- Ashrae 2000 Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning Equipment Handbook.pdf

ASHRAE Research: Improving the Quality of Life
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Condi-
tioning Engineers is the world’s foremost technical society in the
fields of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration. Its
members worldwide are individuals who share ideas, identify the
need for and support research, and write the industry’s standards for
testing and practice. The result of these efforts is that engineers are
better able to keep indoor environments safe and productive while
protecting and preserving the outdoors for generations to come.
One of the ways that ASHRAE supports its members’ and indus-
try’s need for information is through ASHRAE Research. Thou-
sands of individuals and companies support ASHRAE Research
annually, enabling ASHRAE to report new data about material
properties and building physics and to promote the application of
innovative technologies.
The chapters in ASHRAE Handbooks are updated through the
experience of members of ASHRAE technical committees and
through results of ASHRAE Research reported at ASHRAE meet-
ings and published in ASHRAE special publications and in ASH-
RAE Transactions.
For information about ASHRAE Research or to become a mem-
ber contact, ASHRAE, 1791 Tullie Circle, Atlanta, GA 30329; tele-
phone: 404-636-8400; www.ashrae.org.
The 2000 ASHRAE Handbook
The 2000 ASHRAE Handbook—HVAC Systems and Equipment
describes both the combinations of equipment and the components
or assemblies that perform a particular function either individually
or in combination. The information helps the system designer select
and operate equipment, although it does not describe how to design
components.
Major topic areas include
• Air-conditioning and heating systems
• Air-handling equipment
• Heating equipment
• General HVAC components
• Unitary equipment
Most of the chapters in this Handbook update material in the
1996 ASHRAE Handbook to reflect current technology. The follow-
ing chapters contain major revisions or new material.
• Chapters 1 through 5 are reorganized and tightened for clarity.
Chapter 2, Building Air Distribution, contains expanded cover-
age on VAV systems, including more information on terminal
units. Chapter 4, Central Cooling and Heating, is a new chapter
that introduces central plant equipment and options.
• Chapter 7, Cogeneration Systems and Engine and Turbine Drives,
has more information on combustion turbine inlet air cooling as
well as updates for other sections.
• Chapter 9, Design of Small Forced-Air Heating and Cooling Sys-
tems, includes revised duct fitting data and new information on
duct efficiency testing. In addition, information on system perfor-
mance from Chapter 28, Furnaces, was moved to this chapter and
clarified and updated to be consistent with emerging duct effi-
ciency technology.
• Chapter 11, District Heating and Cooling, includes new informa-
tion on the effect of moisture on underground pipe insulation, cal-
culation of undisturbed soil temperatures, cathodic protection of
direct buried conduits, and leak detection. Also, the information
on consumer interconnections and metering is expanded.
• Chapter 13, Condenser Water Systems, has additional informa-
tion on water hammer, freeze protection, water treatment, over-
pressure, and free cooling.
• Chapter 16, Duct Construction, refers to new flexible duct, fiber
reinforced plastic duct, acoustical rating of duct liner, and blanket
duct insulation standards.
• Chapter 19, Evaporative Air Cooling Equipment, contains more
information on humidification and dehumidification.
• Chapter 22, Desiccant Dehumidification and Pressure Drying
Equipment, has been expanded, particularly the section on liquid
desiccant systems.
• Chapter 23, Air-Heating Coils, provides a broader scope of the
types of heating coils and their selection and application.
• Chapter 24, Air Cleaners for Particulate Contaminants, discusses
the new ASHRAE Standard 52.2 for testing of air-cleaning
devices and includes new sections on residential air cleaners and
bioaerosols.
• Chapter 25, Industrial Gas Cleaning and Air Pollution Control,
received a substantial update and includes revised information on
electrostatic precipitators and fabric filters,
• Chapter 26, Automatic Fuel-Burning Equipment, is updated and
now discusses low oxides of nitrogen emission from oil-fired
equipment.
• Chapter 27, Boilers, includes new information on increasing
boiler efficiency and on wall hung boilers for residential use.
• Chapter 36, Cooling Towers, has more information about (1) a
combined flow coil/fill evaporative cooling tower, (2) precau-
tions about using variable frequency drives. and (3) the increased
use and acceptance of thermal performance certification.
• Chapter 40, Motors, Motor Controls, and Variable-Speed Drives,
includes a significant new section on variable-speed drives.
• Chapter 43, Heat Exchangers, is a new chapter that provides an
overview of the topic.
• Chapter 44, Air-to-Air Energy Recovery, contains new informa-
tion on ideal air-to-air energy exchange, rating of performance,
comparison of devices, and twin tower enthalpy recovery loops.
• Chapter 46, Room Air Conditioners, Packaged Terminal Air Con-
ditioners, and Dehumidifiers, combines information from two
previous chapters.
• Chapter 47, Engine-Driven Heating and Cooling Equipment, is a
new chapter that includes information on engine-driven chillers,
air conditioners, heat pumps, and refrigeration equipment. The
chapter also includes and updates information from an old chapter
on unitary heat pumps.
This Handbook is published both as a bound print volume and in
electronic format on a CD-ROM. It is available in two editions—
one contains inch-pound (I-P) units of measurement, and the other
contains the International System of Units (SI).
Look for corrections to the 1997, 1998, and 1999 Handbooks on
the Internet at http://www.ashrae.org. Any changes in this volume
will be reported in the 2001 ASHRAE Handbook and on the ASH-
RAE web site.
If you have suggestions for improving a chapter or you would
like more information on how you can help revise a chapter, e-mail
ashrae@ashrae.org; write to Handbook Editor, ASHRAE, 1791
Tullie Circle, Atlanta, GA 30329; or fax 404-321-5478.
Robert A. Parsons, ASHRAE Handbook Editor

1.1
CHAPTER 1
HVAC SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND SELECTION
Selecting a System .......................................................................................................................... 1.1
HVAC Systems and Equipment ....................................................................................................... 1.3
Space Requirements ........................................................................................................................ 1.4
Air Distribution ............................................................................................................................... 1.5
Piping .............................................................................................................................................. 1.6
System Management ....................................................................................................................... 1.6
N HVAC SYSTEM maintains desired environmental condi-
Ations in a space. In almost every application, a myriad of
options are available to the design engineer to satisfy this basic goal.
In the selection and combination of these options, the design engi-
neer must consider all criteria defined here to achieve the functional
requirements associated with the goal.
HVAC systems are categorized by the method used to control
heating, ventilation, and air conditioning in the conditioned area.
This chapter addresses the procedures associated with selecting the
appropriate system for a given application. It also describes and
defines the design concepts and characteristics of basic HVAC sys-
tems. Chapters 2 through 5 of this volume describe specific systems
and their attributes, based on their heating and cooling medium and
commonly used variations.
SELECTING A SYSTEM
The design engineer is responsible for considering various sys-
tems and recommending one or two that will satisfy the goal and
perform as desired. It is imperative that the design engineer and the
owner collaborate on identifying and rating the criteria associated
with the design goal. Some criteria that may be considered are
• Temperature, humidity, and space pressure requirements
• Capacity requirements
• Redundancy
• Spatial requirements
• First cost
• Operating cost
• Maintenance cost
• Reliability
• Flexibility
• Life cycle analysis
Because these factors are interrelated, the owner and design
engineer must consider how these criteria affect each other. The rel-
ative importance of factors, such as these, differs with different
owners and often changes from one project to another for the same
owner. For example, typical concerns of owners include first cost
compared to operating cost, the extent and frequency of mainte-
nance and whether that maintenance requires entering the occupied
space, the expected frequency of failure of a system, the impact of
a failure, and the time required to correct the failure. Each of these
concerns has a different priority, depending on the owner’s goals.
Additional Goals
In addition to the primary goal to provide the desired environ-
ment, the design engineer must be aware of and account for other
goals the owner may require. These goals may include
• Supporting a process, such as the operation of computer
equipment
• Promoting a germ-free environment
• Increasing sales
• Increasing net rental income
• Increasing the salability of a property
The owner can only make appropriate value judgments if the
design engineer provides complete information on the advantages
and disadvantages of each option. Just as the owner does not usually
know the relative advantages and disadvantages of different sys-
tems, the design engineer rarely knows all the owner’s financial and
functional goals. Hence, the owner must be involved in the selection
of a system.
System Constraints
Once the goal criteria and additional goal options are listed,
many constraints must be determined and documented. These con-
straints may include
• Performance limitations (i.e., temperature, humidity, and space
pressure)
• Available capacity
• Available space
• Availability utility source
• Building architecture
• Construction budget
Few projects allow detailed quantitative evaluation of all alter-
natives. Common sense, historical data, and subjective experience
can be used to narrow choices to one or two potential systems.
Heating and air conditioning loads often contribute to the con-
straints, narrowing the choice to systems that will fit in the available
space and be compatible with the building architecture. Chapter 28
of the 1997 ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamentals describes methods
used to determine the size and characteristics of the heating and air
conditioning loads. By establishing the capacity requirement the
size of equipment can be determined, and the choice may be nar-
rowed to those systems that work well on projects within a size
range.
Loads vary over time due to the time of day/night, changes in the
weather, occupancy, activities, and solar exposure. Each space with
a different use and/or exposure may require a different control zone
to maintain space comfort. Some areas with special requirements
may need individual systems. The extent of zoning, the degree of
control required in each zone, and the space required for individual
zones also narrow the system choices.
No matter how efficiently a particular system operates or how
economical it is to install, it can only be considered if it (1) main-
tains the desired building space environment within an acceptable
tolerance under all conditions and occupant activities and (2) phys-
ically fits into the building without being objectionable.
The preparation of this chapter is assigned to TC 9.1, Large Building Air-
Conditioning Systems.

