERRUPTION
TABLE 3-2A ROUND DUCT GAGE UNREINFORCED POSITIVE
PRESSURE
TABLE 3-2B ROUND DUCT GAGE NEGATIVE PRESSURE
FIGURE 3-1 SEAMS – ROUND DUCT AND FITTINGS
FIG. 3-2 TRANSVERSE JOINTS – ROUND DUCT
FIGURE 3-6 FLAT OVAL DUCTS
FIGURE 3-9 FLEXIBLE DUCT SUPPORTS
FIGURE 3-10 FLEXIBLE DUCT SUPPORTS
TABLE 4-1 RECTANGULAR DUCT HANGERS MIN. SIZE
TABLE 4-2 MINIMUM HANGER SIZES FOR ROUND DUCT
FIGURE 4-4 LOWER HANGER ATTACHMENTS
Questions
&
Answers