Buildings located in noisy areas require a high degree of sound insulation. This will usually involve making the building envelope virtually airtight, and as a result losing the possibility of utilising natural ventilation. The solution is to employ a mechanical ventilation system, but such systems can themselves constitute a source of intrusive noise. Discontinuities in ducts result in the generation of flow noise and a loss of static pressure. The greater the discontinuity, the greater is the loss in static pressure and the greater is the sound power generated.
The author maintains that the testing methodology of ASHRAE 62-1989R, mired in a swamp of controversy and "continuous maintenance," may need some fresh air.
Terminals are used on all types of ventilation system exhausts, often to prevent rain water and animal entry, but also to prevent wind induced flow-reversal and enhance wind induced updraught. There are many different terminal designs available displaying a wide range of characteristics. This report discusses a terminal testing and rating method. The tests highlight terminal wind performance as well as terminal resistance to the exhaust flow. The terminals are ranked according to loss coefficients and wind performance which allows them to be matched more closely to system requirements.
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