Air Control Considerations

For Energy Conservation &

BMS Integration

Presenter: James Livingston,

Ruskin Company
We Will Discuss

Control Damper Basics

Control Damper Leakage

Control Damper Design For Energy

Conservation

Fire/Smoke Damper Acutators For

Energy Conservation
What is a Control Damper?
One or more movable blades
Mounts in ducts or openings
Regulates the flow of air
Control Damper Applications

Air Handling Units (AHU)

Mixing Boxes

Fresh Air (FA)

Return Air (RA)

Backdraft Dampers (BD)

Zone Mixing Dampers (ZMD)
Parts of a Control Damper
Frame

Linkage
Blade
Jamb
Seals
Blade
Seals
Damper Construction
Galvanized Aluminum

Frames

V-Groove Blades

Airfoil Blades
V-Groove Blade Dampers
• Velocities less than 1500 FPM
• 3”- 4” Static Pressure
• Noise not a factor
 Airfoil Blade Dampers
• Velocities above 2000 FPM
• Above 3”- 4” Static Pressure
• Noise is a concern
• Lowest Pressure Drop Required
How Are Fire, Fire/Smoke and
Smoke Dampers Different?

Maintains fire or
smoke walls

Fire dampers - steel
construction

Often have sleeves

Usually not controlling
air
 That is changing!
Damper Leakage – What is it?

Per AMCA Publication 502, Damper

Application Manual for Heating,
Ventilating and Air Conditioning:
“The Air Leakage, or Sealing
Performance, of a closed damper is
the airflow leakage rate through the
damper for a given pressure
differential across the damper.”
Leakage
Why Are We Concerned?

Code requirements

Energy losses due to
escaping conditioned
air through closed
damper

Maintaining pressure
in system with closed
damper
Control Damper Leakage Classes
Smoke & Fire/Smoke Damper
Leakage Classes
Damper Leakage Notes

Leakage is a function of Pressure, not Airflow

Generally expressed or plotted as:
 Cfm/ft² of damper face area at a certain pressure
and with a certain seating torque
 Metric: m³/second per m²

Example for a 24” x 24” opposed blade
damper:
 32 cfm/ft² @ 4” w.g. pressure with 5 inch-
pounds/ft² torque applied holding damper closed
Calculating Leakage

Most dampers have published leakage at 1”

w.g.

Multiply the cfm leakage at 1” times the
square root of the desired pressure

Example
 10 cfm @ 1” w.g. = 20 cfm @ 4” w.g.
 Be sure the damper is rated for the higher
pressure!
International Codes
International codes have been adopted in
All 50 states, D.C. & Puerto Rico
One or more International Codes
currently enforced statewide

www.iccsafe.org

17
 International Codes
International codes mandate…
 Occupancy-based ventilation (IMC 403.3)
 VAV systems shall have controls to monitor and
maintain O.A. flow based on 403 requirements,
through the entire range of the system (IMC403.3.3)
 All dampers penetrating the building envelope shall
be class 1 leakage rated, not to exceed 4cfm/sf @ 1”
w.c. (IMC301.2, IBC1301 & IECC)
 Motorized dampers required on building envelope
penetrations (IECC 502.4.4 & 503.2.4.4)

D.O.E. mandates ASHRAE 90.1 as a minimum for all

Federal buildings. (IECC 4 CFM Supersedes)
International Codes

“The occupant load utilized for design of the

ventilation system shall not be less than the
number determined from the estimated maximum
occupant load rate indicated in Table 403.3”
International Mechanical Code
 International Mechanical Code

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International Building Code

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International Energy Conservation Code
International Energy Conservation Code
• Required in all states that have
adopted the IBC or IMC.
• Addresses OA & EA Damper
leakage
4 cfm/ft2 @ 1” w.g.
• Economizers Required (503.3.1 &
503.4.1)
• Refers to 90.1 for climate zones
and as a standard for
applications not covered in the
code.
ASHRAE 90.1
6.4.3.3.3 Motorized dampers
required on OA & EA applications
6.5.1.1 Economizers required
Specifying Low Leakage
Dampers

AMCA 511 Certification

Independent testing

Verified catalogs

Periodic Check Tests
AMCA International
Certified Ratings Program…

How do you know the product you specified is

licensed by AMCA International?
There are basically four ways to determine if a product is participating in
AMCA International’s Certified Ratings Program. They are:
 WWW.AMCA.org
 Manufacture
 Model #
 Manufacture’s Catalog (most are online)
 Certified Ratings Seal on the product (could be too late)
 Contact AMCA International
 Phone 847-394-0150
 Fax 847-253-0088
 Email crp@amca.org

27
AMCA 511 Damper Air Leakage

At least two sizes tested

 12” x 48”
 Max width x 36”
 Up to two more sizes can be
tested, 36” max tall
 AMCA configs 5.4, 5.5 or 5.6

Round dampers
 Min & Max sizes tested
 AMCA 511 Damper Air Leakage

AMCA 500 Test Standard

Figure 5.5
Leakage &
Pressure
Damper Leakage Chart
Damper Leakage Performance
 Air Leakage Certification

Not the same!

Be sure it’s rated for Air Leakage, not just Air Performance!
Energy Saving Damper
Construction

Blades
Jamb
Seals
Blade
Seals
Blades
Galvanized Aluminum

V-Groove Blades
Generally not Class 1

Airfoil Blades
Class 1 and 1A available
Airfoil Blades

 Advantages
 Best Torsion Performance
 No Twist
 Best Closure Seal For
All Blade Lengths
 Class 1 & 1A available
Airfoil vs. “V” Groove Maximums
 Blade Shape Matters
 Airfoil
 60” Span @ 3.5 w.g.
 3000 FPM
 3-VEE
 48’ Span @ 2.5 w.g.
 1500 FPM
 Airfoil vs. “V” Groove Pressure
Drop
Airfoil
24” x 24”
.07 w.g. @ 2000 FPM

3-VEE

.19 w.g. @ 2000 FPM

Almost 3 times the Pressure Drop!

Jamb Seals

Between ends of
blades and jamb
frames

Metallic or synthetic
material

Compresses when
blades close
Blade Seals

 Blade Seals
 Mechanically Locked

 Inflatable Maintenance

 Wiper Type

No Adhesive or Clip On Style

Insulated Dampers

Reduces thermal energy loss

Different methods

Double airfoil damper -
expensive

Single airfoil foam injected
blades – less expensive

Thermal break frames available

Class 1 leakage

Applications down to -100°F
 Combination Louvers

Drainable fixed louver & airfoil
control damper in same frame

Class 1 leakage

Meets IECC building envelope
leakage requirement!

Available w/ most electric
actuators
Louver & Damper
Less product cost than separate
in One!
louver, damper & sleeve

Less installation cost
41
Damper Electric Actuators
Electric Actuator Types

Actuators are available in three types:

1) Two Position Spring Return
2) Modulating
3) Power Open-Power Closed

Can be controlled by BMS

Most Damper applications call for
Two Position Spring Return or Modulating
Two Position

Limit to limit operation – does not
float

Open/close applications

Spring reverses direction when
power fails

Typically 120V or 24V voltage

Power draw for common 175 in/lb
model
 120V – 60 VA driving, 13 VA holding
 24V – 40 VA driving, 8 VA holding
 Modulating

Actuator moves too any point within
its rotation limits to control airflow

Requires a control signal
 2-10 Vdc or 4-20 mA

Signal can come from BMS based on:
 Temperature
 Pressure
 Air pollutants and/or occupancy

Power draw for common 175 in/lb
model
 24V – 16 VA driving, 5 VA holding
Actuator Installation Options
Modulating Considerations

Airflow not linear to blade position
Modulating Considerations
Linear flow damper characteristics

From AMCA Pub 502 Damper Application Manual

Modulating Fire/Smoke and Smoke
Damper Actuators

BMS signal controls
blade position in normal
condition

Damper closes fully
during fire

Damper opens fully to
relieve smoke
Modulating Smoke & F/S Dampers
 Modulating Smoke & F/S Dampers

Eliminates balancing
dampers
 Less pressure drop
 Less cost

Use smoke dampers for
return air on Air Handlers

Maintain floor pressure in
multi floor systems
Modulating Smoke & F/S Dampers

Advantage over
manual balancing
dampers
 Modulating actuator
goes full-open for
smoke purge
 Smoke system does
not have to fight semi-
closed manual
dampers
3-Position Smoke & F/S Dampers
No Control
Signal
Required

Built in potentiometer to
20% to 100% balance
position
Allows the damper to be SET at
any position for BALANCING
AIRFLOW under normal
operations, open or closed for
SMOKE CONTROL and closed as
required in the fire area
Summary

Current building codes require low leakage
dampers

Damper construction greatly affects leakage
characteristics

Modulating actuators can be controlled by
BMS to adjust airflow for temperature and
IAQ requirements

Smoke and Fire/Smoke dampers are
available w/ modulating & 3-position
actuators
Questions?
Thank You!