1.2 2000 ASHRAE Systems and Equipment Handbook (SI)
Cooling and humidity control are often the basis of sizing
HVAC components and subsystems, but the system may also be
determined based on the ventilation criteria. For example, if large
quantities of outside air are required for ventilation or to replace air
exhausted from the building, only systems that transport large air
volumes need to be considered.
Effective delivery of heat to an area may be an equally impor-
tant factor in the selection. A distribution system that offers high
efficiency and comfort for cooling may be a poor choice for heating.
This performance compromise may be small for one application in
one climate, but may be unacceptable in another that has more strin-
gent heating requirements.
HVAC systems and the associated distribution systems often
occupy a significant amount of space. Major components may
also require special support from the structure. The size and appear-
ance of terminal devices (i.e., diffusers, fan-coil units, radiant pan-
els, etc.) have an affect on the architectural design because they are
visible in the occupied space.
Other architectural factors that limit the selection of some sys-
tems include
• Acceptable noise levels in the occupied space
• Space available to house equipment and its location relative to the
occupied space
• Space available for horizontal and/or vertical distribution pipes
and ducts
• Acceptability of components visible in the occupied space.
Construction budget constraints can also influence the choice
of HVAC systems. Based on historical data, some systems may be
economically out of reach for an owner’s building program.
Narrowing the Choices
Chapters 2 through 5 cover building air distribution, in-room
terminal systems, central cooling and heating, and decentralized
cooling and heating. Each chapter briefly summarizes the positive
and negative features of various systems. One or two systems that
best satisfy the project goal can usually be identified by comparing
the criteria, other factors and constraints, and their relative impor-
tance. In making subjective choices, notes should be kept on all
systems considered and the reasons for eliminating those that are
unacceptable.
Each selection may require combining a primary system with a
secondary system (or distribution system). The primary system
converts energy from fuel or electricity into a heating and/or cooling
media. The secondary system delivers heating, ventilation, and/or
cooling to the occupied space. The two systems, to a great extent,
are independent, so several secondary systems may work with a par-
ticular primary system. In some cases, however, only one secondary
system may be suitable for a particular primary system.
Once subjective analysis has identified one or two HVAC sys-
tems (sometimes only one choice may remain), detailed quantitative
evaluations must be made. All systems considered should provide
satisfactory performance to meet the owner’s essential goals. The
design engineer should provide the owner with specific data on each
system to make an informed choice. The following chapters in the
ASHRAE Handbooks should be consulted to help narrow the
choices:
• Chapter 8, 1997 ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamentals covers
physiological principles, comfort, and health.
• Chapter 30, 1997 ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamentals covers
methods for estimating annual energy costs.
• Chapter 34, 1999 ASHRAE Handbook—Applications covers
methods for energy management.
owning and operating cost.
mechanical maintenance.
sound and vibration control.
Selection Report
As the last step of selection, the design engineer should prepare
a summary report that addresses the following:
• The goal
• Criteria for selection
• Important factors
• Other goals
A brief outline of each of the final selections should be provided.
In addition, those HVAC systems deemed inappropriate should be
noted as having been considered but not applicable to meet the
owner’s primary HVAC goal.
Table 1 Sample HVAC System Selection Matrix (0 to 10 Score)
Goal: Furnish and install an HVAC system that provides moderate space temperature
control with minimum humidity control at an operating budget of 220 kW/m2 per year
Categories System #1 System #2 System #3 Remarks
1. Criteria for Selection:
• 24°C space temperature with ±2°C control during occupied cycle
• 20% relative humidity with ± 5% rh control during heating season.
• First cost
• Equipment life cycle
2. Important Factors:
• First class office space stature
• Individual tenant utility metering
3. Other Goals:
• Engineered smoke control system
• ASHRAE Standard 62 ventilation rates
• Direct digital control building automation
4. System Constraints:
• No equipment on the first floor
• No exterior louvers below the perimeter windows
5. Other Constraints:
• No perimeter finned tube radiation
TOTAL SCORE

HVAC System Analysis and Selection 1.3
The report should include an HVAC system selection matrix that
identifies the one or two suggested HVAC system (primary and sec-
ondary when applicable) selections, system constraints, and other
constraints. In completing this matrix assessment, the engineer
should have the owner’s input to the analysis. This input can also be
applied as weighted multipliers.
Many grading methods are used to complete an analytical matrix
analysis. Probably the simplest grading method is to rate each item
Excellent/Very Good/Good/Fair/Poor. A numerical rating system
such as 0 to 10, with 10 equal to Excellent and 0 equal to Poor, can
provide a quantitative result. The HVAC system with the highest
numerical value then becomes the recommended HVAC system to
accomplish the goal.
The system selection report should include a summary that pro-
vides an overview followed by a more detailed account of the
HVAC system analysis and system selection. This summary should
highlight the key points and findings that led to the recommenda-
tion(s). The analysis should refer to the system selection matrix
(such as in Table 1) and the reasons for scoring.
A more detailed analysis, beginning with the owner’s goal,
should immediately following the summary. With each HVAC sys-
tem considered, the design engineer should note the criteria associ-
ated with each selection. Issues such as close temperature and
humidity control may eliminate some HVAC systems from being
considered. System constraints and other constraints, noted with
each analysis, should continue to eliminate HVAC systems. Advan-
tages and disadvantages of each system should be noted with the
scoring from the HVAC system selection matrix. This process
should reduce the HVAC selection to one or two optimum choices
to present to the owner. Examples of installations for other owners
should be included with this report to endorse the design engineer’s
final recommendation.This third party endorsement allows the
owner to inquire about the success of these other HVAC systems.
HVAC SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
HVAC systems may be central or decentralized. In addressing
the primary equipment location, the design engineer may locate this
equipment in a central plant (either inside or outside the building)
and distribute the air and/or water for HVAC needs from this plant.
The other option is to decentralize the equipment, with the primary
equipment located throughout the building, on the building, or adja-
cent to the building.
Central System Features
Some of the criteria associated with this concept are as follows:
Temperature, humidity, and space pressure requirements. A
central system may be able to fulfill any or all of these design
parameters.
Capacity requirements. A central system usually allows the
design engineer to consider HVAC diversity factors that reduce the
installed equipment capacity. In turn, this offers some attractive first
cost and operating cost benefits.
Redundancy. A central system can accommodate standby
equipment of equal size or of a preferred size that decentralized con-
figurations may have trouble accommodating.
Spatial requirements. The equipment room for a central system
is normally located outside the conditioned area—in a basement,
penthouse, service area, or adjacent to or remote from the building.
A disadvantage with this approach may be the additional cost to
furnish and install secondary equipment for the air and/or water
distribution. A second consideration is the access and physical
constraints throughout the building to furnish and install this sec-
ondary distribution network of ducts and/or pipes.
First cost. A central system may not be the least costly when
compared to decentralized HVAC systems. Historically, central sys-
tem equipment has a longer equipment service life to compensate
for this shortcoming. Thus, a life cycle cost analysis is very impor-
tant when evaluating central versus decentralized systems.
Operating cost. A central system usually has the advantage of
larger, more energy efficient primary equipment when compared to
decentralized system equipment.
Maintenance cost. The equipment room for a central system
provides the benefit of maintaining its HVAC equipment away from
the occupants in an appropriate service work environment. Access
to the building occupant workspace is not required, thus eliminating
disruption to the space environment, product, or process. Another
advantage may be that because of its larger capacity, there is less
HVAC equipment to service.
Reliability. Central system equipment can be an attractive ben-
efit when considering its long service life.
Flexibility. Redundancy can be a benefit when selecting standby
equipment that provides an alternative source of HVAC or backup.
Among the largest central systems are those HVAC plants serv-
ing groups of large buildings. These plants provide improved diver-
sity and generally operate more efficiently with lower maintenance
costs than individual central plants. The economics of these larger
central systems require extensive analysis. The utility analysis con-
siders multiple fuels and may also include gas and steam turbine-
driven equipment. Multiple types of primary equipment using mul-
tiple fuels and types of HVAC generating equipment (i.e., centrifu-
gal and absorption chillers) may be installed in combination in one
plant. Chapter 12, Chapter 13, and Chapter 14 provide design
details for central plants.
Decentralized System Features
Some of the criteria associated with this concept are as follows:
Temperature, humidity, and space pressure requirements. A
decentralized system may be able to fulfill any or all of these design
parameters.
Capacity requirements. A decentralized system usually
requires each piece of equipment to be sized for the maximum
capacity. Depending on the type and location of the equipment,
decentralized systems cannot take as much benefit of equipment
sizing diversity when compared to the central system diversity fac-
tor potential.
Redundancy. A decentralized system may not have the benefit
of backup or standby equipment. This limitation may need review.
Space requirements. A decentralized system may or may not
have in equipment rooms. Due to the space restrictions imposed on
the design engineer or architect, equipment may be located on the
roof and/or the ground adjacent to the building.
First cost. A decentralized system probably has the best first cost
benefit. This feature can be enhanced by phasing in the purchase of
decentralized equipment on an as-needed basis (i.e., purchasing
equipment as the building is being leased/occupied).
Operating cost. A decentralized system can emphasize this as a
benefit when strategically starting and stopping multiple pieces of
equipment. When comparing energy consumption based on peak
energy draw, decentralized equipment may not be as attractive when
compared to larger, more energy efficient central equipment.
Maintenance cost. A decentralized system can emphasize this
as a benefit when equipment is conveniently located and the equip-
ment size and associated components (i.e., filters) are standardized.
When equipment is located on a roof, maintainability may be diffi-
cult because it is difficult to access during bad weather.
Reliability. A decentralized system historically has reliable
equipment, although the estimated equipment service life may be
less than that of centralized equipment.
Flexibility. A decentralized system may be very flexible because
it may be placed in numerous locations.

