DUCT SYSTEMS

CHAPTER 6
JEFFREY C. AVILA
601.0 Scope

601.1 Ducts and plenums that are

portions of heating, cooling,
absorption or evaporative cooling, or
product conveying system shall
comply with the requirements of this
chapter.
601.2 Duct systems used with blower type
equipment that are used in heating, cooling,
absorption, evaporative cooling, or outdoor air
ventilation system shall be sized in accordance
with ASHRAE Fundamentals, ACCA, SMACNA, or
other approved methods.
602.0 Material

602.1
Supply air, return air, and outside
air shall be conducted through duct
system constructed of metal as set
forth in Table 6-1 to 6-10 or metal
ducts complying with UMC
Standards No. 62.
 Rectangular ducts in excess of two inches shall comply
with the standard. Ducts, plenums, and fittings may be
constructed of concrete, clay, or ceramics when
installed in the ground or in a concrete slab. Provided
the joints are tightly sealed. Corridors shall not be used
to convey air to or from rooms if the corridor is required
to be of fire resistive construction.
602.2 Combustibles within Ducts or Plenums
Materials exposed within ducts or plenums shall be non-
combustible or shall have flame spread index nit greater than 25
and a smoke developed index not greater than 50.
Exceptions:
1. Air filters meeting the requirement of Section 311.2 and 503.3.
2. Water evaporation media in an evaporative cooler.
3. Charcoal filters when protected with an approved fire suppression
system.
4.Electrical wiring in plenums shall comply with NFPA 70.
5. Non-metallic sprinkler piping in plenums shall be listed and
labelled.
6. Non-metallic tubing in plenums shall be listed and labelled.
602.3 Factory made air ducts

Factory made air ducts shall be

approved for the use intended or
shall conform to requirement.

602.3.1 Flexible ducts

602.4 Joints and Seams of duct

Jointsof duct system shall be made

substantially airtight by means of tapes,
mastics, gasketing, or other means.

602.5 Metal

Metal. Every duct, plenum, or fitting of metal

shall comply with table 6-1 or 6-8.
602.6 Vibrator isolators

Vibrator isolators installed between

mechanical equipment and metal ducts (or
casing) shall be made of an approved
materials and shall not exceed 10 inches in
length.
603.0 QUALITY OF MATERIAL

Galvanized steel shall be lock forming quality with minimum

coating of 1.25 ounces of zinc per square foot conforming to the
requirements of UMC Standard No. 22.

604.0 INSTALLATION OF DUCT

604.2 METAL DUCTS
Ducts shall be securely fastened in a place at each change of
direction and as set forth in Table 6-7.
604.3 Factory made air ducts

Factory made ducts shall not be used for

vertical riser in air duct system more than
two stories.
Factory made ducts shall be installed with
at least 4 inches of separation from earth.
The temperature of the air to be
conveyed in any of these classes of ducts
shall not exceed to 250F.
604.4 Protection of ducts
Ductsinstalled in where they exposed to mechanical damage by
vehicles or from other causes shall be protected by approved barriers

604.5 Support of ducts

Installershall provide the manufacturers field
fabrication and installation instructions.

604.6 Protection against flood damage

Ducts shall be located above the design flood
evaluation.
605.0 INSULATION OF DUCTS

Supplyand return ducts and plenums of a

cooling system shall be insulated to achieve
minimum thermal value as set forth in Table 6-
6 A and B.
605.1 Thermal acoustical lining materials
shall not be installed within ducts, terminal
boxes, sound traps and other induct systems
serving areas unless terminal filters with
90% average efficiency based on ASHRAE
Standard 52.2-1992 or minimum efficiency
rating value (MERV) of 14 are installed
downstream of the duct lining.
605.2 Thermal or acoustical lining materials
shall not be installed within ducts which are
downstream of the 99.97% high efficiency
particulate air (HEPA) filter or with minimum
efficiency rating value of 17 required in
Section 401.9 for protective environment
rooms.
Smoke Dampers, Fire
Dampers, and Ceiling
Dampers
Smoke dampers shall comply with the standards for
leakage rated dampers referenced in Chapter 29, and
shall be installed in accordance with approved
manufacturers installation instructions when required
by the Building Code. Smoke dampers shall be
labelled by an approved agency.
 Fire dampers shall comply with the standards for
leakage rated dampers referenced in Chapter 29,
and shall be installed in accordance with approved
manufacturers installation instructions when
required by the Building Code. Fire dampers shall
have been tested for closure under airflow conditions
and shall be labelled for both maximum airflow
permitted and direction of flow. When more than one
damper is installed at point in a single air path, the
entire airflow shall be assumed to be passing
through the smallest damper area. Fire dampers
shall be labelled by an approved agency.
Ductwork shall be connected to damper sleeves or
assemblies in accordance with the fire damper
manufacturers installation instructions.
 Ceiling radiation dampers shall comply with the standard
for ceiling radiation dampers referenced in Chapter 29,
and shall be installed in accordance with the
manufacturers approved installation instructions in the
fire resistive ceiling element of floor ceiling and roof
ceiling assemblies when required by the Building Code.
Fire dampers not meeting the temperature limitation of
ceiling radiation dampers shall not be used as a
substitute. Ceiling radiation dampers shall be labelled by
an approved agency.
When size requires the use of multiple dampers, the
installation shall be framed in an approved manner to
ensure that the damper remain in place.
 Dampers shall be provided with an approved means of
access large enough to permit inspection and
maintenance of the damper and its operating parts.
The access shall not impair fire resistive construction.
Access shall not require the use of tools, keys, or
special knowledge. Access points shall be permanently
identified on the exterior by label with letters not less
than inch (12.7mm) in height reading; SMOKE
DAMPER or FIRE DAMPER. Access doors in duct shall
be tight fitting and suitable for the required duct
construction.
 Damper shall be installed in a manner to ensure
positive closing or opening as required by function.
Interior liners, or insulation shall be held back from
portions of a damper, its sleeve, or adjoining duct that
would interfere with the dampers proper operation.
Exterior materials shall be installed so as to avoid
interference with the operation or maintenance of
external operating devices needed for proper function.
 Fusible links, thermal sensors, and pneumatic or
electric operators shall have a temperature rating or
classification as needed by the Building Code.
When the automatic activation of a smoke damper or
combination smoke fire damper occurs, the HVAC
system serving such as dampers shall immediately
shut down.
Exceptions:
1. HVAC systems that are part of an engineered smoke
evacuation system.
2. Where the automatic activation causes all the smoke
dampers and combination smoke fire dampers to close
in the enclosed space having a common atmosphere
where openings are required to be protected.
3. Where analysis demonstrates shutoff would create a
greater hazard. The HVAC system shall not be reset and
fully opened.
Ventilating Ceilings

