DESIGN MANUAL


AIR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
PROGRESS
 SCOPE OF WORK

 Layout and Sizing of Air Ducts Distribution.
 Layout of Air ducts
 Duct Layout Consideration.
 Design Method in Sizing Air Duct.
 External Static Pressure Calculation.

 Sizing of Air inlet and outlet terminals.

 Air Duct Insulations

 Installation and Supports.

 Hangers
 Seismic Restraints
 Duct Fabrications
 METHODOLOGY


LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS

LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS
Layout of Air Ducts

Air Ducts

 Function is to transmit air from the air handling apparatus to the space to be conditioned.
 Ducts are used in heating, ventilation, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) to
deliver and remove air.
 Air ducts are one method of ensuring acceptable indoor air quality as well as thermal comfort.

Air Duct Layout Design Tips to Remember:

 Good air distribution

 Simple duct layout
 Symmetrical duct layout
LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS
Procedure:

Step 1: Study the architectural plan and sections to determine location of machine rooms,
available ceiling cavity space, duct chase, as well as possible conflicts to air ducts such as
columns, beams, shear walls, and etc.

COLUMN

SHEAR WALL CEILING CAVITY

CHASE
BEAM
LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS

Step 2: Determine the selected mechanical air distribution equipment (AHU, FCU, DOAS and
etc.) serving each specific the building space or zone.

Step 3: Determine the cooling or ventilation air flow rate capacity and area served for each
equipment stated in the equipment schedule.

Step 4: Established air flow rate per area (such as CFM/ft 2, CMH/M2, and etc.) especially for
larger area when multiple air distribution equipment serving a single zone or space.
LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS

Step 5: Decide number of supply, return, or exhaust air outlets accordingly by dividing the air flow rate to the
desired number of air outlets. The number of air outlets should be enough to have a good air distribution.

Step 6: layout the supply and return air outlets in such a way the location will have a well distributed air.

Step 7: Layout the air ducts from each air outlets to the mechanical equipment by connecting branch ducts to
the main ducts. As much as possible keep the duct run short, and non-overlapping, less transition and fittings.
LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS
Duct Layout Consideration 
 Transformation
Duct transformation area used to change the shape of a duct to increase and decrease the duct area.
General Rule:
 Allowable slope when resizing or reshaping air ducts without changing the cross sectional area;
1 : 4 Slope – Low Velocity
1 : 7 Slope – High Velocity
 Allowable reduce in duct cross sectional area when avoiding obstruction is 20% of the original area.
LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS
Duct Layout Consideration 
 For ductwork with equipment installed inside the duct such as heating coils, the slope of the
transformation piece at the upstream side is limited to 30°while the leaving side should not exceed 45°.

 Duct Reduction Increments

General Rule:
 Accepted reduction of duct size after each branch and terminal take off should be 2 in (50mm) increment,
preferably in one dimension only.
LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS
 Obstructions
General Rule:

 Cover all pipes and circular obstructions over 4 in. in diameter with an easement.
 Cover any flat or irregular shapes having a width exceeding 3 in. with an easement. Hangers in the ducts should be
parallel to the air flow.
 If the easement exceeds 20% of the duct area, the ducts is transformed into split two ducts. When the ducts is split
or transformed. The original area should be maintained.
 If obstruction restricts only the corners of the ducts, the part of the ducts is transformed to avoid the obstruction.
Reduction of duct area should not exceed 20% of the original area.
LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS

Design Methods in Sizing Air Ducts

 Velocity Reduction Method

 Equal Friction

 Static Regain
LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS
Velocity Reduction Method

 Velocity at the fan discharge is pre-selected. The duct system is designed to provide progressively lower
duct velocities as the air proceeds from the main duct to the branches.
 Simplest method in sizing both supply and return air ducts.
 Used only for most simple duct layout and normally not used as it requires having a broad knowledge in
duct design experience and knowledge to be within reasonable accuracy.
 Method is not very efficient due to difficulty in balancing.
 Requires dampers for balancing.
Procedure:
Step 1: Select initial velocity at the fan discharge. Selection should not exceed the recommended maximum duct
velocity shown on table below.
Table 1: Recommended Maximum Duct Velocities for Low Velocity System
LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS

Step 2: Determine the air flow rate at the first section of the main duct.
Step 3: Based on the air quantity and the velocity, determine the duct size using the following options below.
Note: Duct sized should be designed for the smallest aspect ratio as possible and should not
exceed 1:3 aspect ratio for best economics.
Option 1: Use ductulator by setting the air quantity to the duct velocity at the inner and outer orange band, then
looking the corresponding duct sizes from the green band.
LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS

Option 2: Use the continuity equation to determined the duct cross sectional area, then compute for
the duct size by assigning desired length or width to the area formula shown below, or use “Table 2:
Circular Equivalent Diameter, Equivalent Area & Duct Class of Rectangular Ducts for Equal
Friction”.