Primary Equipment
The type of central and decentralized equipment selected for
large buildings depends on a well-organized HVAC analysis and
selection report. The choice of primary equipment and components
depends on factors presented in the selection report with such fac-
tors as those presented in the section on Selecting a System. Primary
HVAC equipment includes heating equipment, air and water deliv-
ery equipment, and refrigeration equipment.
Many HVAC designs recover internal heat from lights, people,
and equipment to reduce the size of the heating plant. In large build-
ings with core areas that require cooling while perimeter areas
require heating, one of several heat reclaim systems can heat the
perimeter to save energy. Chapter 8 describes some heat recovery
arrangements, Chapter 33 describes solar energy equipment, and
Chapter 44 introduces air-to-air energy recovery. In the 1999 ASH-
RAE Handbook—Applications, Chapter 34 covers energy manage-
ment and Chapter 39 covers building energy monitoring.
The search for energy savings has extended to cogeneration or
total energy systems, in which on-site power generation has been
added to the HVAC project. The economics of this function is
determined by gas and electric rate differentials and by the ratio of
electric to heating demands for the project. In these systems, waste
heat from generators can be transferred to the HVAC equipment
(i.e., to drive the turbines of centrifugal compressors, to serve an
absorption chiller, etc.). Chapter 7 covers cogeneration or total
energy systems.
Thermal storage is another energy savings concept, which pro-
vides the possibility of off-peak generation of air conditioning with
chilled water or ice. Thermal storage of hot water can be used in
heating. Many electric utilities impose severe charges for peak sum-
mer power use or offer incentives for off-peak use. The storage
capacity installed to level the summer load may also be available for
use in winter, thus making heat reclaim a viable option. Chapter 33
of the 1999 ASHRAE Handbook—Applications has more informa-
tion on thermal storage.
With ice storage, colder supply air can be provided than that
available from a conventional air conditioning. This colder air
allows the use of smaller fans and ducts, which reduces first cost and
operating cost that can offset the energy cost required to make ice.
Similarly, the greater water temperature difference from hot water
thermal storage allows smaller pumps and pipe to be used.
Heating Equipment
Steam boilers or hot water boilers are the primary means of heat-
ing a space. These boilers are (1) used both for heating and process
heating; (2) manufactured to produce high or low pressure; and (3)
fired with coal, oil, electricity, gas, and sometimes, waste material.
Low-pressure boilers are rated for a working pressure of either 100
or 200 kPa for steam and 1100 kPa for water, with a temperature
limit of 120°C. Package boilers, with all components and controls
assembled as a unit, are available. Electrode or resistance-type elec-
tric boilers that generate either steam or hot water are also available.
Chapter 27 has further information.
Where steam or hot water is supplied from a central plant, as on
university campuses and in downtown areas of large cities, the util-
ity service entering the building must conform to the utility’s stan-
dards. The utility provider should be contacted at the system
analysis and selection phase of the project to determine availability,
cost, and the specific requirements of the service.
When the primary heating equipment is selected, the fuels con-
sidered must ensure maximum efficiency. Chapter 26 discusses the
design, selection, and operation of the burners for different types of
primary heating equipment. Chapter 17 of the 1997 ASHRAE Hand-
book—Fundamentals describes types of fuel, fuel properties, and
proper combustion factors.
Air Delivery Equipment
Primary air delivery equipment for HVAC systems are classified
as packaged equipment, manufactured and custom manufactured
equipment, or field fabricated equipment. Most ventilation equip-
ment for large systems use centrifugal or axial fans; however, plug
or plenum fans are becoming more popular. Centrifugal fans are fre-
quently used in packaged and manufactured HVAC equipment.
Axial fans are more often part of a custom unit or a field-fabricated
unit. Both types of fans can be used as industrial process and high-
pressure blowers. Chapter 18 describes fans, and Chapters 16
through 25 provide information about ventilation components.
Refrigeration Equipment
The section on Refrigeration Equipment in Chapter 4 summa-
rizes the primary refrigeration equipment for HVAC systems
designed to maintain desired environmental conditions in a space.
SPACE REQUIREMENTS
In the initial phase of a building’s design, the engineer seldom
has sufficient information to render the HVAC design. As noted in
the section on Space Requirements in Chapter 4, the final design is
usually a compromise between what the engineer recommends and
what the architect can accommodate. At other times, final design
and space requirements may be dictated by the building owner who
may have a preference for a central or decentralized system. The
following paragraphs discuss some of these requirements.
Equipment Rooms
The total mechanical and electrical space requirements range
between 4 and 9% of the gross building area with most buildings
falling within the 6 to 9% range. These ranges include space for
HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection equipment. These
percentages also include vertical shaft space for mechanical and
electrical equipment.
Most facilities should be centrally located to (1) minimize long
duct, pipe, and conduit runs and sizes; (2) simplify shaft layouts;
and (3) centralize maintenance and operation. A central location
also reduces pump and fan motor power, which reduces building
operating costs. But, for many reasons, not all the mechanical and
electrical facilities can be centrally located in the building. In any
case, the equipment should be kept together whenever possible to
minimize space requirements, centralize maintenance and opera-
tion, and simplify the electrical system.
Equipment rooms generally require clear ceiling height ranging
from 3 to 5 m, depending on equipment sizes and the complexity of
air and/or water distribution.
The main electrical transformer and switchgear rooms should be
located as close to the incoming electrical service as practical. If
there is an emergency generator, it should be located considering (1)
proximity to emergency electrical loads and sources of combustion
and cooling air and fuel, (2) ease of properly venting exhaust gases
to the outdoors, and (3) provisions for noise control.
HVAC Facilities
The heating equipment room houses the boiler(s) and may also
house a boiler feed unit, chemical treatment equipment, pumps, heat
exchangers, pressure-reducing equipment, control air compressors,
and miscellaneous equipment. The refrigeration equipment room
houses the chiller(s) and may also house chilled water and con-
denser water pumps, heat exchangers, air-conditioning equipment,
control air compressors, and miscellaneous equipment. The design
of these rooms needs to consider (1) the size and weight of the
equipment; (2) installation and replacement when locating and
arranging the room to accept this large equipment; and (3) applica-
ble regulations relative to combustion air and ventilation air criteria.

HVAC System Analysis and Selection 1.5
In addition, ASHRAE Standard 15, Safety Code for Mechanical
Refrigeration should be consulted for special equipment room
requirements.
Most air-conditioned buildings require a cooling tower or con-
denser unit. If the cooling tower or air-cooled or water-cooled con-
denser is located on the ground, it should be at least 30 m away from
the building (1) to reduce tower noise in the building, (2) to keep
discharge air and moisture carry-over from fogging the building’s
windows and discoloring the facade of the building, and (3) to keep
discharge air and moisture carry-over from contaminating outdoor
air being introduced into the building. Cooling towers should be
kept the same distance from parking lots to avoid staining car fin-
ishes with water treatment chemicals. Chapter 35 and Chapter 36
have further information on this equipment.
It is often economical to locate the heating plant and/or refriger-
ation plant at an intermediate floor or on the roof. The electrical ser-
vice and structural costs are higher, but these may be offset by
reduced costs for heating piping, condenser and chilled water pip-
ing, energy consumption, and a chimney through the building. Also,
the initial cost of equipment may be less because the operating pres-
sure is lower.
Applicable regulations relative to both gas and fuel oil systems
must be followed. Gas fuel may be more desirable than fuel oil. Fuel
oil storage has specific environmental and safety concerns. In addi-
tion, the cost of oil leak detection and prevention may be substantial.
Oil pumping presents added design and operating problems.
Energy recovery systems can reduce the size of the heating
plant and/or refrigeration plant. Well-insulated buildings and elec-
tric and gas utility rate structures may encourage the design engi-
neer to consider several energy conservation concepts such as
limiting demand, free cooling and thermal storage.
Fan Rooms
The fan rooms house the HVAC fan equipment and may include
other miscellaneous equipment. The room must have space for re-
moval of the fan shaft and coil. Installation, replacement, and main-
tenance of this equipment should be considered when locating and
arranging the room.
Fan rooms may be placed in a basement that has an airway for
intake of outdoor air. In this situation the placement of air intake
louver(s) is a concern because of debris from leaves and snow may
fill the area. Also, if parking areas are close to the building, the qual-
ity of outdoor air may be compromised.
Fan rooms on the second floor and above, have easier access for
outdoor air, exhaust air, and equipment replacement. The number of
fan rooms required depends largely on the total floor area and
whether the HVAC system is centralized or decentralized. Buildings
with large floor areas may have multiple decentralized fan rooms on
each floor or a large central fan unit serving the entire area. High-
rise buildings may also opt for decentralized fan rooms for each
floor; or they may have a more central concept with one fan room
serving the lower 10 to 20 floors, one serving the middle floors of
the building, and one at the roof serving the top floors.
Life safety is a very important factor in fan room location. Chap-
ter 51 of the 1999 ASHRAE Handbook—Applications discusses fire
and smoke management. In addition, state and local codes have
additional fire and smoke detection and damper criteria.
Vertical Shafts
Vertical shafts provide space for air distribution and water and
steam (pipe) distribution. Air distribution includes HVAC supply
air, return air, and exhaust air ductwork. If the shaft is used as a
return air plenum, close coordination with the architect is necessary
to insure that the shaft is airtight. Pipe distribution includes hot
water, chilled water, condenser water, and steam supply and con-
densate return. Other mechanical and electrical distribution found in
vertical shafts are electric conduits/closets, telephone cabling/clos-
ets, plumbing piping, fire protection piping, pneumatic tubes, and
conveyers.
Vertical shafts should be clear of stairs and elevators on at least
two sides to permit access to ducts, pipes, and conduit that enter and
exit the shaft while allowing maximum headroom at the ceiling. In
general, duct shafts having an aspect ratio of 2:1 to 4:1 are easier to
develop than large square shafts. The rectangular shape also makes
it easier to go from the equipment in the fan rooms to the shafts.
In multistory buildings a vertical distribution system with mini-
mal horizontal branch ductwork is desirable because it is (1) usually
less costly; (2) easier to balance; (3) creates less conflict with pipes,
beams, and lights; and (4) enables the architect to design lower
floor-to-floor heights. These advantages also hold for vertical water
and steam pipe distribution systems.
The number of shafts is a function of building size and shape. In
larger buildings, it is usually more economical in cost and space to
have several small shafts rather than one large shaft. Separate
HVAC supply air, return air, and exhaust air duct shafts may be
desired to reduce the number of duct crossovers. The same can be
said for steam supply and condensate return pipe shafts because the
pipe must be pitched in the direction of flow. From 10% to 15%
additional shaft space should be allowed for future expansion and
modifications. This additional space may also reduce the initial
installation cost.
Equipment Access
Properly designed mechanical and electrical equipment rooms
must allow for the movement of large, heavy equipment in, out, and
through the building. Equipment replacement and maintenance can
be very costly if access is not planned properly.
Because systems vary greatly, it is difficult to estimate space
requirements for refrigeration and boiler rooms without making
block layouts of the system selected. Block layouts allow the engi-
neer to develop the most efficient arrangement of the equipment
with adequate access and serviceability. Block layouts can also be
used in preliminary discussions with the owner and architect. Only
then can the engineer obtain verification of the estimates and pro-
vide a workable and economical design.
AIR DISTRIBUTION
Ductwork should deliver conditioned air to an area as directly,
quietly, and economically as possible. Structural features of the
building generally require some compromise and often limit the
depth of the space available for ducts. Chapter 9 discusses air dis-
tribution design for small heating and cooling systems. Chapter 32
of the 1997 ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamentals discusses space
air distribution and duct design.
The designer must coordinate duct design with the structure as
well as other mechanical, electrical, and communication systems. In
commercially developed projects, a great effort is made to reduce
floor-to-floor dimensions. The resultant decrease in the available
interstitial space for ductwork is a major design challenge. In insti-
tutional buildings, higher floor-to-floor heights are required due to
the sophistication and complexity of the mechanical, electrical, and
communication distribution systems.
Air Terminal Units
In some instances, such as in low velocity, all-air systems, the
air may enter from the supply air ductwork directly into the condi-
tioned space through a grille or diffuser. In medium and high veloc-
ity air systems, an intermediate device normally controls air
volume, reduces duct pressure, or both. Various devices are avail-
able, including (1) a fan-powered terminal unit, which uses an inte-
gral fan to accomplish the mixing rather than depending on the
induction principle; (2) a variable air volume (VAV) terminal unit,

