SECTION 23 33 19

DUCT SILENCERS AND ACOUSTIC TREATMENT

PART 1 - GENERAL

1.01 SUMMARY

A. Provide duct silencers and acoustic treatment as indicated on the Construction Drawings
and in accordance with the requirements of the Construction Documents.

B. Section includes:
1. Factory-built rectangular straight duct silencers.
2. Factory-built rectangular elbow duct silencers.
3. Vaneaxial fan cone/diffuser silencers.

1.02 RELATED SECTIONS

A. Refer to Divisions 01, 14, 21, 22, 26, 27 and 28 for the scope of work furnished and
installed under those divisions on which work in this division may be dependent.

B. The following specification sections apply to all work herein:

1. Section 01 81 19
2. Section 01 91 13
3. Section 09 97 13
4. Section 23 00 00
5. Section 23 01 00
6. Section 23 05 00
7. Section 23 05 29
8. Section 23 05 48.13
9. Section 23 05 48.16
10. Section 23 05 53
11. Section 23 07 00
12. Section 23 31 13
13. Section 23 31 19
14. Section 23 33 13
15. Section 23 33 33
- Indoor Air Quality Requirements
- General Commissioning Requirements
- Steel Coatings
- General Requirements for HVAC Work
- Operation and Maintenance of HVAC Systems
- Common Work Results for HVAC Work
- Hangers and Supports for HVAC Piping, Ducts
and Equipment
- Seismic Controls for HVAC Piping, Ducts and
Equipment
- Vibration Isolation for HVAC Piping, Ducts and
Equipment
- Identification for HVAC Piping and Equipment
- HVAC Insulation
- Metal Ducts
- HVAC Casings and Plenums
- Dampers
- Ducts, Casings and Plenum-Mounted Access
Doors

1.03 REFERENCES

A. Codes: Perform all work in accordance with the latest applicable codes and standards for
the City of New York.
1. New York City Building Code.
2. New York City Mechanical Code.
3. New York City Energy Conservation Code.

HSS West Side Outpatient Center DUCT SILENCERS AND ACOUSTIC TREATMENT
600-610 West 58th St, New York, NY 23 33 19 - 1
PE Project 66721.00 Conformed Issue for Construction October 27, 2017
© JB&B 2017
 B. Reference Standards: Perform all work in accordance with, but not limited to, the
following standards:
1. Air Movement and Control Association (AMCA).
2. American Society of Heating, Refrigeration
and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
a. ASHRAE Handbooks - Fundamentals, HVAC Applications and HVAC
Systems and Equipment Volumes.
3. American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM)
a. ASTM A90/A90M: Test Method for Weight (Mass) of Coatings on Iron
and Steel Articles with Zinc or Zinc-Alloy Coatings.
b. ASTM A568/A568M: Specifications for Steel, Sheet, Carbon, Structural,
and High Strength, Low-Alloy, Hot-Rolled and Cold-Rolled, General
Requirements for.
c. ASTM Procedure C423: Test Method for Sound Absorption and Sound
Absorption Coefficients by Reverberation Room Method.
d. ASTM Procedure E84: Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of
Building Materials.
e. ASTM Procedure E90: Test Method for Laboratory Measurement of
Airborne Sound Transmission Loss of Building Partitions and Elements.
f. ASTM Procedure E477: Test Method for Measuring Acoustical and
Airflow Performance of Duct Liner Material and Prefabricated Silencers.
4. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
a. NFPA 90A: Standard for the Installation of Air-Conditioning and
Ventilating Systems.
b. NFPA 90B: Standard for the Installation of Warm Air Heating and Air-
Conditioning Systems.
c. NFPA 255: Standard Method of Test of Surface Burning Characteristics of
Building Materials.
d. NFPA 701: Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame Propagation of
Textiles and Films.
5. American Welding Society (AWS)
a. AWS D1.1/D1.1M: Structural Welding Code - Steel.
b. AWS D1.2/D1.2M: Structural Welding Code - Aluminum.
c. AWS D9.1/D9.1M: Sheet Metal Welding Code.
6. NIST/NVLAP: National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program.
7. North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA)
a. NAIMA AH124: Fibrous Glass Duct Liner Standard.
8. Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association, Inc.
(SMACNA).
9. Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL).
a. UL 181: Factory-Made Air Ducts and Air Connectors.
b. UL 181A: Closure Systems for Use with Rigid Air Ducts and Air
Connectors.
c. UL 723: Standard Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building
Materials.