Continuity Equation:
A=Q/V
Where:
Q = Air flow rate

A = Duct Area
V = Duct Velocity
Rectangular Duct:
Area = Length x Width

Conversion of Rectangular Duct to Circular Duct:

LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS

Option 3: Using “Chart 1: Friction Loss for Round Ducts”, get the point of intersection between air
quantity and velocity, then determine the corresponding diameter closest to point of intersection. Use
“Table 2: Circular Equivalent Diameter, Equivalent Area & Duct Class of Rectangular Ducts for Equal
Friction” to get the equivalent rectangular duct.
Table 2: Circular Equivalent Diameter, Equivalent Area
Chart 1: Friction Loss for Round Ducts & Duct Class of Rectangular Ducts for Equal Friction
 LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS

Step 5: Make arbitrary reduction in velocity for the succeeding section down the duct run.

Step 6: Determine the air flow rate of the section of the duct being sized.

Step 7: Size the duct using method discussed in step 3.

LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS
Equal Friction Method

 Method creates an "initial guess" for duct sizing by establishing a constant pressure loss per unit
of duct length
 Used for supply, return, and exhaust air systems and employs same pressure drop rate for the
entire system.
 Superior than velocity reduction methods since requires less balancing.
 Difficult to balance since the method make no provision for equalizing pressure drop to provide
same static pressure behind air terminals.

Procedure:

Step 1: Select initial velocity for the first section of the main duct near the fan. Velocity should be
based on the Recommended maximum duct velocity (Table 1) in which noise level will be the limiting
factor.

Step 2: Determine the air flow rate of the section of the duct being sized.

Step 3: Used the selected initial velocity and air flow rate to determine the design friction rate per 100
feet of duct based on the chart shown below. The resulting friction loss will be the basis for sizing the
succeeding duct sections for the entire system.
LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS

.

Chart 1: Friction Loss for Round Ducts
LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS

Step 4: Based on the air quantity and the velocity, determine the duct size using the following options below.
Note: Duct sized should be designed for the smallest aspect ratio as possible and should not
exceed 1:3 aspect ratio for best economics.
Option 1: Use ductulator by setting the air quantity to the design friction loss rate at the inner and outer blue band,
then looking the corresponding duct sizes from the green band.
LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS

Option 2: Use the continuity equation to determined the duct cross sectional area, then compute for
the duct size by assigning desired length or width to the area formula shown below, or use “Table 2:
Circular Equivalent Diameter, Equivalent Area & Duct Class of Rectangular Ducts for Equal
Friction”.

Continuity Equation:
A=Q/V
Where:
Q = Air flow rate

A = Duct Area
V = Duct Velocity
Rectangular Duct:
Area = Length x Width

Conversion of Rectangular Duct to Circular Duct:

LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS

Option 3: Using “Chart 1: Friction Loss for Round Ducts”, get the point of intersection between air
quantity and velocity, then determine the corresponding round duct diameter closest to point of
intersection. Use “Table 2: Circular Equivalent Diameter, Equivalent Area & Duct Class of
Rectangular Ducts for Equal Friction” to get the equivalent rectangular duct.
Table 2: Circular Equivalent Diameter, Equivalent Area
Chart 1: Friction Loss for Round Ducts & Duct Class of Rectangular Ducts for Equal Friction
LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS

Step 5: Determine air flow rate of the succeeding duct section that is being sized.

Step 6: Based on the same design friction loss rate and the air flow rate, determine the duct
size using the same procedure discussed on step 4.

Step 7: The remaining duct sections along the duct run shall be sized accordingly with same
friction loss rate and the air flow rate of the duct being sized.
LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS
Static Regain Method

 The ducts are sized so the increase in static pressure at each take-off offsets the pressure loss of the
succeeding section of ductwork.
 Static regain is the least common form of duct sizing. It is typically used to size the medium and high
pressure ductwork in a VAV system.
 Works by slowly reducing the velocity in the ductwork as it moves from the fan to the diffusers. The goal
is to keep the static pressure constant and have all of the pressure drop come from the velocity pressure.
 Method of duct sizing is based on Bernoulli's equation, which states that when a reduction of velocities
takes place, a conversion of dynamic pressure into static pressure occurs so that the increase in static
pressure at each branch offsets the friction loss in the succeeding section of the duct. The static pressure
should then be the same before each terminal and at each branch

Procedure:

Step 1: Select starting velocity for the first section of the main duct near the fan based on “Table 1:
Recommended Maximum Duct Velocities for Low Velocity System”

Step 2: Determine the air flow rate of the first section of the duct run.