which varies the amount of air delivered to the space (this air may
be delivered to low-pressure ductwork and then to the space, or the
terminal may contain an integral air diffuser); (3) an all-air induc-
tion terminal unit, which controls the volume of primary air,
induces return air, and distributes the mixture through low-velocity
ductwork to the space; and (4) an air-water induction terminal,
which includes a coil in the induced airstream. Chapter 17 has
more information about air terminal units.
Insulation
In new construction and renovation upgrade projects, HVAC
supply air ductwork should be insulated in accordance with energy
code requirements. ASHRAE Standard 90.1, Section 9.4, and
Chapter 32 of the 1997 ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamentals have
more information about insulation and the calculation methods.
Ceiling Plenums
Frequently, the space between the suspended ceiling and the
floor slab above it is used as a return air plenum to reduce the dis-
tribution ductwork. Refer to existing regulations before using this
approach in new construction or a renovation because most codes
prohibit combustible material in a ceiling return air plenum.
Some ceiling plenum applications with lay-in panels do not work
well where high-rise elevators or the stack effect of a high-rise
building create a negative pressure. If the plenum leaks to the low-
pressure area, the tiles may lift and drop out when the outside door
is opened and closed.
Raised floors with a plenum space directly below are another
way to provide horizontal air distribution and/or a return air plenum.
The return air temperature in a return air plenum directly below
a roof deck is substantially higher during the air conditioning season
than in a ducted return. This can be an advantage to the occupied
space below because the heat gain to the space is reduced. Con-
versely, return air plenums directly below a roof deck have substan-
tially lower return air temperatures during the heating season than a
ducted return and may require supplemental heat in the plenum.
PIPING
Piping should deliver refrigerant, hot water, chilled water, con-
denser water, condensate drains, fuel oil, gas, steam, and condensate
to and from HVAC equipment as directly, quietly, and economically
as possible. Structural features of the building generally require
mechanical and electrical coordination to accommodate pipe pitch,
draining of low points in the system, and venting of high point in the
system. Chapters 33 of the 1997 ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamen-
tals covers pipe distribution and pipe design.
Pipe Systems
HVAC piping systems can be divided into two parts; (1) the pip-
ing in the central plant equipment room and (2) the piping required
to deliver refrigerant, hot water, chilled water, condenser water,
condensate drain, fuel oil, gas supply, steam supply, and condensate
return to and from HVAC and process equipment throughout the
building. Chapters 10 through 14 discuss piping for various heating
and cooling systems. Chapters 1 through 4 and 32 of the 1998 ASH-
RAE Handbook—Refrigeration discuss refrigerant piping practices.
The major piping in the central plant equipment room includes
refrigerant, hot water, chilled water, condenser water, condensate
drains, fuel oil, gas supply, steam supply, and condensate return
connections.
Insulation
In new construction and renovation upgrade projects, HVAC
piping may or may not be insulated based on existing code criteria.
ASHRAE Standard 90.1 and Chapters 24 and 33 of the 1997
ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamentals have information regarding
insulation and the calculation methods.
SYSTEM MANAGEMENT
System management is an important factor in choosing the opti-
mum HVAC system. It can be as simple as a time clock to start and
stop the equipment or as sophisticated as a computerized facility
management software system serving large centralized HVAC mul-
tiple systems, decentralized HVAC systems, a large campus, etc.
Automatic Controls
Basic HVAC system management is available in electric, pneu-
matic, or electronic temperature control systems. Depending on the
application, the design engineer may recommend a simple and basic
management strategy as a cost-effective solution to an owner’s heat-
ing, ventilation, and refrigeration needs. Chapter 45 of the 1999
ASHRAE Handbook—Applications and Chapter 37 of the 1997
ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamentals discuss automatic control in
more detail.
The next level of HVAC system management is direct digital
control either with or without pneumatic control damper and valve
actuators. This automatic control enhancement may include energy
monitoring and energy management software. The configuration
may also be accessible by the building manager via telephone
modem to a remote computer at an off-site location. Chapter 40 of
the 1999 ASHRAE Handbook—Applications covers building oper-
ating dynamics.
Using computer technology and associated software the design
engineer and the building manager can provide complete facility
management. This comprehensive building management system
may include HVAC system control, energy management, operation
and maintenance management, fire alarm system control, and other
reporting and trending software. This system may also be integrated
and accessible from the owner’s information technology computer
network and the Internet.
System Management Interface
Today, system management includes the purchasing of auto-
matic controls that come prepackaged and prewired on the HVAC
equipment. In the analysis and selection of a system, the design
engineer needs to include the merits of purchasing prepackaged
automation versus traditional building automation systems. Current
HVAC controls and their capabilities need to be compatible with
other new and existing automatic controls. Chapter 38 of the 1999
ASHRAE Handbook—Applications discusses computer applica-
tions and ASHRAE Standard 135 discusses interfacing building
automation systems.
Other interfaces to be considered include the interface and com-
patibility of other mechanical and electric control and management
systems. Building systems, such as the fire alarm, medical gas sys-
tems, and communication systems are just three of the management
interfaces that an owner may want to work in unison with the HVAC
control system. Predictive and preventive maintenance using com-
puterized maintenance management software (CMMS) also en-
hances the management and should be considered.
STANDARDS
ASHRAE Standard 15-1994. Safety code for mechanical refrigeration.
ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-1999. Energy efficient design of new
buildings except low-rise residential buildings.
ASHRAE Standard 135-1995. BACnet—A data communication protocol
for building automation and control networks.

2.1
CHAPTER 2
BUILDING AIR DISTRIBUTION
ALL-AIR SYSTEMS ................................................................... 2.1
AIR-HANDLING UNITS ........................................................... 2.3
Air-Handling Unit Processes .................................................... 2.4
Air-Handling Unit Components ................................................ 2.6
Air-Handling Unit Concerns ..................................................... 2.8
AIR DISTRIBUTION ................................................................. 2.9
Single-Duct Systems .................................................................. 2.9
Dual-Duct Systems .................................................................. 2.11
Multizone Systems ................................................................... 2.12
Special Systems ........................................................................ 2.12
Terminal Units ......................................................................... 2.13
Air Distribution System Controls ............................................ 2.14
ALL-AIR SYSTEMS
N ALL-AIR SYSTEM provides complete sensible and latent
Acooling, preheating, and humidification capacity in the air sup-
plied by the system. No additional cooling or humidification is
required at the zone, except in the case of certain industrial systems.
Heating may be accomplished by the same airstream, either in the
central system or at a particular zone. In some applications, heating
is accomplished by a separate heater. The term zone implies the pro-
vision of, or the need for, separate thermostatic control, while the
term room implies a partitioned area that may or may not require
separate control.
The basic all-air system concept is to supply air to the room at
such conditions that the sensible heat gain and latent heat gain in the
space, when absorbed by the supply air flowing through the space,
will bring the air to the desired room conditions. Since the heat gains
in the space will vary with time, a mechanism to vary the energy
removed from the space by the supply air is necessary. There are
two such basic mechanisms: vary the amount of supply air delivered
to the space, either by varying the flow rate or supplying air inter-
mittently, or vary the temperature of the air being delivered to the
space, either by modulating the temperature or conditioning the air
intermittently.
All-air systems are classified in two categories:
• Single-duct systems, which contain the main heating and cooling
coils in a series flow air path; a common duct distribution system
at a common air temperature feeds all terminal apparatus. Either
capacity varying mechanism (varying temperature or varying
volume) can be used with single-duct systems.
• Dual-duct systems, which contain the main heating and cooling
coils in parallel flow or series-parallel flow air paths with either
(1) a separate cold and warm air duct distribution system that
blends the air at the terminal apparatus (dual-duct systems), or (2)
a separate supply air duct to each zone with the supply air blended
to the required temperature at the main unit mixing dampers (mul-
tizone). Dual-duct systems generally vary the supply air temper-
ature by mixing two airstreams of different temperatures, but can
also vary the volume of supply air in some applications.
These categories may be further divided as follows:
Single duct
Constant volume
Single zone
Multiple-zone reheat
Bypass VAV
Variable air volume (VAV)
Throttling
Fan-powered
Reheat
Induction
Variable diffusers
Dual duct
Dual duct
Constant volume
Variable air volume
Dual conduit
Multizone
Constant volume
Variable air volume
Three-deck or Texas multizone
All-air systems may be adapted to many applications for comfort
or process work. They are used in buildings that require individual
control of multiple zones, such as office buildings, schools and uni-
versities, laboratories, hospitals, stores, hotels, and even ships. All-
air systems are also used virtually exclusively in special applica-
tions for close control of temperature and humidity, including clean
rooms, computer rooms, hospital operating rooms, research and
development facilities, as well as many industrial/manufacturing
facilities.
All-air systems have the following advantages:
• The location of the central mechanical room for major equipment
allows operation and maintenance to be performed in unoccupied
areas. In addition, it allows the maximum range of choices of fil-
tration equipment, vibration and noise control, and the selection
of high quality and durable equipment.
• Keeping piping, electrical equipment, wiring, filters, and vibra-
tion and noise-producing equipment away from the conditioned
area minimizes service needs and reduces potential harm to occu-
pants, furnishings, and processes.
• These systems offer the greatest potential for use of outside air
for economizer cooling instead of mechanical refrigeration for
cooling.
• Seasonal changeover is simple and adapts readily to automatic
control.
• A wide choice of zoning, flexibility, and humidity control under
all operating conditions is possible, with the availability of simul-
taneous heating and cooling even during off-season periods.
• Air-to-air and other heat recovery may be readily incorporated.
• They permit good design flexibility for optimum air distribution,
draft control, and adaptability to varying local requirements.
• The systems are well suited to applications requiring unusual
exhaust or makeup air quantities (negative or positive pressuriza-
tion, etc.).
• All-air systems adapt well to winter humidification.
• By increasing the air change rate and using high-quality controls,
it is possible for these systems to maintain the closest operating
condition of ±0.15 K dry bulb and ±0.5% rh. Today, some sys-
tems can maintain essentially constant space conditions.
The preparation of this chapter is assigned to TC 9.1, Large Building Air-
Conditioning Systems.