1.04 SUBMITTALS

A. Submittals shall be furnished in accordance with the requirements of Section 23 00 00.

Prior to beginning fabrication of duct systems, plenums, duct silencers and/or acoustic
treatment, submit the following:

HSS West Side Outpatient Center DUCT SILENCERS AND ACOUSTIC TREATMENT
600-610 West 58th St, New York, NY 23 33 19 - 2
PE Project 66721.00 Conformed Issue for Construction October 27, 2017
© JB&B 2017
 1. Detailed shop drawings for each type of duct silencer and acoustic treatment,
including method of attachment to sheet metal duct and equipment, connector
types, connector sizes and connector locations.
2. Manufacturer’s approved installation instructions and installation details.

B. Product Data: Submit manufacturers’ product data, current literature and Certificates of
Compliance for the following:
1. Include dynamic insertion loss data.
2. Include pressure drop data.
3. Manufacturer’s approved installation instructions and installation details.
4. Materials, construction and dimensions.
5. Ratings and testing data.
6. Other pertinent data.

1.05 QUALITY ASSURANCE

A. The quality assurance requirements of Division 01 - General Requirements and Section

23 00 00 apply to all work specified herein.

B. Duct silencers and acoustic treatment shall be fabricated by a fabrication company whose
primary business expertise is the manufacture of commercial- and industrial-quality duct
silencers and acoustic treatment.

C. Verify silencer dynamic insertion loss, generated noise levels and pressure drop ratings
based on tests performed in an NIST/NVLAP accredited facility in accordance with
ASTM E477 testing procedures at independent lab testing facility.

D. The Installing Contractors shall be qualified, have adequate experience and a successful
track record in building, constructing and installing duct silencers and acoustic treatment
of the types required for this project.

E. Provide all the necessary evidence and documents to establish that all design
requirements, materials, products, components, installations, test reports, documentation
and all other submittals are in compliance.

F. All duct silencers and acoustic treatment shall be constructed in accordance with the
details shown in SMACNA - HVAC Duct Construction Standards.

1.06 DELIVERY, STORAGE AND HANDLING

A. Comply with Division 01 - General Requirements and Section 23 00 00.

B. Protect products and materials from entry of foreign materials by use of temporary covers,
wrappings, plugs, etc.

C. Deliver duct silencers and acoustic treatment, ancillary parts and accessories to the
project site and store in original packaging. Handle all products with care and protect
them from damage due to construction activities, weather, dirt, water, chemicals, etc.

D. Store products and materials off of floors on raised platforms to protect them from water
damage.

E. Products and materials that become damaged in the opinion of the Engineer may be
rejected and shall be repaired or replaced by the Contractor at no additional expense to
the Owner.

HSS West Side Outpatient Center DUCT SILENCERS AND ACOUSTIC TREATMENT
600-610 West 58th St, New York, NY 23 33 19 - 3
PE Project 66721.00 Conformed Issue for Construction October 27, 2017
© JB&B 2017
1.07 FIELD MEASUREMENTS

A. Prior to installation, verify all required field measurements to ensure that silencers fit
within the allotted space and have the required spacing between the inlet and outlet as
determined by the manufacturer.

1.08 WARRANTY

A. Comply with Division 01 - General Requirements and Section 23 00 00 requirements for

product warranties.

B. Furnish a three- (3-) year manufacturer’s warranty for all duct silencers and accessories
provided.

C. Furnish a one- (1-) year installation warranty against any and all defects for all duct
silencers and acoustical systems, associated accessories and components provided.

D. Warranty period shall initiate upon Final Acceptance by Owner.

1.09 COMMISSIONING

A. Refer to Section 01 91 13 - General Commissioning Requirements.

PART 2 - PRODUCTS

2.01 ACCEPTABLE MANUFACTURERS

A. Being listed herein as an acceptable manufacturer does not permit the manufacturer to
provide standard manufactured equipment that does not comply with the performance
and/or physical-characteristic requirements of the Construction Documents.

B. All substitutions must be identified in the Base Bid as a voluntary Deduct Alternate, and
must be accompanied by a Letter of Equivalency certifying the product’s equivalency in
all performance and physical characteristics to the products listed herein. The proposed
substitutions shall be inclusive of all cost and physical implications throughout the
project. Under no circumstances should the substitution result in added cost to the
project. Should the substitution be approved, neither the project specifications nor the
Construction Documents will be revised to reflect the substitution.

C. Sound-Insulating Panels
1. I.A.C. (Industrial Acoustics Co.).
2. Kinetics Noise Control.
3. McGill Air Silence LLC.
4. Pottorff (formerly Dynasonics).
5. Rink (not approved for hospitals or labs).
6. Ruskin Sound Control.
7. Vibro-Acoustics.

D. Sound Traps
1. I.A.C. (Industrial Acoustics Co.).
2. Kinetics Noise Control.
3. McGill Air Silence LLC.
4. Pottorff (formerly Dynasonics).
5. Rink (not approved for Hospitals or Labs).

HSS West Side Outpatient Center DUCT SILENCERS AND ACOUSTIC TREATMENT
600-610 West 58th St, New York, NY 23 33 19 - 4
PE Project 66721.00 Conformed Issue for Construction October 27, 2017
© JB&B 2017
 6. Ruskin Sound Control.
7. Vibro-Acoustics.

2.02 DUCT SILENCERS AND ACOUSTIC TREATMENT - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

A. All silencers, acoustical panels and assemblies shall have a flame spread and smoke
developed rating of less than or equal to 25 and 50 respectively, in accordance with
ASTM E84, NFPA 255 and UL-723, and applicable codes.

B. The manufacturer shall review the Contractor’s drawings to ensure that the insertion
losses and pressure drops for each silencer are be based on the actual installed conditions.

C. Silencers shall be constructed of the same material as the attaching ductwork.

2.03 FACTORY-BUILT DUCT SILENCERS

A. Prefabricated duct silencers shall be constructed of all incombustible materials and shall
be the standard product of an approved manufacturer. The shell of the silencer shall be
at least 22 gauge galvanized steel sheet and shall be leakproof when subjected to a
differential pressure of 2 inches w.g.

B. Pressure drop shall be not greater than shown in the sound trap schedule. Total system
pressure before and after the sound traps shall be measured after the traps are installed.
Should the pressure drop be greater than specified or scheduled, replace the traps and/or
modify the entrance or discharge aerodynamic flow to achieve the specified results.
Make all corrective measures at no additional cost to the Contract.

C. Filler material shall pass an erosion test of 6,000 ft./min. based in accordance with Ul 181
requirements.

D. Filler material shall be of adequate density to achieve the specified acoustic performance.
It shall be packed with a minimum of 5% compression to eliminate unwanted voids that
may result from vibration or settling.

E. Silencers requiring vapor barriers shall be provided with acoustic stand-offs to separate
the filer material from the interior perforated baffles. Stand-offs shall be made of non-
combustible erosion resistant material.

F. The sound traps shall provide the following net insertion ratings under design airflow
velocities as scheduled on the drawings. The ratings shall be determined by the duct to
reverberant room test method.

Dynamic Net Insertion Loss (dB)

Band Width
Bands Center Freq. (cps) Sound Trap Types
A B C D
2 125 5 7 12 18
3 250 9 13 16 24
4 500 14 21 28 40
5 1,000 23 29 35 45
6 2,000 19 33 35 46

G. The maximum self-generated noise by the above sound trap types shall not exceed the
following sound power levels at face velocities of 2,000 fpm.

HSS West Side Outpatient Center DUCT SILENCERS AND ACOUSTIC TREATMENT
600-610 West 58th St, New York, NY 23 33 19 - 5
PE Project 66721.00 Conformed Issue for Construction October 27, 2017
© JB&B 2017
 Sound Power Level dB re: 10-12 Watts
Band Width
Bands Center Freq. (cps) Sound Trap Types
AB CD
2 125 51 69
3 250 51 63
4 500 49 64
5 1,000 47 61
6 2,000 50 63

H. Packless sound traps shall be provided that use no acoustically absorbent fill. All sound
attenuation shall be provided by controlled-impedance membranes and broadly tuned
resonators. Sound traps shall be constructed of stainless steel. Sound traps shall not fail
structurally when subjected to a differential pressure of 3 inches w.g. from inside to
outside of casing.

I. Dynamic insertion loss shall be a minimum of:

Dynamic Net Insertion Loss (dB)

Band Width
Bands Center Freq. (cps) Sound Trap Types
F G
2 125 8 8
3 250 16 17
4 500 16 20
5 1,000 7 7
6 2,000 7 10

J. Maximum self-generated noise by the above sound trap types shall not exceed the
following sound power levels at face velocities of 1,000 fpm.

Sound Power Level (dB) re: 10-12 Watts

Band Width
Bands Center Freq. (cps) Sound Trap Types
F G
2 125 22 24
3 250 26 35
4 500 28 35
5 1,000 28 35
6 2,000 20 35
1. Vaneaxial fan cone/diffuser silencers shall be factory-fabricated using G60
galvanized steel and constructed as follows:
a. Silencers with 26 inch and smaller outside diameters shall be constructed
using minimum 22 gauge material.
b. Silencers with 27 inch to 60 inch outside diameters shall be constructed
using minimum 18 gauge material.
c. Silencers with 60 inch and larger outside diameters shall be constructed
using minimum 16 gauge material.
d. The center pod shall be constructed of 22 gauge perforated galvanized steel
(minimum) with 23% open area. It shall be the same diameter as that of the
fan hub with a spun aluminum domed bullet cap on the outlet. The pod shall

HSS West Side Outpatient Center DUCT SILENCERS AND ACOUSTIC TREATMENT
600-610 West 58th St, New York, NY 23 33 19 - 6
PE Project 66721.00 Conformed Issue for Construction October 27, 2017
© JB&B 2017
 extend 2 inches past the discharge of the outer casing and shall be attached
to the silencer with four (4) continuous supports spaced 90º apart.
e. The silencer shall taper in the direction of air flow to ensure lower static
pressure.
f. Minimum dynamic insertion loss shall be as follows:

Band Width Dynamic Insertion Loss (dB)

Bands Center Freq. (cps) Cone/Diffuser Silencer
2 125 11
3 250 17
4 500 18
5 1,000 16
6 2,000 12
2. Certification: Submit certified test data of pressure drop and insertion loss ratings
for a 24 x 24 cross-section rectangular trap or 24 inch diameter conical trap. The
certification data for both pressure drop and insertion loss shall be based upon tests
of the same trap for both measurements. The Certifying Laboratory shall be open
to inspection and/or test of sound traps upon request of the Architect.

K. Sound-Insulating Panels
1. Where shown on the Construction Drawings and specified hereinbelow, provide
factory-fabricated laboratory sound-rated, sound-insulating panels.
a. The installed construction shall provide the following acoustical properties
when tested in accordance with ASTM Procedure C423-66 (sound
absorption) and ASTM Procedure E90-70 (sound transmission loss) in a
recognized acoustical testing laboratory.

Panel Thickness Overall Noise Sound Reduction Transmission Class

Coefficient (NRC) (STC)

2 inches 0.90 38
b. The stiffness of the sound-insulating panels under the expected fan system
operating pressure and the leakage shall comply with specified requirements
described under Section 23 31 13 - Metal Ducts and Section 23 31 19 -
HVAC Casings and Plenums.
2. AHU-1-1 and AHU-3-1 shall be constructed in their entirety of sound-insulating
panels, including the common supply header and all associated supply air
ductwork within the confines of the Mechanical Equipment Room, including taps
and branch supply air risers. In addition to the above, all sound panels downstream
of the air conditioning unit final filters shall be furnished with a 0.5 mil (0.013
mm) polyvinyl fluoride film (DuPont FEP Film) or polyester film (DuPont Mylar
Type A) liner between the perforated metal liner and the acoustic absorbent
material within. In addition, sound-insulating panels shall be provided for the
casings of including discharge plenums.

PART 3 - EXECUTION

3.01 INSTALLATION

A. All duct silencers and sound-insulating panels shall be installed in strict accordance with
the manufacturers’ requirements and in accordance with the requirements of the related
sections listed above in Article 1.02 as well as all the requirements in this section.

HSS West Side Outpatient Center DUCT SILENCERS AND ACOUSTIC TREATMENT
600-610 West 58th St, New York, NY 23 33 19 - 7
PE Project 66721.00 Conformed Issue for Construction October 27, 2017
© JB&B 2017
3.02 CLEANING AND PROTECTION

A. Comply with Division 01 requirements for cleaning and protection of installed work.

B. Visually inspect duct silencers and sound-insulating panels for dust, dirt, moisture and
other contaminants. If dust, dirt, moisture and/or other contaminants are present, reclean
and reinspect.

C. Upon completion of the installation, remove all protective materials.

3.03 INSPECTION AND STARTUP

A. A competent factory-authorized service representative shall supervise and inspect the

installation of sound-insulating panels.

B. Any defects that develop in the installation shall be corrected by the Contractor at no
additional cost to the Contract.

C. Document the results of all testing and inspections.

END OF SECTION 23 33 19
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Construction\66721_23_33_ 19_Duct Silencers and Acoustic Treatment.docx

HSS West Side Outpatient Center DUCT SILENCERS AND ACOUSTIC TREATMENT
600-610 West 58th St, New York, NY 23 33 19 - 8
PE Project 66721.00 Conformed Issue for Construction October 27, 2017
© JB&B 2017