Basic Documentation

Chapter 5–HVAC System Sound
Analysis
Chapter 5 provides examples of how to analyze the components of a specific HVAC system.
It includes the following topics:
• Introduction to HVAC system sound analysis
• Commentary on HVAC system sound
Introduction to HVAC System Sound Analysis
Earlier in this document, we discussed the sound generated by and attenuated by individual
HVAC components. This section provides examples of how to analyze the components of a
specific HVAC system to determine what sound level can be expected in a space served by
the HVAC system.
Figure 16 shows a portion of an HVAC system including Room 101, which is served by the
system. Although there are computer programs that can provide an analysis of a given
system configuration, it is advantageous to understand the process and be able to determine
the effect of a single element on a given system. The following example illustrates the
analysis of this system with respect to the sound level that can be expected to result in Room
101 due to the HVAC system.
Example HVAC System Sound Analysis
In Figure 16, the sound analysis for the HVAC system begins with the supply fan that is
typically the element that produces the highest sound level in the system.
With reference to the fan sound power level calculation procedure from Chapter 3, the fan’s
sound power level rating of 1 cfm and 1.00 in. WC, as shown in Table 5. These values are
part of the fan’s total sound power and are listed in the first horizontal row of Table 26.
Siemens Building Technologies, Inc. 67