All-air systems have the following disadvantages:
• They require additional duct clearance, which reduces usable
floor space and increases the height of the building.
• Depending on layout, larger floor plans are necessary to allow
enough space for the vertical shafts required for air distribution.
• Ensuring accessible terminal devices requires close cooperation
between architectural, mechanical, and structural designers.
• Air balancing, particularly on large systems, can be more
difficult.
• Perimeter heating is not always available to provide temporary
heat during construction.
Heating and Cooling Calculations
Basic calculations for airflow, temperatures, relative humidity,
loads, and psychrometrics are covered in Chapters 6 and 28 of the
1997 ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamentals. The designer should
understand the operation of the various components of a system,
their relationship to the psychrometric chart, and their interaction
under various operating conditions and system configurations. The
HVAC designer should work closely with the architect to optimize
the building envelope design. Close cooperation of all parties dur-
ing design can result in reduced building loads, which often allows
the use of smaller mechanical systems.
Zoning—Exterior
Exterior zones are affected by varying weather conditions—
wind, temperature, and sun—and, depending on the geographic area
and season, may require both heating and cooling at different times.
While the engineer has many options in choosing a system, the sys-
tem must respond to these variations. The considerable flexibility to
meet such variations enables the greatest advantages from VAV sys-
tems to be realized. The need for separate perimeter zone heating is
determined by
• Severity of the heating load (i.e., geographic location).
• Nature and orientation of the building envelope.
• Effects of downdraft at windows and the radiant effect of the cold
glass surface (i.e., type of glass, area, height, and U-factor).
• Type of occupancy (i.e., sedentary versus transient).
• Operating costs (e.g., in buildings such as offices and schools that
are unoccupied for considerable periods, fan operating cost can
be reduced by heating with perimeter radiation during unoccu-
pied periods rather than operating the main supply fans or local
unit fans.)
Separate perimeter heating can operate with any all-air system.
However, its greatest application has been in conjunction with VAV
systems for cooling-only service. Care in design minimizes simul-
taneous heating and cooling. The section on Variable Air Volume
has further details.
Zoning—Interior
Interior spaces have relatively constant conditions because they
are isolated from external influences. Cooling loads in interior
zones may vary with changes in the operation of equipment and
appliances in the space and changes in occupancy, but usually inte-
rior spaces require cooling throughout the year. A VAV system has
limited energy advantages for interior spaces, but it does provide
simple temperature control. Interior spaces with a roof exposure,
however, may require similar treatment to perimeter spaces requir-
ing heat.
Space Heating
Although steam is an acceptable medium for central system pre-
heat or reheat coils, low-temperature hot water provides a simple
and more uniform means of perimeter and general space heating.
Individual automatic control of each terminal provides the ideal
space comfort. A control system that varies the water temperature
inversely with the change in outdoor temperature provides water
temperatures that produce acceptable results in most applications.
To produce the best results, the most satisfactory ratio can be set
after the installation is completed and actual operating conditions
are ascertained.
Multiple perimeter spaces on one exposure served by a central
system may be heated by supplying warm air from the central sys-
tem. Areas that have heat gain from lights and occupants and no heat
loss require cooling in winter, as well as in summer. In some sys-
tems, very little heating of the return and outdoor air is required
when the space is occupied. Local codes dictate the amount of out-
side air required (see ASHRAE Standard 62 for recommended opti-
mum outside air ventilation). For example, with return air at 24°C
and outside air at −18°C, the temperature of a 25% outdoor/75%
return air mixture would be 13°C, which is close to the temperature
of the air supplied to cool such a space in summer. In this instance,
a preheat coil installed in the minimum outdoor airstream to warm
the outdoor air can produce overheating, unless it is sized so that it
does not heat the air above 2 to 5°C. Assuming good mixing, a pre-
heat coil located in the mixed airstream, prevents this problem. The
outdoor air damper should be kept closed until room temperatures
are reached during warm-up. A return air thermostat can terminate
the warm-up period.
When a central air-handling unit supplies both perimeter and
interior spaces, the supply air must be cool to handle the interior
zones. Additional control is needed to heat the perimeter spaces
properly. Reheating the air is the simplest solution, but it is not
acceptable by most energy codes. An acceptable solution is to vary
the volume of air to the perimeter and combine it with a terminal
heating coil or a separate perimeter heating system, either base-
board, overhead air heating, or a fan-powered terminal unit with
supplemental heat. The perimeter heating should be individually
controlled and integrated with the cooling control. Resetting the
supply water temperature downward when less heat is required gen-
erally improves temperature control. For further information, refer
to Chapter 12 in this volume and Chapter 45 of the 1999 ASHRAE
Handbook—Applications.
Temperature Versus Air Quantity
Designers have considerable flexibility in selecting the supply
air temperature and corresponding air quantity within the limita-
tions of the procedures for determining heating and cooling loads.
ASHRAE Standard 55 also addresses the effect of these variables
on comfort. In establishing the supply air temperature, the initial
cost of lower airflow and low air temperature (smaller fan and duct
systems) must be calculated against the potential problems of dis-
tribution, condensation, air movement, and the presence of in-
creased odors and gaseous or particulate contaminants. Terminal
devices that use low-temperature air can reduce the air distribution
cost. These devices mix room and primary air to maintain reason-
able air movement in the occupied space. Because the amount of
outside air needed is the same for any system, the percentage in low-
temperature systems is high, requiring special care in design to
avoid freezing of preheat or cooling coils. Also, the low-tempera-
ture air supply reduces humidity in the space. Lower humidity dur-
ing cooling cycles costs more in energy because the equipment runs
longer. Also, if the humidity is too low, it may cause respiratory
problems.
Other Considerations
All-air systems operate by maintaining a temperature differential
between the supply air and the space. Any load that affects this dif-
ferential and the associated airflow must be considered. Among
these loads are the following:

Building Air Distribution 2.3
• All fans (supply, return, and supplemental) add heat. The effect of
these gains can be considerable, particularly in process work. If
the fan motor is in the airstream, the inefficiencies in the motor
must also be counted as heat gain to the air. If the fan is placed
after the cooling coil (draw-through,) the total pressure (static
plus velocity pressure) must be calculated. If the fan is placed
before the coil (blow-through), only the velocity pressure needs
to be considered, and the amount of supply air can be reduced.
The heat gain in medium-pressure systems is about 1 K per kilo-
pascal static pressure.
• The supply duct may gain or lose heat from the surroundings.
Most energy codes require that the supply duct be insulated,
which is usually good practice regardless of code requirements.
• Attempting to control humidity in a space can affect the quantity
of air and become the controlling factor in the selection of supply
airflow rate. VAV systems provide only limited humidity control,
so if humidity is critical, extra care must be taken in design.
First, Operating, and Maintenance Costs
As with all systems, the initial cost, or first cost, of an air-han-
dling system varies widely depending on location, condition of the
local economy, and preference of the contractor—even for identical
systems. For example, a dual-duct system is more expensive
because it requires essentially twice the amount of material for ducts
as that of a comparable single-duct system. Systems requiring
extensive use of terminal units are also comparatively expensive.
The operating cost depends on the system selected, the skill of the
designer in selecting and correctly sizing components, the effi-
ciency of the duct design, and the effect of the building design and
type on the operation. All-air systems have the greatest potential to
minimize operating cost.
Because an all-air system separates the air-handling equipment
from the occupied space, maintenance on major components in a
central location is more economical. Also, central air-handling
equipment requires less maintenance than other comparable equip-
ment. The many terminal units used in an all-air system do, how-
ever, require periodic maintenance. Because these units (including
reheat coils) are usually installed throughout a facility, maintenance
costs for these devices must be considered.
Energy
The engineer’s early involvement in the design of any facility
can have a considerable effect on the energy consumed by the build-
ing. If designed carefully, a system keeps energy costs to a mini-
mum. In practice, however, a system is usually selected based on a
low first cost or for the performance of a particular task. In general,
single-duct systems consume less energy than dual-duct systems,
and VAV systems are more energy efficient than constant air volume
systems. Savings from a VAV system come from the savings in fan
power and because the system does not overheat or overcool spaces,
nor does it cool and heat at the same time like a reheat system.
The air distribution system for an all-air system consists of two
major subsystems: (1) air-handling units that generate conditioned
air under sufficient positive pressure to circulate it through (2) a dis-
tribution system that carries air from the air-handling unit to the
space being conditioned. The air distribution subsystem often
includes means to control the amount or temperature of the air deliv-
ered to each space.
AIR-HANDLING UNITS
The basic secondary system is an all-air, single-zone, air-condi-
tioning system consisting of an air-handling unit and an air distribu-
tion system. The air-handling unit may be designed to supply a
constant air volume or a variable air volume for low-, medium-, or
high-velocity air distribution. Normally, the equipment is located
outside the conditioned area in a basement, penthouse, or service
area. It can, however, be installed in the area if conditions permit.
The equipment can be adjacent to the primary heating and refriger-
ation equipment or at considerable distance from it by circulating
refrigerant, chilled water, hot water, or steam for energy transfer.
Figure 1 shows a typical draw-through central system that sup-
plies conditioned air to a single zone or to multiple zones. A blow-
through configuration may also be used if space or other conditions
dictate. The quantity and quality of supplied air are fixed by space
requirements and determined as indicated in Chapters 27 and 28 of
the 1997 ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamentals. Air gains and loses
heat by contacting heat transfer surfaces and by mixing with air of
Fig. 1 Equipment Arrangement for Central System Draw-Through Unit

