Basic Documentation

About this Application Guide
This section discusses the following topics:
• Purpose of this guide
• How this guide is organized
• Suggested reference materials
• Conventions and symbols used
It also provides information on how to access help and where to direct comments about this
guide.
Purpose of this Guide
This application guide explains the nature of sound generation and attenuation within air
movement components of HVAC systems, and is intended to help the reader understand
how to achieve a ventilation system design that does not generate excessive or objectionable
sound. It is the intent of this guide to provide a working level of HVAC sound dynamics
knowledge for the benefit of those who may not have yet acquired a sufficient technical
background in the subject of HVAC sound analysis.
How this Guide is Organized
This application guide contains the following chapters:
• Chapter 1, Introduction, discusses laboratory control and safety solutions. It includes
a scope of this guide and discusses HVAC sound transmission, background sound,
laboratory applicability, and computer program sound analysis.
• Chapter 2, Physics of Sound, discusses the properties of sound and how sound is
measured. It includes sound wave propagation and parameters; measurement
parameters; NC and RC curves; and how to determine an RC rating.
• Chapter 3, HVAC Sound Sources, discusses sources of sound associated with
HVAC systems. It includes fan sound components and power level calculation;
damper and elbow airflow noise; junction and takeoff airflow noise; and air delivery
device noise.
• Chapter 4, Ventilation Systems Classification, discusses the attenuating effect of
common HVAC system elements (also referred to as transmission loss or insertion
loss).
• Chapter 5, HVAC System Sound Analysis, provides examples of how to analyze the
components of a specific HVAC system.
Siemens Building Technologies, Inc. I