Step 3: Determine the initial duct section using the following options discussed from previous duct sizing
methods (Ductulator, Continuity equation & Area Formula, or Duct Sizing Tables and Chart)
LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS

Step 4: Using the initial air flow rate and velocity, take note of the friction loss rate based on
“Chart 1: Friction Loss for Round Ducts”. Friction loss rate of the first duct section will be the
basis for computing the external static pressure.

Step 5: The remaining section will be sized using “Chart 2: L/Q Ratio” and “Chart 3: Low
Velocity Static Regain”. Determine the equivalent length of the succeeding section of duct being
sized. Equivalent length shall include duct length, and fittings (elbows and etc.) except duct
transformation. (See topics for external static calculation in determining duct equivalent
length.)

Step 6: Determine the air quantity of the succeeding section of duct that will be sized.

Step 7: Using the equivalent duct length and air quantity, determine L/Q ratio from “Chart 2:
L/Q Ratio”, or using formula shown below:

Where:
L – Equivalent Length of Duct Between Take-offs
Q – Air Quantity after take-offs
LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS

Chart 2: L / Q Ratio
LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS

Step 8: Using L/Q Ratio and the velocity before take-off (velocity from the previous duct
section), determine the velocity after take-off (velocity of the duct being sized) from “Chart 3:
Low velocity Static Regain”.
Chart 3: Low velocity Static Regain
LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS

Step 9: Based from the air quantity and the velocity taken from “Chart 3: Low velocity Static Regain”,
determine the duct size using the following options below. Do the same procedure as discussed from
step 5 to step 9 for the rest of the duct sections.

Option 1: Use ductulator by setting the air quantity to the duct velocity at the inner and outer orange
band, then looking the corresponding duct sizes from the green band.
LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS

Option 2: Use the continuity equation to determined the duct cross sectional area, then compute for
the duct size by assigning desired length or width to the area formula shown below, or use “Table 2:
Circular Equivalent Diameter, Equivalent Area & Duct Class of Rectangular Ducts for Equal
Friction”.
Continuity Equation:
A=Q/V
Where:
Q = Air flow rate

A = Duct Area
V = Duct Velocity
Rectangular Duct:
Area = Length x Width

Conversion of Rectangular Duct to Circular Duct:

LAYOUT AND SIZING OF AIR DUCTS

Option 3: Using “Chart 1: Friction Loss for Round Ducts”, get the point of intersection between air
quantity and velocity, then determine the corresponding diameter closest to point of intersection. Use
“Table 2: Circular Equivalent Diameter, Equivalent Area & Duct Class of Rectangular Ducts for Equal
Friction” to get the equivalent rectangular duct.
Table 2: Circular Equivalent Diameter, Equivalent Area &
Chart 1: Friction Loss for Round Ducts Duct Class of Rectangular Ducts for Equal Friction
 METHODOLOGY


EXTERNAL STATIC PRESSURE

CALCULATION
 EXERNAL STATIC PRESSURE
CALCULATION
Total Static Pressure (TSP) 
Defined as the sum of External Static Pressure and Unit Static Pressure
TSP = USP + ESP
Unit Static Pressure(USP)
Also known as Internal Static Pressure, is the pressure drop across filters, coils, and twists and turns
inside the air handler.

External Static Pressure(ESP)

It is the pressure that the fan has to overcome due to ducts and fitting losses to give the required
space ventilation and cooling requirements at least equal to the designed flow. It is a function of the
length, equivalent diameter, velocity, frictional losses and density of the media flowing commonly air.

Total Dynamic Head (TDH) = ESP

TDH = Friction Loss + Terminal loss + Elevation

Note: Elevation = 0 (Close System)

 METHODOLOGY
Procedure:

Velocity Reduction Method
Step 1: Determine the critical path (usually the farthest duct run) from the air distribution equipment to the air
outlet.
Step 2: Measure the straight length of the first duct section of the critical path.
 METHODOLOGY

Step 3: Determine the number of duct fittings present along the duct run of the first section, such as elbows,
transition piece, and branch connections.

Step 4: Determine the equivalent length of each fittings from “Table 3: Friction loss of rectangular elbows”, or
“Table 4: Friction loss of round elbows” and “Table 5: Commonly used fittings-connections”.
Table 3: Friction Loss of Rectangular Elbows
METHODOLOGY

Table 3: Friction Loss of Rectangular Elbows (Cont.)
METHODOLOGY

Table 4: Friction Loss of Round Elbows
METHODOLOGY

Table 5: Commonly Used Fittings-Connections
 METHODOLOGY

Step 5: Compute total equivalent length of the first section by getting the sum between the length of straight duct
and equivalent straight length of fittings and duct connections.