another condition. Some of this mixing is intentional, as at the out-
door air intake; other mixing is the result of the physical character-
istics of a particular component, as when untreated air passes
through a coil without contacting the fins (bypass factor).
All treated and untreated air must be well mixed for maximum
performance of heat transfer surfaces and for uniform temperatures
in the airstream. Stratified, parallel paths of treated and untreated air
must be avoided, particularly in the vertical plane of systems using
double inlet or multiple-wheel fans. Because these fans do not com-
pletely mix the air, different temperatures can occur in branches
coming from opposite sides of the supply duct.
Primary Equipment
Refrigeration. Either central station or localized equipment,
depending on the application, can provide cooling. Most large sys-
tems with multiple central air-handling units use a central refriger-
ation plant. Small, individual air-handling equipment can (1) be
supplied from central chilled water generators, (2) use direct expan-
sion cooling with a central condensing (cooling tower) system, or
(3) be air cooled and totally self-contained. The decision on whether
to provide a central plant or local equipment is based on factors sim-
ilar to those for air-handling equipment.
Heating. The criteria described for cooling are usually used to
determine whether a central heating plant or a local one is desirable.
Usually, a central, fuel-fired plant is more desirable for heating. In
small facilities, electric heating is a viable option and is often eco-
nomical, particularly where care has been taken to design energy-
efficient systems and buildings.
Air-Handling Equipment
Air-handling equipment is available as packaged equipment in
many configurations using any desired method of cooling, heating,
humidification, filtration, etc. In large systems (over 25 m3/s), air-
handling equipment is usually custom-designed and fabricated to
suit a particular application. Air handlers may be either centrally
located or decentralized.
Central Mechanical Equipment Rooms (MER). Usually the
type of facility determines where the air-handling equipment is
located. Central fan rooms today are more common in laboratory or
industrial facilities, where maintenance is kept isolated from the
conditioned space.
Decentralized Mechanical Equipment Rooms. Many office
buildings locate air-handling equipment at each floor. This not only
saves floor space for equipment but minimizes the space required
for distribution ductwork and shafts. The reduced size of equipment
as a result of duplicated systems allows the use of less expensive
packaged equipment and reduces the need for experienced operat-
ing and maintenance personnel.
Fans
Both packaged and built-up air-handling units can use any type
of fan. Centrifugal fans may be forward curved, backward inclined,
or airfoil, and single width-single inlet or double-width double inlet.
It is quite common for packaged air handlers to use multiple double-
width, double-inlet (DWDI) centrifugal fans on a common shaft
with a single drive motor. Plug fans—single-width, single-inlet
(SWSI) centrifugal fan wheels without a scroll—are sometimes
used on larger packaged air handlers to make them more compact.
Vaneaxial fans, both adjustable pitch and variable pitch during oper-
ation, are often used on very large air-handling units. Fan selection
should be based on efficiency and sound power level throughout the
anticipated range of operation as well as the ability of the fan to pro-
vide the required flow at the anticipated static pressure. Chapter 18
discusses fans and their selection.
AIR-HANDLING UNIT PROCESSES
Cooling
The basic methods used for cooling include
• Direct expansion, which takes advantage of the latent heat of the
fluid, as shown in the psychrometric diagram in Figure 2.
• Fluid-filled coil, where temperature differences between the fluid
and the air cause an exchange of energy by the same process as in
Figure 2 (see the section on Dehumidification).
• Direct spray of water in the airstream (Figure 3) in which an adi-
abatic process uses the latent heat of evaporation of water to
reduce dry bulb temperature while increasing moisture content.
Both sensible and latent cooling is also possible by spraying
chilled water. Air can be cooled and greatly humidified by spray-
ing heated water. A conventional evaporative cooler, uses the adi-
abatic process, by spraying or dripping recirculated water onto a
filter pad (see the section on Humidification). The wetted duct or
Fig. 2 Direct-Expansion or Chilled Water Cooling and
Dehumidification
Fig. 3 Water Spray Cooling

supersaturated system is a variation on direct spray. In this sys-
tem, tiny droplets of free moisture are carried by the air into the
conditioned space where they evaporate, providing additional
cooling. This reduces the amount of air needed for a given space
load (Figure 4).
• Indirect evaporative cooling adiabatically cools outdoor air or
exhaust air from the conditioned space by spraying water, then
passes that cooled air through one side of a heat exchanger, while
the air to be supplied to the space is cooled by passing through the
other side of the heat exchanger. Chapter 19 has further informa-
tion on this method of cooling.
Chapter 6 of the 1997 ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamentals
detail the psychrometric process of these methods.
Heating
The basic methods used for heating include
• Steam, which uses the latent heat of the fluid
• Fluid-filled coils, which use temperature differences between the
warm fluid and the cooler air
• Electric heating, which also uses the temperature difference
between the heating coil and the air to exchange energy
The effect on the airstream for each of these processes is the
same and is shown in Figure 5. For basic equations, refer to Chapter
6 of the 1997 ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamentals.
Humidification
The methods used to humidify air include
• Direct spray of recirculated water into the airstream (air
washer) reduces the dry-bulb temperature while maintaining an
almost constant wet bulb in an adiabatic process [see Figure 3,
Paths (1) to (3)]. The air may also be cooled and dehumidified, or
heated and humidified by changing the temperature of the spray.
In one variation, the surface area of water exposed to the air is
increased by spraying water onto a cooling/heating coil. The coil
surface temperature determines the leaving air conditions.
Another method is to spray or distribute water over a porous
medium, such as those in evaporative coolers and commercial
greenhouses. This method requires careful monitoring of the
water condition to keep biological contaminants from the air-
stream (Figure 6).
• Compressed air that forces water through a nozzle into the air-
stream is essentially a constant wet-bulb (adiabatic) process. The
water must be treated to keep particulates from entering the air-
stream and contaminating or coating equipment and furnishings.
Many types of nozzles are available.
• Steam injection, which is a constant dry-bulb process (Figure 7).
However, as the steam injected becomes superheated, the leaving
dry-bulb temperature increases. If live steam is injected into the
airstream, the boiler water treatment chemical must be nontoxic
to the occupants and, if the air is supplying a laboratory, to the
research under way.
Dehumidification
Moisture condenses on a cooling coil when its surface tempera-
ture is below the dew point of the air, thus reducing the humidity of
the air. In a similar manner, air will also be dehumidified if a fluid
with a temperature below the airstream dew point is sprayed into the
Fig. 4 Water Spray Humidifier
Fig. 5 Steam, Hot Water, and Electric Heating
Fig. 6 Humidification

airstream. The process is identical to that shown in Figure 2, except
that the moisture condensed from the airstream condenses on, and
dissolves in, the spray droplets instead of on the solid coil surface.
Chemical dehumidification involves either passing air over a
solid desiccant or spraying the air with a solution of the desiccant
and water. Both of these processes add heat, often called the latent
heat of wetting, to the air being dehumidified. Usually about 465
kJ/kg of moisture is removed (Figure 8). These systems should be
reviewed with the user to ensure that contamination of the space
does not occur. Chapter 22 has more information on this topic.
AIR-HANDLING UNIT COMPONENTS
Air Conditioner
To determine the system’s air-handling requirement, the designer
must consider the function and physical characteristics of the space
to be conditioned and the air volume and thermal exchange capa-
cities required. Then, the various components may be selected
and arranged by considering the fundamental requirements of the
central system—equipment must be adequate, accessible for easy
maintenance, and not too complex in arrangement and control to
produce the required conditions. Further, the designer should con-
sider economics in component selection. Both initial cost and oper-
ating costs affect design decisions. The designer should not
arbitrarily design for a 2.5 m/s face velocity, which has been com-
mon for selection of cooling coils and other components. Filter and
coil selection at 1.5 to 2 m/s, with resultant lower pressure loss,
could produce a substantial payback on constant volume systems.
Chapter 35 of the 1999 ASHRAE Handbook—Applications has fur-
ther information on energy and life-cycle costs.
Figure 1 shows a general arrangement of the air-handling unit
components for a single-zone, all-air central system suitable for
year-round air conditioning. With this arrangement, close control of
temperature and humidity are possible. All these components are
seldom used simultaneously in a comfort application. Although
Figure 1 indicates a built-up system, most of the components are
available from many manufacturers completely assembled or in
subassembled sections that can be bolted together in the field. When
selecting central system components, specific design parameters
must be evaluated to balance cost, controllability, operating
expense, maintenance, noise, and space. The sizing and selection of
primary air-handling units substantially affect the results obtained
in the conditioned space.
Return Air Fan
A return air fan is optional on small systems but is essential for
the proper operation of air economizer systems for free cooling
from outside air if the return path has a significant pressure drop
(greater than about 75 Pa) It provides a positive return and exhaust
from the conditioned area, particularly when mixing dampers per-
mit cooling with outdoor air in intermediate seasons and winter. The
return air fan ensures that the proper volume of air returns from the
conditioned space. It prevents excess pressure when economizer
cycles introduce more than the minimum quantity of outside air. It
also reduces the static pressure the supply fan has to work against.
(The use of a return fan can increase system energy use if the system
is so arranged that the return fan works against more static pressure
than the incremental static pressure the supply fan would have to
provide to overcome the return path pressure drop) The supply
fan(s) must be carefully matched with the return fans, particularly in
variable air volume (VAV) systems. The return air fan should handle
a slightly smaller amount of air to account for fixed exhaust sys-
tems, such as the toilet exhaust, and to ensure a slight positive pres-
sure in the conditioned space. Chapter 45 of the 1999 ASHRAE
Handbook—Applications has design details.
Relief Air Fan
In many situations, a relief (or exhaust) air fan may be used
instead of a return fan. A relief air fan relieves ventilation air intro-
duced during air economizer operation and operates only when this
control cycle is in effect. When a relief air fan is used, the supply fan
must be designed for the total supply and return static pressure in the
system, since the relief air fan does not operate during the non-econ-
omizer mode of operation. During the economizer mode of opera-
tion, the relief fan must be controlled to exhaust at a rate that tracks
the quantity of outside air introduced, to ensure a slight positive
pressure in the conditioned space, as with the return air fan system
cited previously. The section on Economizers describes the required
control for relief air fans.
Automatic Dampers
Opposed blade dampers for the outdoor, return, and relief air-
streams provides the highest degree of control. The section on Mix-
ing Plenum covers the conditions that dictate the use of parallel
Fig. 7 Steam Humidification
Fig. 8 Chemical Humidification

blade dampers. Pressure relationships between various sections
must be considered to ensure that automatic dampers are properly
sized for wide open and modulating pressure drops.
Relief Openings
Relief openings in large buildings should be constructed simi-
larly to outdoor air intakes, but they may require motorized or self-
acting backdraft dampers to prevent high wind pressure or stack
action from causing the airflow to reverse when the automatic
dampers are open. The pressure loss through relief openings should
be 25 Pa or less. Low-leakage dampers, such as those for outdoor
intakes, prevent rattling and minimize leakage. Relief dampers
sized for the same air velocity as the maximum outdoor air dampers
facilitate control when an air economizer cycle is used. The relief air
opening should be located so that the exhaust air does not short-cir-
cuit to the outdoor air intake.
Return Air Dampers
The negative pressure in the outdoor air intake plenum is a func-
tion of the resistance or static pressure loss through the outside air
louvers, damper, and duct. The positive pressure in the relief air ple-
num is, likewise, a function of the static pressure loss through the
exhaust or relief damper, the exhaust duct between the plenum and
outside, and the relief louver. The pressure drop through the return
air damper must accommodate the pressure difference between the
positive-pressure relief air plenum and the negative pressure outside
air plenum. Proper sizing of this damper facilitates both air balanc-
ing and mixing. An additional manual damper may be required for
proper air balancing.
Outdoor Air Intakes
Resistance through outdoor intakes varies widely, depending on
construction. Frequently, architectural considerations dictate the
type and style of louver. The designer should ensure that the louvers
selected offer minimum pressure loss, preferably not more than 25
Pa. High-efficiency, low-pressure louvers that effectively limit car-
ryover of rain are available. Flashing installed at the outside wall
and weep holes or a floor drain will carry away rain and melted
snow entering the intake. Cold regions may require a snow baffle to
direct fine snow particles to a low-velocity area below the dampers.
Outdoor dampers should be low-leakage types with special gas-
keted edges and special end treatment. Separate damper sections
with separate damper operators are strongly recommended for the
minimum outdoor air needed for ventilation. The maximum out-
door air needed for economizer cycles is then drawn through the
entire outside air damper.
Economizers
An economizer uses outside air to reduce the refrigeration
requirement. A logic circuit maintains a fixed minimum of ventila-
tion outside air. The air side economizer is an attractive option for
reducing energy costs when the climate allows. The air-side econo-
mizer takes advantage of cool outdoor air to either assist mechanical
cooling or, if the outdoor air is cool enough, provide total system
cooling. It is necessary to include some method of variable volume
relief when air-side economizers are employed, to exhaust the extra
outdoor air intake to outdoors. The relief volume may be controlled
by several different methods, including fan tracking (operating the
supply and return fans to maintain a constant difference in airflow
between them,) or relief air discharge dampers which modulate in
response to building space pressure. The relief system is off and
relief dampers are closed when the air-side economizer is inactive.
In systems with large return air static requirements, return fans or
exhaust fans may be necessary to properly exhaust building air and
take in outside air.
Advantages of Air-Side Economizers
• Substantially reduces compressor, cooling tower, and condenser
water pump energy requirements
• Has a lower air-side pressure drop than a water-side economizer
• Has a higher annual energy savings than a water-side economizer
• Reduces tower makeup water and related water treatment
Disadvantages of Air-Side Economizers
• Humidification may be required during winter operation
• Equipment room is generally placed along the building’s exterior
wall
• Installed cost may be higher than that for a water-side economizer
if the cost of providing the exhaust system requirements exceeds
the costs of piping, pump, and heat exchanger
Mixing Plenum
If the equipment is closely coupled to outdoor louvers in a wall,
the minimum outdoor air damper should be located as close as pos-
sible to the return damper connection. An outside air damper sized
for 7.5 m/s gives good control. Low-leakage outdoor air dampers
minimize leakage when closed during shutdown. The pressure dif-
ference between the relief plenum and outdoor intake plenum must
be measured through the return damper section. A higher velocity
through the return air damper—high enough to cause this loss at its
full open position—facilitates air balance and creates good mixing.
To create maximum turbulence and mixing, return air dampers
should be set so that any deflection of air is toward the outside air.
Parallel blade dampers may aid mixing. Mixing dampers should be
placed across the full width of the unit, even though the location of
the return duct makes it more convenient to return air through the
side. When return dampers are placed at one side, return air passes
through one side of a double-inlet fan, and cold outdoor air passes
through the other. If the air return must enter the side, some form of
air blender should be used.
Although opposed blade dampers offer better control, properly
proportioned parallel blade dampers are more effective for mixing
airstreams of different temperatures. If parallel blades are used,
each damper should be mounted so that its partially opened blades
direct the airstreams toward the other damper for maximum mixing.
Baffles that direct the two airstreams to impinge on each other at
right angles and in multiple jets create the turbulence required to
mix the air thoroughly. In some instances, unit heaters or propeller
fans have been used for mixing, regardless of the final type and con-
figuration of dampers. Otherwise, the preheat coil will waste heat,
or the cooling coil may freeze.
Filter Section
A system’s overall performance depends heavily on the filter.
Unless the filter is regularly maintained, system resistance increases
and airflow diminishes. Accessibility is the primary consideration
in filter selection and location. In a built-up system, there should be
at least 1 m between the upstream face of the filter bank and any
obstruction. Other requirements for filters can be found in Chapter
24 and in ASHRAE Standard 52.1.
Good mixing of outdoor and return air is also necessary for good
filter performance. A poorly placed outdoor air duct or a bad duct
connection to the mixing plenum can cause uneven loading of the
filter and poor distribution of air through the coil section. Because
of the low resistance of the clean areas, the filter gauge may not
warn of this condition.
Preheat Coil
The preheat coil should have wide fin spacing, be accessible for
easy cleaning, and be protected by filters. If the preheat coil is
located in the minimum outdoor airstream rather than in the mixed
airstream as shown in Figure 1, it should not heat the air to an exit

temperature above 2 to 7°C; preferably, it should become inopera-
tive at outdoor temperatures of 7°C. Inner distributing tube or inte-
gral face and bypass coils are preferable with steam. Hot water
preheat coils should have a constant flow recirculating pump and
should be piped for parallel flow so that the coldest air will contact
the warmest part of the coil surface first. Chapter 23 provides more
detailed information on heating coils.
Cooling Coil
In this section, sensible and latent heat are removed from the air.
In all finned coils, some air passes through without contacting the
fins or tubes. The amount of this bypass can vary from 30% for a
four-row coil at 3.5 m/s to less than 2% for an eight-row coil at 1.5
m/s. The dew point of the air mixture leaving a four-row coil might
satisfy a comfort installation with 25% or less outdoor air, a small
internal latent load, and sensible temperature control only. For close
control of room conditions for precision work, a deeper coil may be
required. Chapter 21 provides more information on cooling coils
and their selection.
Coil freezing can be a serious problem with chilled water coils.
Full flow circulation of chilled water during freezing weather, or
even reduced flow with a small recirculating pump, minimizes coil
freezing and eliminates stratification. Further, continuous full flow
circulation can provide a source of off-season chilled water in air-
and-water systems. Antifreeze solutions or complete coil draining
also prevent coil freezing. However, because it is difficult, if not
impossible, to drain most cooling coils completely, caution should
be exercised if this option is considered.
Reheat Coil
Reheat systems are strongly discouraged, unless recovered
energy is used (see ASHRAE Standard 90.1). Reheating is limited
to laboratory, health care, or similar applications where temperature
and relative humidity must be controlled accurately. Heating coils
located in the reheat position, as shown in Figure 1, are frequently
used for warm-up, although a coil in the preheat position is prefer-
able. Hot water heating coils provide the highest degree of control.
Oversized coils, particularly steam, can stratify the airflow; thus,
where cost-effective, inner distributing coils are preferable for
steam applications. Electric coils may also be used. Chapter 23 has
more information.
Humidifiers
Humidifiers may be installed as part of the central station air-
handling unit, or in terminals at the point of use, or both. Where
close humidity control of selected spaces is required, the entire sup-
ply airstream may be humidified to a lower humidity level in the air
handler, with terminal humidifiers located in the supply ducts serv-
ing just those selected spaces bringing them up to their required
humidity levels. For comfort installations not requiring close con-
trol, moisture can be added to the air by mechanical atomizers or
point-of-use electric or ultrasonic humidifiers. Proper location of
this equipment prevents stratification of moist air in the system.
In this application, the heat of evaporation should be replaced by
heating the recirculated water, rather than by increasing the size of
the preheat coil. Steam grid humidifiers with dew-point control usu-
ally are used for accurate humidity control. It is not possible to add
moisture to saturated air, even with a steam grid humidifier. Air in
a laboratory or other application that requires close humidity control
must be reheated after leaving a cooling coil before moisture can be
added. The capacity of the humidifying equipment should not
exceed the expected peak load by more than 10%. If the humidity is
controlled from the room or the return air, a limiting humidistat and
fan interlock may be needed in the supply duct. This prevents con-
densation and mold or mildew growth in the ductwork when tem-
perature controls call for cooler air. Humidifiers add some sensible
heat that should be accounted for in the psychrometric evaluation.
Chapter 20 has additional information.
Dehumidifiers
Many dehumidification systems are available. Dust can be a
problem with solid desiccants, and lithium contamination is a con-
cern with spray equipment. Chapter 21 discusses dehumidification
by cooling coils and Chapter 22 discusses desiccant dehumidifiers.
Odor Control
Most devices control odors and other contaminants with acti-
vated carbon or potassium permanganate as a basic filter medium.
Other systems use electronic control methods. Chapters 12 and 13
of the 1997 ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamentals have more infor-
mation on odor control.
Supply Air Fan
Either axial flow, centrifugal, or plug fans may be chosen as sup-
ply air fans for straight-through flow applications. In factory-fabri-
cated units, more than one centrifugal fan may be tied to the same
shaft. If headroom permits, a single-inlet fan should be chosen when
air enters at right angles to the flow of air through the equipment.
This permits a direct flow of air from the fan wheel into the supply
duct without abrupt change in direction and loss in efficiency. It also
permits a more gradual transition from the fan to the duct and
increases the static regain in the velocity pressure conversion. To
minimize inlet losses, the distance between the casing walls and the
fan inlet should be at least the diameter of the fan wheel. With a sin-
gle-inlet fan, the length of the transition section should be at least
half the width or height of the casing, whichever is longer. If fans
blow through the equipment, the air distribution through the down-
stream components needs analyzing, and baffles should be used to
ensure uniform air distribution. Chapter 18 has more information.
AIR-HANDLING UNIT CONCERNS
Outside Air Requirements
A common complaint regarding buildings is the lack of outside
air. This problem is especially a concern in VAV systems where out-
side air quantities are established for peak loads and are then
reduced in proportion to the air supplied during periods of reduced
load. A simple control added to the outside air damper can eliminate
this problem and keep the amount of outside air constant, regardless
of the operation of the VAV system. However, the need to preheat
the outside air must be considered if this control is added.
Another problem is that some codes require as little as 2.4 L/s per
person [about 0.25 L/(s·m2)] of outside air. This amount is far too
low for a building in which modern construction materials are used.
Higher outside air quantities may be required to reduce odors,
VOC’s, and potentially dangerous pollutants. ASHRAE Standard
62 provides information on ventilation for acceptable indoor air
quality. Air quality (i.e., the control or reduction of contaminants
such as volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde from furnish-
ings, and dust) must be reviewed by the engineer.
Heat recovery devices are becoming more popular as the
requirements for outside air increase. They are used extensively in
research and development facilities and in hospitals and laborato-
ries where HVAC systems supply 100% outside air. Many types are
available, and the type of facility usually determines which is most
suitable. Many countries with extreme climates provide heat
exchangers on outside/relief air, even for private homes. This trend
is now appearing in larger commercial buildings worldwide. Heat
recovery devices such as air-to-air plate heat exchangers can save
energy and reduce the required capacity of primary cooling and
heating plants by 20% and more under certain circumstances.

The location of intake and exhaust louvers should be carefully
considered; in some jurisdictions, location is governed by codes.
Louvers must be separated enough to avoid short-circuiting of air.
Furthermore, intake louvers should not be near a potential source of
contaminated air such as a boiler stack or hood exhaust. Relief air
should also not interfere with other systems. If heat recovery
devices are used, intake and exhaust airstreams may need to run
together, such as through air-to-air plate heat exchangers.
Equipment Isolation
Vibration and sound isolation equipment is required for most
central fan installations. Standard mountings of fiberglass, ribbed
rubber, neoprene mounts, and springs are available for most fans
and prefabricated units. The designer must account for seismic
restraint requirements for the seismic zone in which the particular
project is located. In some applications, the fans may require con-
crete inertia blocks in addition to non-enclosed spring mountings.
Steel springs require sound-absorbing material inserted between the
springs and the foundation. Horizontal discharge fans operating at a
high static pressure frequently require thrust arrestors. Ductwork
connections to fans should be made with fireproof fiber cloth
sleeves having considerable slack, but without offset between the
fan outlet and rigid duct. Misalignment between the duct and fan
outlet can cause turbulence, generate noise, and reduce system effi-
ciency. Electrical and piping connections to vibration-isolated
equipment should be made with flexible conduit and flexible con-
nections. Special considerations are required in seismic zones.
Equipment noise transmitted through the ductwork can be
reduced by sound-absorbing units, acoustical lining, and other
means of attenuation. Sound transmitted through the return and
relief ducts should not be overlooked. Acoustical lining sufficient to
adequately attenuate any objectionable system noise or locally gen-
erated noise should be considered. Chapter 46 of the 1999 ASHRAE
Handbook—Applications, Chapter 7 of the 1997 ASHRAE Hand-
book—Fundamentals, and ASHRAE Standard 68 have further
information on sound and vibration control. Noise control, both in
the occupied spaces and outside near intake or relief louvers, must
be considered. Some local ordinances may limit external noise pro-
duced by these devices.
AIR DISTRIBUTION
Ductwork should deliver conditioned air to an area as directly,
quietly, and economically as possible. Structural features of the
building generally require some compromise and often limit depth.
describes ductwork design in detail and gives several methods of
sizing duct systems. It is imperative that the designer coordinate
duct design with the structure. In commercially developed projects,
great effort is made to reduce floor-to-floor dimensions. The result-
ant decrease in the available interstitial space left for ductwork is a
major design challenge.
Room Terminals
In some instances, such as in low-velocity, all-air systems, the air
may enter from the supply air ductwork directly into the conditioned
space through a grille or diffuser. In medium and high-velocity air
systems, air terminal units normally control air volume, reduce duct
pressure, or both. Various types are available, including
1. A variable air volume (VAV) terminal unit, which varies the
amount of air delivered. This air may be delivered to low-pres-
sure ductwork and then to the space, or the terminal may contain
an integral air diffuser;
2. A fan-powered VAV terminal unit, which varies the amount of
primary air delivered, but also uses a fan to mix ceiling plenum
or return air with primary supply air before it is delivered to the
space;
3. An all-air induction terminal unit, which controls the volume of
primary air, induces ceiling plenum or space air, and distributes
the mixture through low-velocity ductwork to the space; and
4. An air-water induction terminal unit, which includes a coil or
coils in the induced airstream to condition the return air before it
mixes with the primary air and enters the space.
Chapter 17 has more information on room terminals and air ter-
minal units.
Ductwork Design
covers calculation methods for duct design. The air distribution
ductwork and terminal devices selected must be compatible or the
system will either fail to operate effectively or incur high first, oper-
ating, and maintenance costs.
Duct Sizing. All-air duct systems can be designed for high or
low velocity. A high-velocity system has smaller ducts, which save
space but require higher pressures. In some low-velocity systems,
medium or high fan pressures may be required for balancing or to
overcome high pressure drops from terminal devices. In any vari-
able flow system, changing operating conditions can cause airflow
in the ducts to differ from design flow. Thus, varying airflow in the
supply duct must be carefully analyzed to ensure that the system
performs efficiently at all loads. This precaution is particularly true
with high-velocity air. Return air ducts are usually sized by the
equal friction method.
In many applications, the space between a hung ceiling and the
floor slab above it is used as a return air plenum, so that the return
air is collected at a central point. Governing codes should be con-
sulted before using this approach in new design, because most codes
prohibit combustible material in a ceiling space used as a return air
plenum. For example, the National Electrical Code Handbook
(NFPA 1996) requires that either conduit or PTFE insulated wire
(often called plenum rated cable) be installed in a return air plenum.
In addition, regulations often require that return air plenums be
divided into smaller areas by fire walls and that fire dampers be
installed in ducts, which increases first cost.
In research and some industrial facilities, return ducting must be
installed to avoid contamination and growth of biological contami-
nants in the ceiling space. Lobby ceilings with lay-in panels may not
work well as return plenums where negative pressure from high-rise
elevators or stack effects of high-rise buildings may occur. If the
plenum leaks to the low-pressure area, the tiles may lift and drop out
when the outside door is opened and closed. Return plenums
directly below a roof deck have substantially higher return air gain
than a ducted return, but have the advantage of reducing the heat
gain to or loss from the space.
Corridors should not be used for return air because they spread
smoke and other contaminants. While most codes ban returning air
through corridors, the method is still used in many older facilities.
All ductwork should be sealed. Energy waste due to leaks in the
ductwork and terminal devices can be considerable. The ductwork
installed in many commercial buildings can have leakage of 20% or
more.
SINGLE-DUCT SYSTEMS
Constant Volume
While maintaining constant airflow, single-duct constant volume
systems change the supply air temperature in response to the space
load (Figure 9).
Single-Zone Systems. The simplest all-air system is a supply
unit serving a single-temperature control zone. The unit can be
installed either in or remote from the space it serves, and it may

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