• Installation
• Sheet Metal Fabrication
• Balancing

Our SMACNA Certified Air Balancer technicians perform many tests required to verify the actual performance of the installed system matches or exceeds that specified by the ASHRAE engineer. We have outlined a few in the paragraphs that follow:

Commercial Duct Pressurization Testing

During the construction process, when the duct is accessible before the grilles and equipment is installed, each intentional opening in the duct system is sealed air tight with plastic and tape. The duct system is then placed under high pressure, and the airflow through the fan is measured. The fan airflow is interpreted as duct leakage. If the level of leakage is out of spec, the leaky duct is repaired and then the test is repeated. The process continues until acceptable results are achieved.

Higher pressure is critical to assure the pressure at the fan is equal to the pressure throughout the entire duct system. Only then can the pressure at the fan be interpreted to represent accurate airflow leakage throughout the system.

Airflow

Airflow is the primary performance that must be completed before all others can begin. Since air is the fluid that carries the heating or cooling throughout the building, its flow, temperatures, velocities, losses, gains, and enthalpy must be verified at many points throughout the system so it can be effectively diagnosed and performance rated.