Ventilating ceilings are not permitted in health facilities.

Ventilating ceilings shall comply with the following
provisions:
1. Suspended ventilating ceiling material shall have a
Class 1 frame spread classification on both sides,
determined in accordance with the Building Code.
Suspended ventilating ceiling supports shall be non-
combustible materials.
2. Lighting fixtures recessed into ventilating ceilings
shall be of a type approved for that purpose.
 An under floor space may be used a supply plenum,
provided:
1. The use of under floor space shall be limited to not
more than two stories in height. Except for the floor
immediately above the under floor plenum, supply
ducts shall be provided extending from the plenum to
registers on the floor levels.
Exceptions: In flood hazard areas, under floor spaces
shall not be used as supply plenums unless the flood
opening requirements in the Building Code are satisfied.
 2. Such space shall be cleaned of all loose
combustible scrap material and shall be tightly and
substantially enclosed.
3. The enclosing material of the under floor space,
including the sidewall insulation, shall be not more
flammable than 1 inch (25.4mm) (nominal) wood boards
(flame spread index of 200). Insulation of foam plastics
is regulated by Building Code.
 Access shall be through an opening in the floor and
shall be not less than 24 inches by 24 inches (610mm
X 610mm).
A non-combustible receptacle shall be placed below
each floor opening into the air chamber, and such
receptacle shall conform to the following:
1. The receptacle shall be secure suspended from the
floor members and shall be not more than 18 inchers
(457mm) below the floor opening.
 2. The area of the receptacle shall extend 3 inches
(76mm) beyond the opening on all sides.
3. The perimeter of the receptacle shall have a
vertical lip at least 1 inch (25.4mm) high at the open
sides if it is at the level of the bottom of the receptacle is
suspended.
 Floor registers shall be designed for easy removal in order to give
access for cleaning the receptacles.
Exterior walls and interior stud partitions shall be fire stopped at
the floor.
Each wall register shall be connected to the air chamber by a
register box or boot.
The entire ground surface of the under floor space shall be
covered with a vapour barrier having a minimum thickness of 4
mils (0.1016 mm) and flame spread index of 200 or less.
Fuel gas lines and plumbing waste cleanouts are not located
within the space.
Automatic Shutoffs

Air moving systems supplying air in excess of 2000 cubic feet per
minute (944 L/s) to enclosed spaces within buildings shall be
equipped with an automatic shut-off. Automatic shutoff shall be
accomplished by interrupting the power source of the air moving
equipment upon detection of smoke in the main supply air duct
served by such equipment. Smoke detectors shall be UL
approved for air duct installation and shall be installed in
accordance with the manufacturers approved installation
instructions. Such devices shall be compatible with the operating
velocities, pressures, temperatures, and humidity of the system.
Where fire detection or alarm systems are provided for the
building, the smoke detectors required by this section shall be
supervised by such systems and installed in accordance with
NFPA 72 and the Building and Fire Codes.
Exceptions:
1. When the space supplied by the air moving
equipment is served by a total coverage smoke
detection system complying with the Fire code,
interconnection to such system may be used to
accomplish the required shutoff.
2. Automatic shutoff is not required when all occupied
rooms served by the air handling equipment have direct
exit to the exterior and the travel distance does not
exceed 100 feet (30480 mm).
 3. Automatic shutoff is not required the Group R,
Division 3 and Group U Occupancies.
4. Automatic shutoff is not required for approved
smoke control systems or where analysis demonstrates
shutoff would create a greater hazard, such as may be
encountered in air moving equipment supplying
specialized portions of Group H Occupancies. Such
Equipment shall be required to have smoke detection
with remote indication and manual shutoff capability at
an approved location.
 5. Smoke detectors that are factory installed in listed
air moving equipment may be used in lieu of smoke
detectors installed in the main supply air duct served by
such equipment.