Step 6: Based from the air quantity and selected duct velocity of the duct section, determine the friction loss rate
from “Chart 1: Friction Loss for Round Ducts”.
Chart 1: Friction Loss for Round Ducts
 METHODOLOGY

Step 7: Multiply the resulting friction loss rate per length of duct to the total equivalent length to determine the
friction loss

Step 8: Determine terminal losses or pressure losses due to air inlet/outlets (grilles, diffusers and etc.) and duct
accessories (volume dampers, splitter dampers, and etc.) from manufacturer or available catalogs.

Step 9: Add the terminal loss and friction loss to get the pressure loss of that particular duct section.

Step 10:Determine the pressure loss of the remaining duct section along the critical path using the same procedure
discussed on the previous steps.

Step 11: Get the ESP by adding all the pressure loss then convert pressure unit as desired.
 METHODOLOGY
Procedure:

Equal Friction Method

Step 1: Determine the critical path (usually the farthest duct run) from the air distribution
equipment to the air outlet.

Step 2: Measure the straight length of the first duct section of the critical path.

Step 3: Determine the number of duct fittings present along the duct run of the first section, such
as elbows, transition piece, and branch connections.

Step 4: Determine the equivalent length of each fittings from “Table 3: Friction loss of rectangular
elbows”, or “Table 4: Friction loss of round elbows” and “Table 5: Commonly used fittings-
connections”.

Step 5: Compute total equivalent length of the first section by getting the sum between the length
of straight duct and equivalent straight length of fittings and duct connections.
 METHODOLOGY

Step 6: Using constant design friction loss rate selected from duct sizing on “Chart 1: Friction Loss
for Round Ducts”., determine the friction loss by getting the product between friction loss rate
and total equivalent length.
Chart 1: Friction Loss for Round Ducts
 METHODOLOGY

Step 8: Determine terminal losses or pressure losses due to air inlet/outlets (grilles, diffusers and etc.) and duct
accessories (volume dampers, splitter dampers, and etc.) from manufacturer or available catalogs.

Step 9: Add the terminal loss and friction loss to get the pressure loss of that particular duct section.

Step 10:Determine the pressure loss of the remaining duct section along the critical path using the same procedure
discussed on the previous steps.

Step 11: Get the ESP by adding all the pressure loss then convert pressure unit as desired.
 METHODOLOGY

Static Regain Method

Step 1: Measure the straight length of the initial duct section at the fan discharge.

Step 2: Determine the number of duct fittings present along the duct run of the first section, such as elbows, transition
piece, and branch connections.

Step 3: Determine the equivalent length of each fittings from “Table 3: Friction loss of rectangular elbows”, or “Table 4:
Friction loss of round elbows” and “Table 5: Commonly used fittings-connections”.

Step 4: Compute total equivalent length of the first section by getting the sum between the length of straight duct and
equivalent straight length of fittings and duct connections.

Step 5: Based on the air quantity and selected velocity, use “Chart 1: Friction Loss for Round Ducts” to determine the
friction loss rate.

Step 6: Multiply friction loss rate and total equivalent length of the first duct section to get the friction loss.

Step 7: Determine terminal losses or pressure losses due to air inlet/outlets (grilles, diffusers and etc.) and duct
accessories (volume dampers, splitter dampers, and etc.) from manufacturer or available catalogs.

Step 8: The total pressure (ESP) required at the fan discharge is equal to the sum of the friction loss at the initial duct
section plus the terminal operating pressure. Determine the ESP by adding only the computed friction loss at first duct
section and terminal loss.
 METHODOLOGY


SIZING OF AIR INLET AND OUTLETS

 SIZING OF AIR INLET AND
OUTLETS
Procedure:

Step 1: Determine the air flow rate passing the air inlet/outlet.

Step 2: Based on the given application and noise criteria, select air inlet/outlet velocity.
 SIZING OF AIR INLET AND
OUTLETS
Procedure:

Step 3: Use the continuity equation to determined the terminal cross sectional area, then compute for the
inlet/outlet size by assigning desired length or width to the area formula shown below,

Continuity Equation:
A=Q/V
Where:
Q = Air flow rate
A = Duct Area
V = Duct Velocity
Rectangular Air terminal:
Area = Length x Width
Square Air Terminal:
Area = (Length of Side)2
Circular Air Terminal: